Ford Edge Cars

Ford Edge Cars

In an article in the Christian Science Monitor it was reported that in a poll 52% of Americans are still afraid of the effects of Global Warming in their lifetime. Shockingly enough, just 3 years ago that number was about 77%. Take what you want from this poll but it seems many people might be a bit more concerned nowadays with making their mortgage payments and keeping food on the table. It is easy to worry about the planet when you have lots of cash in your wallet.

But just because you can't afford the luxury of expensive hybrid technology doesn't mean you can't buy an affordable, fuel efficient vehicle. If you think about it, driving a car with good fuel economy helps out the environment by lessening our dependence on oil and damaging oil drilling expeditions. Hybrids truly are only a stop gap technology while we figure out a different method of mass propulsion.

Many other people are intimidated by hybrids and fear that in an accident the car will electrocute them somehow. That, as yet, has not proven to be true but with all the complexities of a hybrid car they can be prohibitively expensive to fix.

But if you are in an accident all local emergency are trained to deal with hybrid accidents. Still not convinced? Well, here are five highly fuel efficient, fun to drive family vehicles from different price ranges with gasoline or diesel engines. Sorry, no Mr.Fusion powerplants quite yet. (Apologies for the obscure "Back to the Future" film reference.)

2010 VW Golf TDI—(Starting at $22,860)

(31 city/40 highway)—The Golf is all new for 2010 and features the most luxurious feeling interior of any compact car to date so don't have any visions of plastic fantastic torture chambers like the inside of the Honda Insight. Commuting in the insight is akin to spending the night at Guantanamo Bay Prison/Motor Inn. The Golf rides smoothly and all interior controls move with a surefootedness only the Germans seem to have mastered. By buying a diesel you also qualify for a sizable income tax voucher.

Penny pinchers take note! The Golf TDI in recent years has attracted such a rabid following that most used models attract prices near their original MSRP. That just never happens unless it is a Ferarri. So just imagine how much demand there will be on the used market for your Golf featuring the cutting edge 2.0 liter turbodiesel with 140 horsepower and a thumping 236 pound feet of torque? Add in the fact that diesel fuel is now cheaper in many states than regular unleaded and you have an incredible bargain here.

(Note: The TDI is also available in the Jetta sedan and Jetta Sportwagen.

BMW X535d Diesel—(Starting at $51,200)

(19 city/26 highway)—Considering how heavy this diesel is and the fact that it can reach speeds of 130 miles per hour those fuel economy figures are impressive. But in all honesty most drivers on message boards are reporting average mileages in the thirties which is positively insane for an SUV with this much power.

If you don't want to skimp on your luxuries or power (236 horsepower/425 lb. feet of torque) then the X5 might just be the perfect "green" choice for you. And as those 425 pound feet of torque push you back into your seat as the light turns green, you can take heart knowing that you are saving a couple of trees. Grinning from ear to ear is optional but highly suggested.

Honda Fit—(Starting at $14,900)

(27 city/33 highway)--The vehicle that single handedly proved that Americans would buy inexpensive, fuel efficient hatchbacks as long as they were of good quality. Americans had earlier burned out after years of substandard Escorts, Cavaliers, Citations and Vegas to such a degree that the body style would have died out without imports from other countries. It seems odd now to imagine people thinking that having a trunk makes your car more reliable.

The Fit arrived in this country and Honda had very low expectations for the model. Somewhere around 40,000 units a year actually turned into 120,000. It seems Honda had found an ownership who wanted a surprisingly roomy subcompact that they could rely on. Not only is the Fit reliable, it can also be a hoot to drive with its zoomy steering, crisp five speed manual and taut handling. It's sort of like piloting a big go-kart and for that reason its owners love it. You see, you can save the earth and have fun doing it. Someone tell that to Al Gore.

Chevy Equinox—(Starting at $22,240)

(25 city/32 highway) The 2.4 Ecotec 185 horsepower 4-Cylinder in the all new Chevy Equinox unexpectedly launched it into the forefront of the compact crossover segment (or the cute-ute segment as I like to call it.) The reason? Well its fuel economy figures not only beat the CR-V, RAV-4 and Rogue but they also trump the Ford Escape Hybrid. Yes, that was the slap heard across Detroit. About time GM responded though. How long has that Ford Escape hybrid been on the market? Five years?

While this is only the beginning of the work automakers have facing them regarding fuel efficiency it is an important step especially for beleaguered GM. One caveat about this vehicle: the controls on the center dashboard feature so many illegible buttons and knobs that it is nigh on unusable. I guess GM spent all the money on their new drivetrain and weren't checking in on those dashboard designers enough. What a shame. Yet another "imperfect" GM car.

Ford Fusion—(Starting at $19,620)

(23 city/34 highway)—Now for a much more "perfect" American car. The Ford Fusion was recently ranked by Consumer Reports as the second most reliable family vehicle in the United States after the Toyota Prius (how ironic. Don't ya think?). Besides being trouble free the Fusion also has EPA fuel economy ratings with the four cylinder model that tops even Camry, Altima and Accord. This new Duratec engine is also very close to the levels of NVH (Noise/Vibration/Harshness) found in the sewing machine smooth Honda engine.

So if you are also the type who doesn't like the admittedly slug like styling of the Prius there is a perfectly sensible option here in the Ford Fusion. And finally it appears you can depend on their reliability. After all, "Quality is Job One." Apparently now so is fuel efficiency.