Driving Green is Travelling Clean

Look at a highway in any city and you’ll notice the same thing – a sea of air-polluting machines. But travel doesn’t have to be damaging, especially with these environmentally friendly vehicles.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
With a range of more than 1,126 kilometres on a single tank of gas, you can expect to go the distance – literally. The Ford Fusion Hybrid preserves Mother Earth with its Intake Variable Cam Timing (iVCT), allowing the car to flawlessly swap from gas to electric mode and back. Of course, the refined climate control is something to be reckoned with – it runs the gas engine only to heat the cabin. www.ford.com

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Going green doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. The Malibu Hybrid is one of the most affordable cars in Canada – and it’s good-looking, too. The new 17-inch low-rolling resistance tires contribute to better fuel economy and a sense of sporty style. Driving the Malibu Hybrid is nothing less than exciting; thanks to a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery pack that outputs more than 10,000 watts of maximum power. www.chevrolet.ca

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2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
With its Latin name translating “to go before,” the Prius was born over a decade ago when the green movement was still in its infancy. Toyota’s popularity as one of the most preferred brands, combined with years of ongoing improvements, makes this vehicle a hot commodity. With over 1.5 million sold worldwide, drivers appreciate qualities like the remote air conditioning system, solar panel moonroof, and the 90-per-cent-improved Hybrid Synergy Drive. www.toyota.ca

2009 Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid
Who says environmentally friendly cars have to be small and slow? Saturn’s 3.6-litre V-6 hybrid comes in the form of a compact SUV, offering fuel economy for the environment paired with power and towing capability for the sports enthusiast. The dual mode Vue allows for city driving at low speeds in all-electric power, engine power or both combined, and highway driving using fixed gear ratios and electric assistance in uphill and accelerating conditions. www.saturn.ca

2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
Quality and innovation have always been important to Nissan owners, and now they can take it a step further. Introducing the fifth model in the 2009 Altima lineup, complete with empathy for the Earth. Dubbed an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), this stylish ride releases almost no evaporative emissions. And if that doesn’t impress you, take note of the regenerative breaking technology that allows the hybrid’s battery to charge without plugging in. www.nissan.ca