Are “eco” cars a worthwhile investment?
Many of the major car manufacturers have developed “eco” versions of their standard vehicles. Apparently, these variations use less fuel and produce fewer carbon emissions. But do they represent a good buy?
So many options!
Buying a car these days is not a simple process. Apart from the numerous styles available, there are many engine types to consider too. To make the decision even harder, another range of vehicles has been added to the already swollen ranks. Collectively, these are known as “eco” models. They are not hybrids or electric vehicles, but supposedly a greener, more efficient version of either the standard petrol or diesel model. But does the “eco” badge mean that the vehicle will use less fuel and be cheaper to run?
What’s available?
Most of the major players have produced their own take on an “eco” model. The brand names differ, but effectively they’re the same thing. From Ford, we have the “Econetic”, Volkswagen tag their range “BlueMotion” - you get the picture. However, although they all come under the same category, how these vehicles achieve their fuel-saving ability varies. These methods include turning the engine off when it’s stationary, e.g. at traffic lights, capturing energy from braking and being made more aerodynamic.
Do the sums add up?
Not according to research carried out for the News of the World (NOTW) newspaper (see The next step). It recently published an article which - in true NOTW style - heavily laid into these vehicles. In fact, the headline was “putting the con into economy”. The article, which included many facts and figures (all of which are available from the manufacturers) identified that in nearly all cases the “eco” version of the car worked out more expensive in the long run. One of the examples featured was the Volkswagen EOS BlueMotion. Due to the increase in the purchase price of the vehicle - a £985 premium - and the miles per gallon (mpg) saved, only 2.8mpg, it effectively costs the buyer £352 per mpg saved. This means that if the vehicle were to travel 12,000 miles per year, it would take twelve years before any savings were seen. And to make matters worse, those going for this vehicle as a company car, won’t see their tax bill cut either - it’s in the same income tax band as the standard model.
They’re not all bad
A Renault Clio Eco2 costs the same as the standard model and returns 12.1mpg more. And, another Renault, the Laguna Eco2, is almost as good. It only costs £205 extra and returns 6.2mpg more. Also, this model is two income tax brackets below the standard one.
Tip 1. You certainly shouldn’t discount these models completely, but if you do decide to buy a car with a green tint, it’s worth doing the sums first. In particular, look for a price hike over the standard model, the mpg improvement and, if applicable, the income tax band.
Tip 2. Don’t expect to recoup your additional investment when you sell the car. According to Glass’s Guide, the fact that the vehicle has an “eco” badge, does nothing for its resale value (see The next step).
For a copy of the NOTW article (EN 04.09.02A) and a weblink to Glass’s Guide (EN 04.09.02B), visithttp://environment.indicator.co.uk.
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