Eco-Friendly Cars.

         If you’ve spent the last several years riding a bike, taking public transportation, and getting by like the Flintstones (with the courtesy of your two feet), then perhaps you’ll be happy to hear that there are a number of environmentally (and economically) sound options when it comes to purchasing a personal vehicle. And unless you enjoy playing the guessing game when it comes to the sticky substance you just sat in on the bus, or fending off crazies and panhandlers on the subway, you may be thanking your lucky stars that there are now affordable options when it comes to hybrid and electric vehicles. Here are just a few that you may want to check out if you’re looking to do your part for the planet but you’re fed up with alternate forms of transportation.

1.Honda Insight. Slightly smaller and less expensive than the Civic hybrid, this vehicle is a wallet-friendly option for the couple (or single) looking to go green with their mode of transportation. With mileage coming in at a respectable 40 mpg city and 43 highway and a base price of around $20,000, this could just be one of the best deals on a new hybrid you’re bound to find.

2.Toyota Prius. Now in its third generation, one of the cars that kicked off the hybrid craze is better than ever after a very embarrassing couple of years for the company that produces it. With superb fuel economy (around 50 mpg), a truly affordable price (starting at $22,000), and an almost certain guarantee of safety (here’s hoping Toyota won’t repeat their past mistakes), you really can’t go wrong with this well-received vehicle.

3.Ford Escape Hybrid. We can’t all drive economy-size cars. For those of us with kids, dogs, and a bag full of soccer balls there’s another option. This hybrid SUV won’t give you the same fuel economy of smaller cars, but it delivers a decent leg up on the regular fare with 34 mpg city. And since it’s priced at just over $30,000 starting, it’s not beyond the means of anyone who was considering an SUV anyway.

4.Lexus HS. Lexus is a brand that has become synonymous with luxury, style, and safety, so it’s no surprise that their next step forward would be one of social consciousness. The hybrid engine gets 35 mpg, which is pretty good for a sedan (and makes it the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle currently on the market). It’s also ridiculously smooth, so even at a higher price point than some, it’s worth every penny.

5.Chevrolet Volt 230. There’s no doubt that this car is the culmination of many years of trials and tribulations by hybrid car makers. It can travel 40 miles on electricity alone and it gets an incredible 230 mpg elsewhere. Hard to believe, but that is their claim. It will cost you in the neighborhood of $40,000, but considering how much you’ll save on gas, it may be worth it.

BONUS: Tesla Roadster 2.5. Sadly, this gorgeous vehicle is out of the price range for most of us (starting at just over $100,000). But for those who can swing it, this may be the best fully electric vehicle on the market. With an estimated range of 245 per charge, you could just about make it from L.A. to Vegas without stopping (you’d miss it by about 25 miles). And it doesn’t hurt that speed tests clock this car’s 0-60 at 3.7 seconds. Beyond that, it’s just your average, run-of-the-mill sports car (as if anyone believes that!). But if you’re looking for a supremely stylish way to go green, Tesla delivers in spades.

Sarah Danielson writes for Cheaper Car Insurance where you can compare rates and the find the best deals on auto insurance.

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Mercedes Benz

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Kia Sportage 2011 : Review

     Kia has always been about value. Not necessarily good value, either. A cheap alternative to other vehicles, Kia focused on the bottom line and plastic interiors. But the South Korean-based carmaker is undergoing a renaissance of sorts, offering up an overhauled lineup that has some real lookers in it. The 2011 Kia Sportage is the brand's new look and one of the best surprises of 2010.

      It's a dubious honor for a midsize crossover for sure, but nonetheless, for the week I tested it, every time I walked out to my driveway, I was a little surprised to realize this is a Kia.  From sweptback front end — the headlights slash back over the front tires and below the clamshell-styled hood — to the big wheel flares to the chop flat back end, the Sportage looks extremely sporty.

         This is the new face of Kia, and that promises more good looking machines in the future. The steep windshield and curved roofline add to the Sportage's look, and the high belt light gives it a dramatic greenhouse that was previously the territory of big sedans.  Now, there are some exterior differences between the base model and the higher trim packages, such as the LX and EX, which make a big difference in the vehicle's appearance. The midlevel LX adds LED turn indicators on the exterior mirrors and offers tinted rear glass. The EX adds 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome body trim and chrome door handles. By far, the EX is the sharpest vehicle in the bunch — no doubt by design.

That's the dilemma I have with the Sportage.

           The base model feels like a value at $18,295 — undercutting the competition, such as the Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V. But the much more stylish EX model starts at $23,295, and when you start to add up all of the comfort and convenience packages, the price jumps higher and higher. My test model costs more than $28,000, and I can't see paying that much money for even this well-equipped crossover.

 Written by Scott Burgess/The Detroit News

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Land Rover Reports Strong Residual Values

            An industry report conducted by the UK's leading used car valuators, Glass's, has revealed that three Land Rover models are amongst the top ten ranked vehicles retaining the highest residual values over the first three years of ownership

The three year-old (57 plate) Land Rover Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto ranked in fourth place, Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 in sixth place, and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 ninth in the top ten ranked vehicles....read more
        

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Honda minivan tops in fuel economy

The redesigned-for-2011 Honda Odyssey is longer and wider than other major minivans, but it's still tops in fuel economy.
With sleeker styling and lighter weight than its predecessor, the roomy, V-6-powered 2011 Odyssey with six-speed automatic transmission is rated at 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway by the federal government.
For 2011, Variable Cylinder Management, which can automatically deactivate engine cylinders when they're not needed, such as when the van is coasting, is standard on all Odysseys. It previously was reserved for the top Odyssey models.
Best of all, perhaps, for everyone riding long distances in this van, the Odyssey has voice recognition commands for navigation and song selection as well as a 16.2-inch, ultrawide, split-screen-capable display that folds down from the ceiling raft of the front seats for good viewing by second- and third-row passengers. read more.

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