Kermit the Frog never thought it was easy being green, but with consumers increasingly aware of the impact of the automobile on the environment, it’s definitely getting easier for car buyers to be green. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Alternative Powertrain StudySM, which includes an Automotive Environmental Index (AEI) to help consumers gauge how different models rank in terms of environmental performance, car buyers have a wide range of small, family, and luxury models from which to choose when leaving a smaller environmental footprint is a shopping priority. There are even a few multi-activity vehicles (also known as SUVs) and a couple of models that are genuinely fun to drive in the sun that make the 2007 AEI Top 30 list.
To calculate the AEI, J.D. Power and Associates combines verified owner “voice of the customer” survey feedback and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data about fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases for 2007 model-year vehicles. Then, the models are ranked by the resulting index scores and the AEI recognizes the top 30 models with the highest overall score.
Highlights of this year’s Alternative Powertrain Study and the AEI:
- Seven of every 10 consumers believe that the United States is currently faced with an energy crisis, and 77 percent of consumers are considering alternative powertrain vehicles (such as hybrid-electric, flexible fuel, or clean diesel) for their next new-vehicle purchase.
- Toyota is the nameplate with the most models on the AEI, within the top 30, taking six slots. If Lexus is included in Toyota’s tabulation, it has eight models in the top 30.
- Ford Motor Company takes five slots in the top 30 on this year’s AEI, including the Mazda 3.
- Nissan’s three redesigned 2007 cars—the Versa, Sentra, and the Altima (pictured at right)—all earn recognition on the 2007 AEI. For the Altima, this distinction does not include the Hybrid model, which debuted too late in the year for consideration.
- Ten of this year’s AEI models are hybrids, up from eight in 2006.
Learn more about the J.D. Power and Associates AEI and the top-performing models for 2007 by choosing a vehicle segment below:
Go to Subcompact Cars
Go to Compact Cars
Go to Midsize Cars
Go to Multi-Activity Vehicles
Go to Initial Quality Study Article
Go to APEAL Study Article
