subject: 6 Greenest Models of Used Cars in Melbourne [print this page] Convenience and kindness to the planet Convenience and kindness to the planet
For hundreds of thousands of Melbournites, there is simply no reasonable transport alternative to the car. Train stations have limited, insecure and usually very full car parks. Depending on where you live and work, the bus-train-tram dance can get not only time-consuming, but also expensive. And if you have children to drop off along the way, public transport is simply not worth the pressure on your sanity! But you don't have to resign yourself to being one of the environmental bad guys - today we check out some of the greenest models of used cars in Melbourne. It may be a car city, but we can still improve our green credentials!
1. Toyota Prius 1.5L hatch
Priusees have started to become available as used cars in Melbourne only recently - prior to 2009 or so, only new models were available, and there were some lengthy waiting lists for those! With 4.4L/km fuel consumption, the economics of buying these used vehicles in a car city work out very favourably ... plus you can feel good about it. Performance is actually quite good, and the hybrid drive system has been refined since the first generation over a decade ago.
2. Honda Civic Hybrid
These Melbourne used cars have an even better greenhouse rating (8.5) than the Prius (which scored 8 on Choice magazine tests), and they use only slightly more fuel - 4.6L per 100km. The technology for these Melbourne used cars is vey user friendly, and the build quality is fantastic.
3. Citroen C3 1.6L manual
These little used cars in Melbourne got a 5-star overall rating from Choice magazine, with fuel consumption of 6.2L per 100km and 8.5 out of ten for their air pollution rating. They do need premium unleaded, but they are well equipped, and have fantastic handling and ride characteristics. Immobilizers, central locking and automatic relocking are standard on most models.
4. Lexus GS450H Hybrid
Yes, we are looking at green used cars in Melbourne, not luxury used cars! The Lexus is perfect for buyers who want to feel fantastic in every material way, as well as loving their contribution to the planet's health. Its fuel consumption is nearly double that of the Prius, though still quite respectable at 7.9L per 100km.
5. Smart Fortwo 0.7L Auto
These tiny cars look strange now, but are certainly the way of the future. Their standard combustion engine runs on Premium ULP, and gets a neat 4.8L per 100km. It does feel a little more like a scooter or bike, with more ride noise than most of us are used to, but is amazingly easy to park and actually quite comfortable to sit in.
6. Mercedes-Benz A200 2.0L
Again, while Mercs are known more as a luxury car than a green car, the manufacturer has been putting a lot of effort into future-proofing their offering. A200 used cars in Melbourne rated well for green credentials with Choice Magazine, scoring 8.5/10 for air pollution and 7/10 for greenhouse impact. As you'd expect, they're pricier than other used cars Melbourne in their size range, but have excellent safety and comfort features, and great interior space despite their exterior looks.
