Green car reviews

MultiAir engine technology breaks the traditional link between performance and fuel consumption claim Alfa engineers and it's hard to disagree. This 135bhp petrol engine is 12.5% more powerful with better thr... read more

Though it breaks no new ground technically, Audi's A1 supermini, on sale in November, is keenly anticipated. That's because it provides Audi style and quality in a small car. All versions were happier on main... read more

Slick looking but surprisingly practical and easy to live with convertible, though as usual boot access is awkward. Quite expensive to buy but after that running costs look good with strong residuals and good... read more

Audi's compact executive model, the A3, matches proven style and quality with some impressive motorsport developed technology to show that petrol engines are by no means beaten in the war with diesel; well, p... read more

Audi has created the premium sector's lowest CO2 car with a special three-door version of the A3 using its all-new, economy optimised common rail 1.6 TDI engine with engine stop-start and energy recovery syst... read more

BMW is already a global award-winner for its stance on low emissions and its `Efficient Dynamics` power-train technology; According to Iain Robertson, going `green` with this premium brand is a... read more

Introduced at a time, when the motor industry is under intense pressure, you have to wonder about BMW's resolve with an H2-powered innovation. Iain Robertson provides a unique insight. Liquid hydrogen is... read more

Drive gently and you'll be amazed at the fuel economy BMW's Efficient Dynamics systems give this practical, but pricey sports activity vehicle. The sDrive versions are rear drive only with traction advantages... read more

Bags of showroom appeal with distinctive looks, good interior space and a much more up-market cabin than the outgoing model. Prices high by Citroen standards as you move further up the range and you nee... read more

Having created a name with Picasso, Citroen is now filling a niche with a C3 version, with which Iain Robertson can find NO areas of disagreement, and declares it as one of the best compact MPVs / family cars... read more

Without doubt one of the most stylish and eminently desirable new cars to emerge in recent times has been the Fiat 500, which Iain Robertson says is not just a retro-designed city car but is a genuine fashion... read more

With every carmaker in an understandable rush to place more economical models in the marketplace, Iain Robertson says that the latest newcomer to Fiat’s line-up – the `Eco` Bravo - should help to ... read more

Subtle but effective restyling and a revamped interior justifies the Punto's Evo, or evolution inspired name. But the new petrol and diesel engines are almost revolutionary in terms of increased efficiency wi... read more

Quintessentially quaint and curiously cubic, the all-new Fiat Qubo may get your goat with its strange name but Iain Robertson believes that its low-pollution, high-MPG and funky family aims will win it innume... read more

Although Ford Motor Company could never be accused of avoiding issues, its approach to eco-friendly transport is, according to Iain Robertson, considerably more conventional than its rivals'. When assess... read more

It has been a while since Ford Motor Company practiced a little bit of Latin in naming its models but, says Iain Robertson, a little bit of Ford is now deeply entrenched with Latin roots, as the all-new Ka hi... read more

While looks and price are going to sell the CR-Z, Honda's sporty looking coupe doesn't have the performance to match. Driven carefully this petrol-electric hybrid is as economical as a diesel, but push harder... read more

When he first saw the new Honda Insight, Iain Robertson was almost speechless with delight, and only slightly disconcerted that the second generation Insight appears to share some strong styling cues with the... read more

Get ready with the rubber boots, says Iain Robertson, because Hyundai's opening gambit for 2009 is a shockingly-good line-up of Corsa/Fiesta rivals that may make you reconsider your temporarily-shelved new ca... read more

Faced with demoralising fuel costs, councils slapping on city idling fines and high car costs, South Korean carmaker, Kia Motors, may well have the answer in the form of the new Eco-Kias - Iain Robertson took... read more

Most credible compact SUV whether you are going for style or genuinely need its off-road capabilities, in which case be careful on choice of tyres. At least as comfortable as a car to drive/ride in and ... read more

With a hybrid development featuring in almost every model of its line-up, Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota, enables even posh car buyers to go some way to satisfying thier environmental conscience, which Iain ... read more

If you are someone who equates eco-friendly transport with tiny motorcars, clockwork engines, disproportionately high prices and severe compromises, then, says Iain Robertson, look again at the Mercedes-Benz ... read more

As the first product of 'Projekt i' for BMW, a remarkable electric Mini not only introduces a clearly defined market sector but provides real-time responses to shape the Mini’s future and Iain Robertson dro... read more

Determining whether a car name is important or not has some relevance to Iain Robertson, who believes that rather than a nondescript `i`, the most compact and cleanest of Mitsubishi models should be c... read more

Motorists want more fun and emotion from their cars, says Nissan. Nissan was proved correct with its Qashqai ‘crossover.’ Some 80% of buyers have never bought Nissans before. And with strong advance order... read more

The Nissan LEAF (Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family) will change the way we think about cars. As most cars spend 97% of their lives parked and 80% of drivers cover less than 30 miles daily... read more

Don't panic! Iain Robertson knows that the Note is not a new model, having `enjoyed` that pleasure three years ago, however, its comprehensive mid-life revisions have turned it into a significantly be... read more

With a notable gap in its UK line-up, Nissan has finally introduced a sub-Micra model that delights Iain Robertson, although he wonders if one trick has been missed. Although there has been enough news c... read more

Looks good, especially in white, and performs well too though, like all cars it proved impossible to match the official laboratory test cycle figures in real life. General road noise/engine refinement c... read more

Graceful and a lot of car for your money. We're used to two-seater coupes from the German triumvirate but Peugeot, often with the assistance of Ferrari's chums, Italian styling house Pininfarina, has a longer... read more

Here’s a thing, the new 4x4 sector is currently dying on its wheels, although car buyers still want spacious cars offering a good view out, factors that Iain Robertson suggests could be combined in just o... read more

Lamborghini looks at Peugeot prices is the main selling criteria for the new RCZ coupe. It dishes up enjoyably brisk performance without too much financial pain providing you are not too aggressive with the r... read more

Ask people what features they want in a car and they want everything. So Renault has done its best to deliver with a four-seater that's also a convertible, and a coupe thanks to a folding metal roof, that ach... read more

The handsome Leon Ecomotive proves going green needn’t be painful and you don’t have to drive a car looking like a toad either. I achieved 57mpg with no attempt at economy driving. Cabin is much classier ... read more

While 4WD and turbocharged engines seem to have been on Subaru's main course menu for some years a need to attend to better MPG figures has led to the introduction of the collaborative, compact Justy, states ... read more

Solid, well-built, modern looking small hatchback with room for five adults thanks to high seating position and tall body. Not cheap but well fitted out with safety kit and other equipment. Pleasingly agile a... read more

Winner of WhatGreenCar's Car of the Year 2010 Award, the Auris brings petrol-electric hybrid motoring to the masses and the lowest CO2 taxes and fuel costs in the small family car market segment. Not a car fo... read more

Buyers are hardly falling over themselves in the rush to buy a smart car, which must make you wonder why Toyota wants a share of that city car sector, although Iain Robertson feels confident that 'intelligenc... read more

Forget the arguments about which hybrid was first to market, the best-seller by far is the Toyota Prius and, in its latest iteration, Iain Robertson still believes that it is the best of the bunch. Upwar... read more

Vauxhall bosses aren't exaggerating, or even showing off, when they say they believe their extended range electric car, the five-door, four-seater Ampera, could remove the car from the environmental debate fo... read more

One of Europe's most popular small cars has been through no less than five transformations since its introduction in 1975, yet, states Iain Robertson, none of them has been as ground-shaking as the latest ite... read more

This 4-seater sports coupe is easily my favourite 'green' car to date because it is enjoyable to drive, yet naturally economical without any effort from the driver. And gratifying improvements are possible wi... read more

Nobody prescribed that eco-driving had to be a painful experience as Ford-owned Swedish carmaker Volvo is prepared to demonstrate in its outstanding new diesel estate car – Iain Robertson investigates. ... read more

Volkswagen’s Polo BlueMotion pulls together all the German company knows about low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions in a quality package but there’s the usual price problem of small diesel cars. A 1... read more

Lots of style for the money. This sharp handling, two-door coupe looks nearly as striking as the original 1970's model penned by Italian design master Giorgetto Guigiaro, yet is practical - though watch o... read more