How to choose an eco-friendly Car

Most people are now aware of the importance of ensuring the future of our planet. We know that we can each do our bit by recycling our rubbish and reducing our waste. We also know that reducing the amount that we drive our cars will have a positive effect on the environment. However with our busy lives running around after the family and getting to and from work, it is not always easy to drive less. However cutting down on the amount we drive is not the only way to help preserve the environment, just by choosing a more eco-friendly car to drive you can do your bit. Most car manufacturers these days are working harder to make their cars greener, by designing them to be more fuel efficient and to produce fewer toxic emissions. The extra bit of good news about these cars, is that by needing less fuel to run on you will end up spending less money at the pumps. If you are thinking of buying a new car then there are a few things to consider if you want to be more eco friendly. Firstly think about choosing the smallest car that matches your needs, as smaller cars weigh less and weight is a big factor in how much fuel is used. For example if you have a big family then a people carrier would make sense but if for the majority of the time there are only two of you using the car then a smaller car will work out much more economical. In addition when you buy a smaller car you may find that your motor insurance premiums are lower saving you even more money. Secondly consider whether you want a manual or automatic car.

Automatic cars can give a smoother ride and tend to be easier to drive as they have no clutch and change gear for you. However traditional automatic cars can end up using around ten percent more fuel than the manual version. Higher fuel consumption leads to higher costs for you when you fill up and higher costs to the environment. Thirdly you may need to consider whether to opt for a four wheel drive or a two wheel drive vehicle.

Typically if you were to compare the same vehicle in both four wheel drive and two wheel drive formats, the four wheel drive version can burn up to four percent more fuel. The difference is even higher when you compare a four wheel drive vehicle with a different two wheel drive vehicle that can carry the same load. In this scenario the fuel consumption difference can be as much as fourteen percent.  If you do feel like you need a 4WD then compare different models as with most car classes some are better than the others. Finally the newer the car the better, as newer cars have to meet high safety laws regarding the emissions that they produced and are required to be fitted with catalytic converters.   Catalytic converters reduce the effect of toxic emissions on the environment helping you to stay green.