Top 10 Worst Vehicles for the Environment
Newton’s third law says that for every action, there is a reaction. You might have seen the list of the 10 greenest cars of 2015 on AutoGuide.com earlier this week. While Newton’s third law doesn’t exactly apply here, you get the idea.
This ranking comes from GreenerCars.org, a site that analyzes the fuel economy, emissions and environmental impact from the manufacturing of vehicles. After combining that information, the site comes up with a “Green Score.” This ranking is about the vehicles that are the “meanest” to the environment. Naturally, the ranking is full of big trucks and fast exotics; essentially purpose built vehicles, but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from being criticized for their poor environmental record.
[Source: Greenercar.org]
Thanks to the gorgeous Ferrari FF, we get to start this list off with a bang. One of two Ferrari’s on the market with all-wheel drive (only if you include the super-exclusive LaFerrari hybrid-supercar) the FF is also one of the most practical models in the brands lineup. With seating for four and a shooting brake body style, the FF turns heads and appeals to the more rational Ferrari customer. Of course, that’s before you look at the car’s fuel efficiency. The 12-cylinder engine is rated at 11 mpg in the city and 17 on the highway, which leads to a combined fuel economy rating of just 13. That leads to a pitiful green score of 23, but with a total of 651 hp to play with, it’s easy to forgive the FF for being so mean to the environment.
The large luxury SUV from Lexus comes in with a green score of 23 out of 100. Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V8 engine that makes 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque. That might sound like a lot of thrust, but the LX 570 weighs 6,000 lbs, leading this beast to a 14 MPG combined rating.
This Toyota SUV has a green score of 23 and comes in at the number nine spot. Like the LX 570, the Sequoia sports a 5.7-liter V8, which lends to its woeful fuel economy rating of 14 MPG. This big, family-friendly SUV seats eight and starts at $45,320 including delivery.
Sorry Lamborghini. Despite the sexy, fast and desirable cars you make, they just aren’t that good for the environment, and in today’s forward thinking world it’s penalized for it. But for a minute, lets forget its terrible 12 MPG combined rating, and instead drool over its 6.5-liter V12 engine that makes 700 hp and allows this 3,400 lb exotic to hit 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds. That earns it a green score of 23 and puts a frown on mother nature, but if you can afford the cars $400,000 plus price tag, would you care?
Rolls-Royce may be known for high-class motoring, but according to GreenerCars.org, it should also be known for being mean to the environment. The Phantom Drophead coupe is powered by a 6.7-liter V12 engine that results in a combined fuel economy rating of 14 mpg, and a green score of 23.
The Mercedes G Class is a bold, boxy SUV that’s equipped with a 5.5-liter 382-hp V8 that propels this truck’s 5,578 lb. body around the streets, trails or whatever else gets in the way. Combine that with its poor aerodynamics and the G 550 manages to get a pitiful 13 combined MPG. That’s why it got a score of 22. That’s pretty bad, but not as bad as the final five on the list.
The G63 AMG is very similar to the G 550, but is more powerful making 536 hp thanks to the bi-turbo 5.5-liter V8 found under the hood. Interestingly enough, the EPA rates this car with the same 13 mpg combined as its less powerful sibling, despite managing one less mpg on the highway than the G 550. That’s enough to give the car a 21 green score from the environmental advocacy group.
The Bentley Mulsanne will set you back over $300,000. The turbocharged 6.8-liter V8 makes 505 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. It manages just 11 mpg in the city. Truthfully though, the people who buy cars like the Bentley Mulsanne probably don’t care about what GreenerCars.org says about the environmentally friendliness of any of its cars.
Chevy’s ancient cargo van takes the number two spot, with a green score of just 18. Equipped with 6.0-liter V8 engine, the 2500 express makes just 342 HP and is good for just 12 MPG combined. That may sound pretty good, but as this is a flex-fuel vehicle and when running on E85, the car just gets nine MPG combined and a total driving range of just 279 miles. Ouch!
With a green score of just 17 out of 100, the Ram 2500 HD is ranked as the “meanest” vehicle on GreenerCar.org’s list. But HD pickup trucks aren’t EPA rated. The site also didn’t include other HD pickup trucks in its list, so the Ram 2500 HD is getting a nod on this list, but not a numbered spot.
Sami has an unquenchable thirst for car knowledge and has been at AutoGuide for the past six years. He has a degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and has won multiple journalism awards from the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada. Sami is also on the jury for the World Car Awards.
More by Sami Haj-Assaad
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Yeah, but how many miles actually get put on a Veyron? There are people like me that would drive it all the time but the people that own them are just using them as investments. (Similar mileage comment for the Aventador as well.)
All of which are usually owned by rich elite democrats like Al Gore, who preaches climate change and owns expensive fossil fuel machines an mansions that use more fossil fuel in 1 months than the average single family home in 1 yr.