Driving has become a touchy subject with the American citizens over the past few years. Where we once were symbolized by our powerful cars and open roads, we now worry about carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gasses, miles per gallon and the rising price of gasoline. Is there any relief from the pump? Are we going to permanently ruin our air quality by pumping out more and more Hummers and other SUV vehicles? Don’t despair, the hero of the environment, Al Gore, is here to tell us what to do, or more specifically, what to drive.
Ford Focus
Maybe you thought every car that was environmentally friendly was going to be an expensive hybrid, but this isn’t true. The Ford Focus is an old fashion gas-powered car that is efficient and produces low emissions. The Focus has some of the highest air pollution and greenhouse gas scores of any gas powered vehicle-that’s a good thing. It also gets 27 city miles to the gallon. If you aren’t in the mood to deal with fancy pants hybrid technology, then maybe the Ford Focus is for you. Its base price is only $13,995.
Al Gore’s Rating: Makes Polar Bears Happy
Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV
Your eyes do not deceive you, there is a fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly SUV on the market! The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV is perfect for those that want to protect the environment and still bus their family around. Its base price is only $26,430 and it gets 32 city miles to the gallon.
Al Gore’s Rating: Saves the Rainforest
Tesla Roadster
Who says you can’t drive an electric car and still look darn good? The Tesla Roadster is one of the world’s sleekest looking electric sports cars. The car can go from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, has a top speed of 135 mph, and can travel up to 220 miles on a single battery charge. It gets 4.7 miles to the kilowatt hour, which is equivalent to a car that gets 135 miles per gallon. If you want to look good and save the environment, then this ones for you!
Al Gore’s Rating: Does Not Melt Ice Caps
Toyota Prius
Perhaps the world’s most famous and popular environmentally friendly hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius just sold its one millionth unit this past month. The Prius switches between a gas engine and an electric motor engine at varying speeds, making it ideal for saving you money at the pump and saving the environment. The car gets an amazing 48 city miles per gallon. It is currently retailing at a base price of $22,325. This is one hybrid that is not inconvenient to drive.
Al Gore’s Rating: Patches Up the Ozone Layer
Smart Car
If you want to get a fuel efficient car in the most radical way, then the Smart Car just may be your cup of tea. Not only does the Smart Car conserve gas, it gets 40 city miles to the gallon, but also its small compact style makes life easier for you. You can park anywhere! It also retails at an incredibly low $11,000. If you want to make a major statement on the world’s environmental situation, as Al Gore himself did with An Inconvenient Truth, then purchase your Smart Car today.
Al Gore’s Rating: Gore-Tastic!
