The Toyota Prius has been selected No. 1 by Kelley Blue Book on its 2010 Top 10 Green Cars list. Despite is recall woes, the Prius was chosen for its fuel efficiency, solar-powered ventilation system and high tech navigation, among other features.Kelley Blue Book reviews new cars, but is best known as the source for prices of used cars, recognized the Prius for The compilation is not just a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States. Instead Kelley Blue Book chose to include a variety of vehicles because the Prius isn’t always going to be the best choice for everyone who wants a more environmentally friendly vehicle.
“To be considered for the green Top 10, each vehicle was required to offer fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions superior to the bulk of vehicles in its class and at the same time provide all the safety, creature comforts and driving enjoyment that would make it pleasant to own,” explain Kelley Blue Book. “So while the top 10 green vehicles are listed in order from most fuel-efficient to least fuel-efficient, fuel ratings weren’t the sole reason for inclusion on the list.
The 2010 Chevrolet Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, No. 10, is the least fuel-efficient vehicle chosen with No. 9 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. But it has a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg, but the 5,900-pound vehicle has good room for a large family and its 21 mpg city mileage is six miles better than the non-hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe.
Here’s the 2010 Top 10 list:
1. Toyota Prius, 50 mpg combined.
2. Honda Insight Hybrid, 41 mpg combined
3. Ford Fusion Hybrid, 39 mpg combined
4. Volkswagen Golf TDI, 34 mpg combined
5. MINI Cooper, 32 mpg combined
6. Ford Escape Hybrid, 32 mpg combined
7. Honda Fit, 31 mpg combined
8. BMW 335d, 27 mpg combined
9. Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 22 mpg combined
10. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, 22 mpg combined.
Article Last Updated: September 13, 2010.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
This is not surprising one as the Toyota Prius is the only vehicle which is driving most of U.S. consumers to go ahead with hybrids. Apart from recalling we are fine with this vehicle's fuel consumption, appearance, safety features etc. Now it's all confirmed by Kelley Blue Book ratings.