Two items here: greenhouse gas output and overall CO2 including production make the Smart, well ... Smart.
EPA GREENHOUSE GAS ESTIMATES
It looks like the EPA data on the ForTwo has made it onto their site. (They have it listed under Mercedes. You can't just search for it by make either. You need to search under EPA "SmartWay" vehicles.)
The first number indicates pounds of smog producing compounds per year. (If you think about it, this is a remarkable achievement for all considering where vehicles were going a few decades back.) The second column represents tons of greenhouse gases driving 15,000 miles per year.
Toyota Prius (4 cyl): .99 4.6
Honda Civic (CNG): .99 5.41
Smart Fortwo (3 cyl) 4.13 5.7
Honda Civic (4 cyl): 4.13 6.92
VW GTI (4 cyl) 4.13 7.93
VW Rabbit (4 cyl) .99 8.23
Honda Accord (6 cyl) 4.13 8.92
Cadillac Escalade (8) 5.29 13.65
For the sake of comparisons, all have automatic transmissions.
As I started doing this, I got curious about other vehicles. The first Civic is the GX which runs on natural gas; the second one listed is a regular gasoline Civic (i.e., LX or EX, not the hybrid, natural gas, or SI). I included the GTI, not because of the turbo, but because it is a vehicle with fun factor that someone (i.e., me) might actually enjoy. (BTW, I'm wondering if the EPA didn't make a posting error on the VW Rabbit, I don't see how the smog can be so low, but all VWs using this engine have the same low rating.)
ARTICLE ON OVERALL CO2
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/228261/
Anyway, ... I thought it was interesting and I know some of you still will need your Escalade or equivalent for towing your boat or running your business; but I thought it was interesting what a choice can make when weighted against the "jollies" factor.
Today
Linear Mode
