The Least and Most Polluting Cars of 2009

Top 20 Least Polluting Vehicles of 2009
20th place (tie): Saturn Astra, Ford Focus, Mazda3, Pontiac G5, Nissan Versa
A number of cars post a CO2 per year rating of 3,552 kg. The Saturn Astra with a manual transmission, the Ford Focus with an automatic transmission (which should get better with the double-clutch model in 2010), the 2.0-liter Mazda3 with a manual transmission (the only Mazda on the list), the Pontiac G5 with an automatic transmission and the Nissan Versa with an automatic transmission.

19th place (tie): Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 (manual)
Equipped with a manual transmission, the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 improve their score to 3,504 kg/year of CO2.

19th place (tie): Hyundai Elantra (manual)
The Hyundai Elantra with a manual transmission also releases 3,504 kg of CO2 per year.

18th place (tie): Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Versa, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe
Measuring in at 3,456 kg/year of CO2 are the Ford Focus manual, Hyundai Elantra automatic, Nissan Versa manual, and Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix models equipped with the 1.8-litre engine with automatic.

18th place (tie): Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD
The Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD is the only SUV of this Top 20, releasing 3,456 kg/year.

17th place: Pontiac Wave, Chevrolet Aveo, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix, Honda Civic
Several cars produce 3,408 kg/year: the Chevrolet Aveo and the Aveo5 with an automatic transmission (and their cousins, the Pontiac G3 and Suzuki Swift+), the Honda Civic with a manual transmission as well as the 1.8-liter Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe with a manual transmission.

16th place: Nissan Sentra (2.0L, CVT)
Sitting all alone in 16th place is the Nissan Sentra with a CVT automatic transmission, releasing 3,386 kg of CO2 per year.

15th place (tie): Mini Cooper, Clubman, Convertible, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Aveo, Saturn Aura Hybrid
Many cars produce 3,312 kg/year: the Chevrolet Aveo and the Aveo5 with a manual transmission (and, of course, the Pontiac G3 and Suzuki Swift+), the Hyundai Accent with a manual transmission, the non-turbocharged Mini with an automatic transmission (Cooper, Clubman or Convertible) as well as the Saturn Aura Hybrid.

15th place (tie): Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Like the Saturn Aura, the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid produces 3,312 kg/year of CO2.

14th place (tie): Chevrolet Cobalt XFE, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper S, Clubman S, Convertible S
Checking in at 3,264 kg/year of CO2 are the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE (and the Pontiac G5 XFE), the Kia Rio with an automatic transmission, the Hyundai Accent (automatic), the MINI Cooper S (Coupe, Clubman or Convertible) with a manual transmission as well as all the John Cooper Works.

13th place: Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel (DSG)
With the new clean diesel technology and a double-clutch transmission, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel produces 3,240 kg of CO2 per year.

12th place (tie): Kia Rio (manual)
The Kia Rio equipped with a manual transmission does better than the comparable Hyundai Accent with 3,216 kg of CO2 per year.

12th place (tie): Toyota Corolla (non-XRS, manual)
The Toyota Corolla with a 1.8-liter engine and a manual transmission produces 3,216 kg of CO2 per year.

11th place (tie): The clean diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI
The clean diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel with a manual transmission releases 3,186 kg of CO2 per year, the same as the wagon version.

10th place: Toyota Corolla (non-XRS, automatic)
The Toyota Corolla with an automatic transmission fares better than the manual version at 3,168 kg/year.

9th place (tie): Honda Fit (manual)
The Honda Fit with a manual transmission releases 3,120 kg of CO2 per year.

9th place (tie): Honda Civic (manual)
Although equipped with a bigger engine than the automatic-transmission Fit, the Honda Civic with a manual transmission produces about the same amount of CO2, with 3,120 kg/year.

8th place (tie): Honda Fit (automatic)
The Honda Fit with an automatic transmission produces 3,072 kg of CO2 per year.

8th place (tie): Toyota Yaris (automatic)
The Toyota Yaris with an automatic transmission posts the same performance as the Fit, with 3,072 kg/year.

7th place (tie): All 1.6-liter Minis – Cooper Clubman and Convertible
With a manual transmission produce 3,024 kg/year.

7th place (tie): Toyota Yaris (manual)
The Toyota Yaris with a manual transmission releases just over 3 tons of CO2 per year, with 3,024 kg.

6th place: Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD
Without the all-wheel-drive system, the Ford Escape Hybrid produces just under 3 tons of CO2 – 2,928 kg/year to be exact.

5th place: Nissan Altima Hybrid
One of the sportiest driving hybrids around, the Nissan Altima Hybrid checks in at 2,784 kg/year.

4th place: Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry Hybrid tops the large sedans category, with 2,736 kg of CO2 each year. But watch out for competition from the new Ford Fusion Hybrid which will arrive in showrooms later this spring …

3rd place: Smart Fortwo
Despite its small size, the Smart fortwo and the convertible version produce 2,592 kg per year. Surely, you’d think that this car could do better!

2nd place: Honda Civic Hybrid
The Honda Civic Hybrid may not have the look of a green car but it produces just 2,160 kg/year.

1st place: Toyota Prius
This was to be expected. The most fuel-efficient car in the country is also the least polluting vehicle, with 1,968 kg of CO2 per year. And that’s not all. The next-generation Prius is more fuel efficient; it seems as if Toyota will hold on to its first place position in this category.

Source;
http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/showpage/LeastPolluting2009.aspx

Source for the MOST POLLUTING CARS OF 2009
http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/showpage/MostPolluting2009.aspx