The 10 Best Green Cars of 2015

Cars and Drivers

Published: April 16, 2015 12:50 pm

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 5:56 am

The editors at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) issued their 2015 list of the top green cars on Thursday. The list includes all-electric (EV), plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), hybrid (HEV) and diesel fuel-powered models.

KBB’s executive editorial director and executive market analyst Jack Nerad said:

The list of ‘green’ vehicle standouts continues to blossom, and with strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements coming down the pipeline, auto manufacturers are making stronger advancements each year in creating more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

At number 10, the Jetta is the only diesel-powered car on the KBB list. The manufacturer’s suggested list price (MSRP) on the basic 2.0-liter model is $22,460, according to KBB. The Jetta TDI sold a total of 8,151 cars in the United States last year, according to HybridCars.com, and has sold 5,750 in the first three months of 2015.

Ford C-Max Hybrid

The C-Max hybrid from Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) ranked ninth this year, down two spots from 2014. Ford sold 8,511 of the cars in 2014 and has sold 1,685 thru March of this year. An EV version is also available, the C-Max Energi. The basic SE version of the hybrid carries an MSRP of $24,995. Ford also offers a PHEV version of this car.

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Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Camry hybrid is new to the list this year. In 2014, Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) sold 8,782 units of the Camry hybrid in the United States and sales so far in 2015 total 6,992 units. The MSRP on the car is $27,615 for the base model.

Chevrolet Volt

At number seven in the rankings, the Chevy Volt from General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) dropped one place from last year’s ranking. A plug-in hybrid, the Volt sold 3,606 cars in the United States last year and has sold 1,874 so far this year. In 2013, GM sold 4,244 units of the Volt. KBB lists the base model MSRP at $35,170.

Tesla Model S

The Model S sedan is sixth on KBB’s list, down one spot from its 2014 ranking. Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) sold about 37,000 of the cars in the United States last year and an estimated 4,900 so far this year. The MSRP on the Model S is $71,070, according to KBB.

Honda Accord Hybrid

The fifth-ranked 2015 Accord hybrid from Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) sold 2,781 units in the country in 2014, and it has sold 2,585 so far in 2015. The car has slipped from its fourth ranking in 2014. The MSRP for the car is $30,125, according to KBB.

Toyota Prius

The venerable Prius hybrid remains the best-selling hybrid in the United States by a long shot. The liftback model has sold 23,871 units so far in 2015, the Prius C sedan has sold 8,879 units and the Prius V has sold 6,279 units. The three models own about 45% of the U.S. market for hybrids. The MSRP on a base model Prius is $25,025.

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Nissan Leaf

The third-ranked Nissan Leaf slipped from its second-place ranking of a year ago. The car has sold 4,085 units so far in 2015, compared with 5,184 in all of 2014. The MSRP for the base model is $29,860.

Volkswagen e-Golf

The e-Golf is an all-new VW model for 2015, and it enters the top 10 list with a second-place ranking. The all-electric battery-powered model has a range of 83 miles. VW has sold just 506 units so far this year. The e-Golf carries an MSRP of $36,345.

BMW i3

Topping the list for the second straight year is BMW’s i3. BMW has sold 2,681 units so far in 2015, between its battery electric version and its PHEV version. The MSRP on the car is $43,350. BMW sold 6,092 units of the i3 in the United States last year.

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