subject: Green luxury vs smart brand cars [print this page] How do luxury brand cars stand up to eco friendly smart car company?
If you don't know who smart is: The smart brand is about environmental friendliness and contemporary functionality. Smart fortwo's innovative concept has combined sustainable, forward-looking technologies with individual urban mobility. Its distinctive design made smart an automotive lifestyle icon which shows that mobility, responsibility for the environment and joie de vivre are compatible with one another. In other words, they are that other really compact car you see people driving now.
With smart's commitment to lower emissions, how can they compare to these luxury hybrids when it comes to fuel economy? The smart fortwo's have 41/33 that's about the same as the Jaguar XJ (which has 40 mgp highway). Though the Jaguar XJ can hold its own against the smart fortwo's, other luxury brands cannot rise up to their fuel economy (brands like Lexus, Mercedes Benz, and Cadillac all have their fuel efficiency at about 23-26 mpg highway).
One of the great things about smart cars is that they're very economic. The 2011 smart fortwo is anywhere from 12,635 to 18,635. Out of the luxurious brands, Lexus came in as more affordable with the MSRP of 42,685, the most expensive luxury car that has a MSRP of 87,950 is the Mercedes Benz (the Jaguar XJ was about 1.000 less).
After much searching, we have revealed 4 top luxury green fuel efficient cars. Beginning with the Mercedes-Bendz S Class Hybrid combines a gasoline-powered V-6 engine with an electric motor which is how they pull off their super-ultra-low emissions and high efficiency. Overall the engine generates a combined 295 horsepower and as 26/19 fuel efficiency. The 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid which boasts that they're the world's only full-size luxury hybrid SUV. The engine is a 6.0L V8 with the fuel efficiency of 23 mpg highway.
The next hybrid we're featuring is the 2010 Lexus RX450h, which is a hybrid that has a V-6, 3.5 liter engine and has 32/28 mpg (which is only surpassed by Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid) which makes it one of the most fuel efficient luxury brand out there.
The 2011 Jaguar XJ's engine is equipped with the 3.0-liter AJ-V6D turbo-diesel which can get a fuel economy of 40 mpg highway.
For all those not taking note, which means the luxury cars with the best fuel economy are:
1. 2011 Jaguar XJ
2. 2010 Lexus RX450h
3. 2010 Mercedes-Bendz S Class Hybrid
4. 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
Though they are all great options for eco friendly cars the all electric smart fortwo's coming in 2012 (you might have heard the excitement in regards to the new 2011 fortwo all electric drive, but these are being made in small quantity). The assembly of these small electric cars are happening in the plant in and is producing 1,500 units. After production they will be testing the all electric cars on consumers in the bigger European cities so that they can get customer feedback.
