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The guidebook to green vehicles including fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered vehicles, along with electric, hybrid, diesel, and alternative-fueled vehicles. These vehicles saw a dip in depreciation and offer many cost benefits such as lower repair and maintenance bills, making going green a more affordable choice than in years past.

Green Vehicle Guides and Fuel Economy FAQs

Looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle? Read about the latest features to consider while car shopping, including fuel efficiency and vehicle safety technology.

Produced by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center (ARC), the AAA Green Car Guide not only defines what a green car is, but also explains the differences between various types of green vehicles. The guide also provides real-world evaluations of the vehicles to help potential buyers determine which car best suits their lifestyle.

Read online a printable version of the AAA Car Guide.

 Video: AAA Automotive Research Manager Megan McKernan soundbites, Tesla Model X b-roll on the streets and Tesla Model S b-roll on testing track

FuelEconomy.gov: Federal Tax Credits for All-Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

Federal Tax Credit

All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit. The credit amount will vary based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle. State and/or local incentives may also apply.

Small neighborhood electric vehicles do not qualify for this credit, but they may qualify for another credit.

FuelEconomy.gov

AAA Green Car Guide

AAA members can get a free copy of the AAA Green Car Guide at any AAA branch.

Vehicles in the guide are ranked from highest to lowest based on the following objective and subjective criteria:

  • EPA emission rating
  • Braking
  • Crashworthiness
  • Visibility
  • Handling
  • Ride quality
  • Fuel economy
  • Interior noise
  • Acceleration
  • Ease of entry and exit
  • Interior size
  • Turning circle
  • Luggage capacity

Each vehicle receives an overall score ranging from 0 to 10 for each characteristic and is evaluated relative only to the other vehicles in the guide, not to all vehicles available on the market. Each vehicle’s review provides a summary of the car and lists its strengths and weaknesses, as well as available safety features.

To search for specific vehicles that the ARC has evaluated, you can visit the AAA.com/GreenCar, where you will be able to search by vehicle type (e.g. subcompact), powertrain (e.g. hybrid), and price range.

 Public Downloads

All items are free to view, share, and download.

When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.

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