How to use the Data Tables                               Cymraeg

The ten best petrol vehicles
The ten best diesel vehicles

The data tables are split into the following Parts:

Part A Vehicles that meet Euro IV Emission Limits (Highest Standard)
Part B Vehicles that meet Euro III Emission Limits

Important Note

• Some cars may appear in more than one Part of the data table. The reason for this is that different specifications of the vehicle model in question have been approved to different exhaust emissions limits (e.g. Euro III or IV). Changes in exhaust emission levels do not necessarily result in a change in model description. In view of this, all of the Parts should be examined when searching for a vehicle. The presence of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the model description indicates the point from which a given vehicle met the Euro standard in question. If you select a car in a given Part make sure that the dealer understands that you require a car approved to the limits applicable to that Part

In using the tables of information, it may be helpful to note the following:

• models are listed under the name of the manufacturer or importer.
• the figures are obtained by running an example of the listed vehicle over a fixed route in a laboratory on a rolling road under closely controlled conditions. The test cycle is described later in the booklet.
• the results of the fuel consumption tests are shown both in litres per 100 kilometres and in miles per gallon. A conversion chart and conversion factors are given inside the back cover.
• CO₂ emissions and the results of the exhaust emissions test are shown in grammes per kilometre.
• the fuel cost of driving 12000 miles is calculated using the combined fuel consumption figure and an average fuel price which is assessed each year. Currently it is 80p/litre for petrol, and 84p/litre for diesel and 39p/litre for LPG.
• the external noise emitted by a car is shown in decibels as measured on the A scale of a noise meter. The A scale was devised to ‘weight’ the reading of a noise meter so it more closely represented what is heard by the human ear. The noise test is described in more detail later in the booklet.
• It is important to note that figures shown in the booklet are for comparison of different models and will not necessarily be the same as the fuel consumption, emissions levels, or noise levels actually achieved on the road. For this reason it is not advisable to rank a number of vehicles for which very similar figures are quoted.
• The test to test variability in type approval emission figures (on the far right of the tables) means they are of only limited value in comparing vehicles and caution should be exercised when considering these figures. More detail is given later in the booklet.
• Low volume manufactures can use figures obtained from US type approval tests to gain approval for sale within the EU. The test cycle used for the US type approval is different to the European test cycle and therefore the figures obtained are not directly comparable.
  

The models listed below have been tested to US test procedures, and achieved the figures listed.

• CO₂ Information - The CO₂ figures shown are representative of the vehicle tested and may vary between specifications (variants/versions) of a given model. As such the figures are indicative only. A definitive figure for a given specification (variant/version) will be available at the point of sale.

OTHER RELEVANT ISSUES
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) - From March 2001 a vehicle’s CO₂ figure has been used as the basis for applying VED, or "Road Tax" rates for new passenger cars. The vehicle’s CO₂ figure is shown on the V5 (Registration Document). Further information can be found on the DVLA web site http://www.dvla.gov.uk/newved.htm. A VED calculator is available on the VCA website www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk . The purpose of this calculator is to provide an indicative view of the VED that may be payable on a given car.

Company Car Tax – From April 2002 the benefit-in-kind tax charged for company cars has been based on the CO₂ emissions of a vehicle. This will apply to all company cars registered from January 1998 onwards. Further details can be found on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cars. For cars registered from March 2001, the CO₂ figure used to calculate company car tax will be that shown on the car’s V5 (Registration Document). An arrangement has been made with the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) to supply historic CO₂ information for cars registered between January 1998 and March 2001. This data can be accessed through the SMMT website at http://www.smmt.co.uk/co2/co2intro.cfm

Powershift Programme – This is a Government sponsored programme, the purpose of which is to support the purchase of alternatively fuelled vehicles. Powershift provides information on all aspects of clean fuel vehicles and can, under certain circumstances, provide grants to help offset the extra cost of purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle or converting an existing vehicle to run on alternative fuel. More information is available on the Powershift website www.transportenergy.org.uk.
To give a comparison and to show what is achievable, the tables below show the ten best petrol and ten best diesel cars in terms of CO₂ emissions. All the models shown are selected from the full list. The fuel cost is given for comparison purposes, for any given vehicle it will depend on the actual fuel consumption achieved and the price you pay for fuel. A similar table will be included for Alternative Fuel vehicles as more information becomes available. The purpose of the tables below is to provide a representative sample. Consequently where there are several specifications of a vehicle model with similar fuel consumption figures, only a single entry is given below.

The ten best petrol vehicles

The ten best diesel vehicles

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