When Go Means Green: Earth-Friendly Family Cars

Today’s Family Cars Feature More Choices than Ever for Earth-Friendly Rides

By Keith Turner

Across the nation, active families are putting the brakes on their long-distance travel plans due to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline.

Yes, the all-American love affair with gas-guzzling SUVs and recreational ramblers may have gone the way of the VCR. We can no longer afford to wander the vast countryside without worry of where the next gallon of gas will be found, and how much it will cost to fill our monster machines. The days of endless road trips to faraway destinations appear to be a thing of the past.

But they don’t have to be. While the single-digit mileage machines are heading into storage – destined for the auto museums of the future (“Look, Dad, it’s a V8!”) – there are many new models of leaner, greener vehicles that provide renewed hope for the family vacation.

In fact, many mid- and large-sized SUVs are now available in hybrid versions, yet because of their weight and size characteristics, they still fall far short of the true gas misers. While they don’t chart fuel mileage high enough to be in the top 10, they certainly offer families more space and variety with significant gas savings over non-hybrids.

With assistance from Kristin Varela, Chief Mother and Senior Editor at MotherProof.com, and some automotive-expert input from the editors at Car and Driver magazine and Kelley Blue Book, and HybridCars.com expert Michael Coates, we’ve put together a list of some of the most fuel-efficient, family-friendly vehicles on the market today.

• Toyota Prius (46 mpg / $22,175) – By most accounts, the Prius is the original hybrid (although the Honda Insight actually came first), and it certainly is the most successful. The second-generation Prius has the most original appearance of any hybrid and stands out in the parking lot, often prompting some queries from parents who are interested in its fuel-saving capabilities.

MotherProof.com reports that the Prius’ bigger-than-expected rear passenger area is a pleasant surprise and the cargo space is large enough to fit a pair of child-sized bikes.

• Honda Civic Hybrid (42 mpg / $22,600) – For those who’d rather blend in than stand out, the Civic Hybrid is designed to look the same as the gas version. In fact, with a real-world mileage of 42 miles per gallon, the Civic Hybrid manages only about 7-10 mpg more than the conventional Civic, with a base price of $7,000 more for the hybrid version.