By Stephen Ferdinando
Here at Global we’re realists; we know that you’re gonna hop behind the wheel if you’re running late for work or if you need to get to hospital after eating too many organic chocolates. But if you’re gonna take the car, make sure it’s one of our top 5 Eco cars. Saving the planet is one thing, but looking as cool as Leonardo DiCaprio is another. Take a peak at of definitive list of enviro cars…
5. Range Rover Evoque
We know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry, we haven’t become a bunch of 4×4 driving hypocrites. It’s worth mentioning, however, that Range Rover can have a moment (just a moment) of not being the bad guys, as the Evoque is an eco delight. For some people SUVs and 4x4s are a must, and nothing we do is going to stop them – if you’ve ever been state side you’ll know what we mean – so it’s good to see Land Rover drawing attention to alternative solutions. The Evoque is Land Rover’s most fuel efficient vehicle and has an impressive road presence.
4. Nissan Leaf
It’s all well and good being green, but it does help if it’s practical too. That’s why we love the Nissan Leaf. It’s affordable, available, and – most importantly – cheap! It’s the 2011 European car of the year and, with zero tail pipe emissions and the ability to recharge 80% capacity in under 30 minutes, it couldn’t not be in our list.
3. Toyota PriusIt’s the classic enviro car – the Prius – in at number three. Paving the way for all future eco-cars the Prius has earned its place in our prestigious list. With its high speed and low insurance costs, plus its reputation as a green machine, the Prius is a hybrid star. In fact, the Prius is so good that Leonardo DiCaprio (a friend of Global Cool) bought one a few years ago.
2. Mia
It was pretty hot at the EcoVelocity low-carbon motor show at the weekend and now the Mia Electric is set to be the next big thing. The Mia is charming and designed for the urban environment. Its small size (just longer than a Smart Fortwo) is practical for big city use, but its doors and seating arrangement mean lots of leg room for passengers. The Mia is generating quite the buzz and, along with being pretty stylish, it’s efficient as well. You can’t get much better than that.
1. Fisker KarmaThe innovation of the Mia would normally top a list like this, but (call us shallow) we had to give it to the beast of the eco-car world: The Fisker Karma. It’s not only a hybrid delight, but it’s also a bloody sports car! And we’re not just talking aesthetics either, the Karma has 403 h/p and goes from 0-60 in 6 seconds! Now, it does come with the same price tag as a regular sports car – a whopping $100,000 – but when there’s diamond dust in the paint work what can we expect? As if it wasn’t cool enough already, DiCaprio himself has just indulged in one, making the Fisker Karma Global Cool’s top eco-car.
Agree with our list, or do you have an eco-favourite of your own? Let us know via Twitter or the comment box below…
Pics: Range Rover, Nissan, Toyota, Mia and Fisker Karma
