New green ratings for all cars

By Sam Hardy

07th June 2007

	It helps you to pick the greenest model possible, saving you money at the fuel pumps and in tax

Auto Express is the world's first motoring magazine to develop a system that gives every car it evaluates a 'green' score. Showing you exactly how environmentally friendly a vehicle is, our new star rating will now be applied to every model we test.

Encompassing petrol and diesel-engined hatches to hybrids, alternative fuels and electric cars, the mark is a crucial measure of a vehicle's impact on the environment. It helps you to pick the greenest model possible, saving you money at the fuel pumps and in tax. The system takes into account a whole host of eco-indicators, such as economy and carbon dioxide emissions. We've also considered whether a car meets the latest Euro V emissions standards and its levels of pollutants.

Added to this, we've looked at biofuels, the manufacturer's carbon offset programmes and a car's recyclability. Plus, we've also examined how far a vehicle has travelled from its factory to reach UK showrooms. "It's never been more important to think about environmental issues, and the Auto Express green car rating system helps potential buyers to do exactly that," said Oliver Marriage, Auto Express Road Test Editor. "It should help save money, too." Discuss here