Courtesy Nissan
The Nissan Leaf topped Kelley Blue Book ’s immature - car tilt for 2011 .
The editors fromKelley Blue Book , the conduct supplier of new- and used - car information , recently eject its lean of thetop-10 gullible car of 2011 . This annual list comprises a change of fuel - effective vehicles along with elaborated EPA - count on fuel economy numbers and commentary on why each model made the year ’s top - green - car inclination .
Along with the green - railcar list , Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence released data from a March 2011 survey detailing consumer sentiment and opinions on gas price . concord to the survey , gas price are increasingly act upon automobile shoppers ’ vehicle leverage consideration .
The number of study respondents reporting that gas prices have changed their mind about the vehicle they are considering to grease one’s palms increase 5 percent from February 2011 to March 2011 . Further , the number of respondents who identify better fuel saving as the primary reason for buy a newfangled vehicle also has been on the ascending over the past three calendar month , with 15 percent claim that as their No . 1 intellect in the late study . On average , consumers take the March 2011 survey state that a vehicle would need to get at least 26.2 main road miles per gallon in decree for them to deliberate it for their next vehicle leverage .
Another resume by Baum and Associates endure the drift , showing that high throttle price and a recover thriftiness led to a 46 - percent step-up inhybrid - vehicleand clear - diesel - fomite sales in March 2011 equate to March 2010 . The jump was about three meter gamy than the increase in the overall automobile market last calendar month , according to an machine psychoanalyst from Baum and Associates .
The Kelley Blue Book editors stay fresh consumer sentiment about gas prices in mind when choose the 2011 green - railway car inclination and launch a much wider range of vehicle worthy of consideration compared to class retiring . Not only did they get more hybrids than ever before but also more high - efficiency gas - powered vehicles .
“ The sheer number and type of pick in the green - cars category have grown remarkably in the last year , with new plug - inelectrically drive vehiclesalongside an increased number of traditional gasoline - power car with amend fuel economy , as well as hybrids and diesel motor , ” said Jack R. Nerad , executive editorial director and executive marketplace psychoanalyst for Kelley Blue Book .
To be considered for the 2011 unripe - car list , each vehicle was required to propose fuel saving and CO2 discharge superior to the bulk of vehicle in its class , while providing safety gadget and comforts features that would make it pleasant to own . The variety of green vehicles included the 2010 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid , the 2011 Hyundai Elantra and the 2011 Honda Insight , among others .
One of the primal trends identified by the Kelley Blue Book editors for 2011 is that fuel - efficient established gasoline cars are induce a statement , with combined EPA fuel economy number in the mellow 30s and highway ratings nudge more than 40 miles per congius . Because these vehicles also are significantly less expensive than hybrids , the Kelley Blue Book editors expect them to have a big impact with consumer who are run across accelerator prices hit $ 4 per congius .
However , in 2011 , the machine industry also has see the ascending of the electrically powered vehicle . Nissan make a stir with its all - electric Leaf , which top this year ’s green - railroad car list , daring to dump into territory that General Motors found untenable more than a decade ago . But GM has memorise from its past experience and launched the Chevrolet Volt , an galvanising car that carries a gas railway locomotive to power the vehicle only on uncommon occasions . As hack - ins , both the Leaf and Volt relieve drivers of gas - place fuel - ups .
As the considerateness process continued , the kbb.com editorial department was confronted with the fact that , in terms of green cars , there are more good choices than ever before . While it makes the editors ’ job of choosing the top 10 a morsel tougher , it is nothing but a positive for all of the American drivers who are considering an environmentally favorable car these days .
