GreenerCars is an annual assessment of every new model in the U.S. light-duty vehicle market. It is based on a lifecycle assessment of the greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from the production, use, and disposal of each vehicle. Unlike other evaluations of the health and environmental impact of vehicles that rely solely on fuel-efficiency, GreenerCars scores every vehicle on its entire impact and is the most effective way to compare gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. In addition to assessing the emissions from fuel burned in a vehicle’s engine, we assess the upstream emissions generated by electricity used by a vehicle, emissions produced when mining and processing minerals for batteries, and emissions from manufacturing vehicles and vehicle components. Green scores are generated for each model and can be used to assess how green a vehicle is. Users can also assess vehicles based on their class so that they can make the greenest purchase that meets their mobility needs.
Complete Ratings Press Release Market Trends Analysis Methodology
The Greenest List highlights the 12 highest scoring models this year, the Greener Choices list includes a variety of high scoring conventional vehicles, and the Meanest list identifies the 12 worst performing mass-market models. The average fuel cost of a vehicle on the Greenest List is a fifth of the average fuel cost of a vehicle on the Meanest List, showing that greener options can also be more affordable.
Greenest List
The electric vehicles on the Greenest List had the lowest fueling costs because of their higher efficiency. EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models topped the list.
| Rank | Make & Model | Powertrain | Green Score |
MSRP | Estimated Annual Fuel Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Prius Prime SE | PHEV | 71 | $32,975 | $529 |
| 2 | Lexus RZ 300e | EV | 67 | $55,150 | $651 |
| 3 | Mini Cooper SE | EV | 67 | $30,900 | $747 |
| 4 | Nissan Leaf | EV | 66 | $28,140 | $741 |
| 5 | Toyota bZ4X | EV | 66 | $43,070 | $689 |
| 6 | Toyota RAV4 Prime | PHEV | 64 | $43,690 | $741 |
| 7 | Hyundai Elantra Blue | Gas Hybrid | 64 | $26,250 | $864 |
| 8 | Hyundai Kona Electric | EV | 63 | $34,050 | $695 |
| 9 | Toyota Camry LE | Gas Hybrid | 63 | $28,855 | $907 |
| 10 | Kia EV6 | EV | 63 | $43,975 | $689 |
| 11 | Toyota Corolla | Gas Hybrid | 62 | $23,500 | $944 |
| 12 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | EV | 62 | $41,650 | $737 |
| *ACEEE analysis using EIA data of annual cost—from gasoline, electricity, or a combination—of driving 15,000 miles | |||||
Greener Choices
The 2024 Greener Choices list includes model year 2024 cars that are available nationwide with among the lowest environmental impacts in each vehicle class but that didn’t make the Greenest List. The Greener Choices list does not include EVs (including PHEVs) because some drivers do not have adequate access to EV charging.
| Rank | Make & Model | Powertrain | Vehicle Class | Green Score | MSRP | Estimated Annual Fuel Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Accord | Gas Hybrid | Large Car | 62 | $33,990 | $982 |
| 2 | Kia Niro FE | Gas Hybrid | Compact SUV | 61 | $28,315 | $885 |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Mirage | Gas | Compact Car | 59 | $17,955 | $1,189 |
| 4 | Lexus ES 300h | Gas Hybrid | Midsize Car | 59 | $44,590 | $1,073 |
| 5 | Lexus NX 350h | Gas Hybrid | Midsize SUV | 57 | $43,465 | $1,207 |
| 6 | Ford Maverick | Gas Hybrid | Compact Pickup | 55 | $24,900 | $1,297 |
| 7 | Toyota Sienna | Gas Hybrid | Minivan | 55 | $39,080 | $1,304 |
| 8 | Mini Cooper Convertible | Gas | Subcompact Car | 54 | $35,700 | $1,412 |
| 9 | Toyota Highlander | Gas Hybrid | Large SUV | 54 | $40,720 | $1,348 |
| 10 | Kia Soul | Gas | Small Wagon | 53 | $21,565 | $1,467 |
| 11 | BMW Z4 sDrive30i | Gas | Two-Seater | 50 | $53,600 | $1,626 |
| 12 | Mercedes-Benz GLA250 | Gas Hybrid | Large Van | 49 | $43,000 | $1,596 |
| 13 | Volvo V90CC B6 | Gas Hybrid | Midsize Wagon | 45 | $59,800 | $1,843 |
| 14 | Ford Ranger | Gas | Standard Pickup | 43 | $32,670 | $1,968 |
| *ACEEE analysis using EIA data of the annual cost of driving 15,000 miles | ||||||
Meanest List
The Meanest List of the worst-performing mass market automobiles consists of primarily large, inefficient gas guzzlers, with seven SUVs, three trucks, one sports car, and one sedan. The Meanest List includes an EV for the first time, demonstrating that size and efficiency, not just fuel source, are important factors in a car’s environmental impact.
| Rank | Make & Model | Powertrain | Green Score | MSRP | Estimated Annual Fuel Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 | Gas | 20 | $184,000 | $4,242 |
| 2 | Ram 1500 TRX 4x4 | Gas | 22 | $98,335 | $3,819 |
| 3 | Ford F150 Raptor R | Gas | 24 | $79,975 | $3,777 |
| 4 | Cadillac Escalade V | Gas | 26 | $152,295 | $3,388 |
| 5 | Dodge Durango SRT | Gas | 26 | $74,995 | $3,332 |
| 6 | Jeep Wrangler 4dr 4X4 | Gas | 27 | $35,895 | $3,260 |
| 7 | Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4x4 | Gas | 28 | $91,945 | $3,058 |
| 8 | Mercedes-Benz G550 | Gas | 28 | $143,000 | $3,186 |
| 9 | GMC Hummer EV SUV | EV | 29 | $98,845 | $1,746 |
| 10 | GMC Sierra | Gas | 29 | $37,700 | $3,069 |
| 11 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Gas | 30 | $114,395 | $3,169 |
| 12 | Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680 | Gas | 30 | $234,300 | $3,031 |
| *ACEEE analysis using EIA data of the annual cost of driving 15,000 miles | |||||
Our Green Scores are also used to determine eligibility for parking benefits at participating LEED-certified buildings.
