Kelley Blue Book and NADAguides.com take different roads to arrive at the same conclusion: the 2009 MINI Cooper is “green” no matter what color it comes in.
Kelley Blue Book – the leading provider of new and used car information – has just released its 2009 picks for the Top 10 Green Cars and the 2009 MINI Cooper was in the top five. The editors considered characteristics like comfort, performance, utility and technology – along with fuel economy – in making their selections. The 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI round out the list. But listen to what they said about the MINI Cooper:
“The MINI Cooper balances fun and efficiency like nothing else on the road. Responsive steering, a sport-tuned suspension and diminutive dimensions combine to deliver a driving experience that instantly evokes allusions to the proverbial go kart. Combine that kind of athleticism with highway fuel economy up to 37 miles per gallon - and a personality bigger than the car itself - and you've got a unique brand of feel-good fun.”
NADAguides.com had a different take… but once again the MINI Cooper made the top five on their list of the “Cleanest Conventional Cars of 2009.” NADAguides.com – a provider of pricing information and marketing research for new and used cars - chose to help consumers who are not necessarily in the market for a hybrid. In fact, they say that four of the five cars on the list put out less air pollution than some hybrid vehicles. The Chevrolet Cobalt LS, Ford Focus S, Pontiac G5 and Hyundai Elantra GLS all qualify for PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) certification, while the MINI Cooper is designated as an ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle).
They based their decisions on three criteria: greenhouse gas emissions, smog-producing air pollution levels and combined city/highway miles per gallon. Measurements are based on 15,000 miles per year in driving. Combined fuel economy is calculated from EPA city/highway miles per gallon figures, based on 55 percent city and 45 percent highway driving.
So OK, the MINI Cooper is acceptably green, but why all this attention on greenery now? Earth Day is April 22. That may have had something to do with it.
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