Yaris Named "Green Car" of the Year

You've probably herd that the Environmental Transportation Association (ETA), a British organization, recently named the Yaris its "Green Car" of the Year.

In its search for this year’s winner, the ETA reviewed more than 1,300 models of cars on sale in Britain, scoring them based on their emissions, fuel-efficiency and noise-pollution numbers.

In the form in which it’s sold in Europe, the Yaris' average fuel consumption, when equipped with its optional 1.4L diesel engine, is rated at 52.3 mpg, and when equipped with its 1.0L gas engine is 44.4 mpg, enviable figures that almost certainly helped vault it past its competitors.

One of those was the Prius, which was also in the top three of the ETA’s Green Car list.

Here in this country, of course, the Yaris is equipped with a 1.5L gas engine, which when equipped with a manual transmission, is rated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, with a combined mpg figure of 32.

It’s interesting to note, however, that the EPA’s fuel economy site, which lists the fuel economy numbers developed during strict EPA testing, also lists the economy numbers recorded by actual owners and drivers of the cars in question. The site lists the Yaris owners’ on-road mpg numbers as falling into a wider range than the EPA test numbers, with city numbers a bit below those listed by the EPA, and highway numbers vastly above those listed by the EPA.

No matter. What counts is that for people looking for economical, environmentally responsible rides, there are options. And according to the Environmental Transportation Association, Yaris is one of them.

And just one more thought: To hook up with people having fun with Yaris, go here.

-Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road

Comments

[Paul Rivers]

For the british mpg ratings - are those "Imperial Gallons" or US Gallons?

[paul]

And we just thought we were buying a solidly built, well engineered, efficient car for running to work, school and errands.

Even before we knew it was #1 with the world it was #1 with us.

[Les]

52 mpg sounds great! Now answer one question for me, why does toyota plan on keeping the 1.4 D europe and out of the states? And don't say NOx and safety standards b/c I know toyota would not put anything on the road that was not "green" or safe. Maybe even the Auris? There are a large amount of people that would switch the diesel in the states if they only knew the facts. Toyota needs a diesel in the states now, and not just in a truck.

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[colin penno]

Writing from Portland OR.
I parked my brute of a Ford Bronco, giving me 7/15 mpg, on the back lot back in March and bought a Yaris and haven't looked back with anything like nostalgia for the muscle and big tires.
I'm crazy about my little Yaris three-door! Blazing blue, lowered,with racing wheels and low-profile tires it collects admiring glances by the mile.
And I'm collecting way less gas bills.
With a Scan Gauge installed, full synthetic oil, careful driving and careful calculations, I'm getting 36 city and 44+ highway.
Hanging on to the Bronco in case of the apocalypse.

[Lance]

I have the same question as Les.

[monika]

I bought my 3 door yaris 2 years ago when almost no one knew what a small and economic car is. After 2 years, all i can say is that I love my little car, it is the best for everything, for work, school and even for moving stuff around!I never write comment about products, but this time after many days with my little yaris I have to say that was the best choice. Lately everyone asks about my car, and I see more and more people interested, it is time for americans to wake up, big cars just birng us big, if not, HUGE environnmental problems!

[rohndawson]

Green Car environmentally responsible but we understand the needs of the business traveler, providing state-of-the-art technology capabilities in all of our luxury hybrid vehicles.
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rohn
Used Cars

[Jeff]

Please bring the 1.4D and the 1.0 engines to the states. I really don't need or want a 1.5 liter engine in my future Yaris.