About the Car Buyers’ Guide
Our choice of private car has one of the greatest single impacts we make on the environment. To help minimise this impact, the ETA produces this annual guide.
This year we have increased the range of models from many manufacturers but crucially, have only included those new cars that meet the Euro IV Directive on emissions. In all, the guide lists over 1,300 cars and includes most model types.
In addition to the table of detailed information on each car, we have provided a ranking system designed to take account of the overall performance of the cars featured. The Car Buyers’ Guide ranks the best cars in each category on the new car market today. Each car is given a points score on which the star rating is based. The methodology we have used is based on a statistical combination of four factors: power (engine capacity), carbon dioxide emissions, fuel consumption (urban cold cycle), noise.
For the purposes of the points system each factor is statistically modified to have an average of 50 and a similar standard deviation; this is to ensure that each factor has balanced weight in the final figure.
The methodology used produces points for every model in the list. The points are relative, not absolute. A different selection of models would produce different points. However, the order would in almost all scenarios remain the same. Therefore, as the list changes over time, and the general performance improves, a model that had not improved would lose points because its relative performance had declined.
The data applies to new cars only. As cars become older their performance changes, depending on wear and tear and the level of maintenance. Older versions of the models listed will tend to give poorer results but a well-cared for and maintained older car is likely to be less polluting than a poorly maintained newer car.
The list of top ten best cars show a selection from different categories: The best small family car, the top two large family cars, the top two city cars, the top two super-minis, the best small MPV, MPV and Executive car.
The top worst cars are the worst cars overall – separate lists show the cars with the highest CO2 emissions and the highest consumption of fuel. Where there are two similar models, only one is shown for the purposes of the top ten.
The ETA thanks all those vehicle manufacturers who provided images.
The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
