Comfort and kindness with the planet.
For millions upon thousands of Melburnians, there is simply no reasonable transportation alternative to the car. Train stations have limited, unsafe and usually very crowded parking. Depending on where you live and work, the bus-train-tram dance can not only be time-consuming, but also expensive. And if you have kids to drop off along the way, it’s just not worth pushing public transport for your sanity! But you don’t have to resign yourself to being one of the environmental baddies: today we take a look at some of the greenest used car models in Melbourne. It may be a car city, but we can still improve our green credentials!
1.Toyota Prius 1.5L Hatch
Priusees have only recently started to become available as used cars in Melbourne: prior to 2009 or so, only new models were available, and there were some long waiting lists for those! With a fuel consumption of 4.4 l/km, the economics of buying these used vehicles from a car town are very favourable… plus you can feel good about it. Performance is pretty good, and the hybrid powertrain has been perfected since the first generation more than a decade ago.
2. Honda Civic Hybrid
These used cars from Melbourne have an even better greenhouse rating (8.5) than the Prius (which scored an 8 in Choice magazine tests), and they use only slightly more fuel: 4.6L per 100 km. The technology in these Melbourne used cars is very easy to use and the build quality is fantastic.
3.Citroen C3 1.6L manual
These little used cars in Melbourne earned a 5-star overall rating from Choice magazine, with a fuel consumption of 6.2l per 100km and an 8.5 out of ten for their air pollution rating. They require premium unleaded petrol, but are well equipped and have fantastic handling and driving characteristics. Immobilizers, central locking and automatic relocking are standard on most models.
4. Lexus GS450H Hybrid
Yes, we are looking for eco-friendly used cars in Melbourne, not luxury used cars! The Lexus is perfect for buyers who want to feel great in every material way, as well as love their contribution to the health of the planet. Its fuel consumption is almost double that of the Prius, although it is still quite respectable with 7.9 l per 100 km.
5. Smart Fortwo 0.7L Auto
These tiny cars look strange now, but they are certainly the way of the future. Its standard combustion engine runs on Premium ULP and gets 4.8L per 100km. It feels a bit more like a scooter or bike, with more running noise than most of us are used to, but it’s incredibly easy to park and quite comfortable to sit on.
6.Mercedes-Benz A200 2.0L
Again, while Mercs are better known as a luxury car than a green car, the automaker has gone to great lengths to future-proof its offering. The A200 used cars in Melbourne earned a good green credentials rating with Choice Magazine, scoring 8.5/10 for air pollution and 7/10 for greenhouse impact. Unsurprisingly, they are more expensive than other used Melbourne cars in their size range, but they have excellent safety and comfort features, and great interior space despite their outward appearance.
As these new car models get older, you are sure to find them at the best used car dealers in and around Melbourne. Some are probably already available through reputable dealers so you can drive away, not only with a great deal, but feeling a little less guilty about your carbon footprint!