While many auto brands brag about their fuel-efficient new products, only one managed to have two separate vehicles named to the KBB.com 10 Best Green Cars of 2012 roster: Chevrolet. Both the Chevy Volt and the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco earned their way onto the list, thanks to their uncompromising approach to delivering high fuel-economy scores and customer-satisfying ownership experiences.
The Volt, of course, can provide more than 35 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions driving on a single charge, and it does so while posting an EPA line of 95 MPGe city/93 MPGe highway/94 MPGe combined. However, if its battery ever runs low, a super-efficient gas-powered I4 engine seamlessly kicks into operation to deliver hundreds of more miles of driving ability—while still achieving EPA marks of 40 mpg city/35 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.
As explained by the experts at KBB.com, “With its small gasoline engine on standby to generate electricity should the batteries run out of juice, the Volt conquers ‘range anxiety’ and makes for a car that can be filled with gas at a pump and electricity from an outlet. Sleek looks inside and out, plus room for four passengers and cargo complete the package.”
The Malibu Eco also takes the high-tech route to better gas mileage, courtesy of eAssist. This technology stores up electricity via the car’s regenerative braking system, then uses it to help provide added power during certain driving scenarios. The result is better fuel-economy than a standard gas engine, but at a lower cost than a full hybrid, since the Malibu Eco “seemingly bridges the efficiency gap between the two categories.” A standard start/stop system, which can cut off the flow of fuel when the vehicle would otherwise be idling, also helps matters. The bottom line: EPA ratings of 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway/29 mpg combined.
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