Best low-emission cars

Hybrid and electric cars have finally reached a wider audience. For years, they’ve occupied a small niche in the commercial market - they were expensive, their capabilities were lower than that of combustion vehicles, and there were simply very few options to choose from. The last decade showed automakers that it’s possible to make an EV and succeed.

Besides, many countries have doubled down on their efforts to promote low-emission cars. The UK government wants 50%-70% of new cars to be ultra-low emission (plug-in hybrid) and almost 100% to be zero emission (100% electric or hydrogen-powered). As a potential buyer, you can even expect government incentives and support.

Now comes the tough question: which car to choose? Continue reading to see the best picks in the low-emission mobility market.

Carplus helps you get the best deals on low-emission cars!

At Carplus, we’re happy to help everyone find the perfect car. We’re working with the best dealerships in the country to locate numerous cars with low CO2 emissions. But more importantly, we’ll make it easy for you to get approved for car finance.

But there is no limit to what you can find here. Whether you’re looking for cars with electric power, petrol engines, or diesel motors, head over to our tool, we’ll find something in the budget-friendly or premium sector, anything you wish for.

What is a low-emission car?

A low-emission car, or some say green car, is a vehicle that produces relatively low levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its tailpipe. Gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide also contribute to air pollution, but there are not always included in tests.

Here are the official UK standards:

• Cars that produce less than 100 grams of CO2 for every kilometre travelled are classified as low-emission vehicles.
• Cars that produce less than 75 grams of CO2 emissions for every kilometre travelled are classified as ultra-low-emission.

Any car can qualify as low or ultra-low, even those with petrol and diesel engines. Although, hybrid or electric vehicles are more likely to fall under either category.

You may want to read - Best ULEZ-Exempt Cars in 2023

Many car models listed below come with petrol or diesel engines. But we’ll focus on engines with rather low exhaust emissions instead of covering the whole range.

1. Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is the reimagined classic from the 1950s with a familiar Italian flair. It’s one of the smallest cars on the market that somehow manages to retain valuable interior space.

The 1.0-litre, the three-cylinder petrol engine is supplemented by a mild-hybrid technology. The combination of a 12-volt starter generator and a lithium-ion battery can offer a 115-mile range (23.7kWh battery) or a 199-mile range (42kWh battery). CO2 is as low as 88g/km.

But the car excels at low emissions with its all-electric version - it emits no CO2 or other gasses. The range figure is also up to 199 miles, the largest of any compact city car. The battery takes six hours to reach a full charge using a 7.4kW home wallbox.

2. Nissan LEAF

The Nissan Leaf is a fully electric car, an extremely popular option in the EV family car segment (which is admittedly not that extensive). The silent drive points out to the fully electric motor under the bonnet and zero tailpipe emissions.

The Leaf comes in two versions. The base model is fitted with a 148bhp electric motor and 39kWh battery pack, which get you a decent 168 miles of range between charges.

Both models have similar characteristics for the full charging time - 6.5 hours on a 7kWh charger. But the 50kW rapid charger takes the standard model from 20% to 80% in an hour, and the e+ version - in 1.5 hours.

3. Hyundai Ioniq

The Hyundai Ioniq was one of the trailblazers at the time of release. The sleek five-seat hatchback can still take over its rivals.

The Ioniq is available in two levels of electrification. The plug-in hybrid model has a 1.6-litre petrol engine combined with an 8.9 kWh electric motor and produces a combined 139bhp in power. The pure electric Ioniq comes with a 38.3 kWh battery. It takes 43 minutes to charge it from 10 to 80% at a 50 kW charging station.

The Ioniq Hybrid’s official figures are a little higher than some would like - 102-105g/km of CO2. So, the all-electric version is the only model in the line technically classified as a low-emission vehicle. The EV produces no air pollutants.

4. BMW i3

The BMW i3 is a green car that has the same platform as its internal combustion engined counterpart. If you’re into boxy-looking or conservatively styled, you’ll enjoy driving this mini.

Yes, the title of the article suggests the i3 produces low emissions. But as you can guess, this purely-electric vehicle produces none. If you want to minimize your environmental impact even further, consider EcoPro and EcoPro+ for their energy-saving properties.

Newer models have a 42.2kWh battery, which is twice the battery size of the original. Now, it manages to cover a maximum of 190 miles. With a 50kW charge rate, the car needs 36 minutes to take it from 10% to 80%. With a standard home wallbox, you’ll need 6 hours and 15 minutes for the full charge (from 0% to 100%).

5. Skoda Superb Estate

The Skoda Superb Estate is the classiest, most spacious transport we’ve covered so far in this list. It’s a compelling choice for families looking for generous carrying capacity or eco-minded executives.

The plug-in hybrid version is equipped with a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, an electric motor, and a 13kWh battery back. Together, they generate an impressive 218hp. The electric-only range is not much - about 30 miles.

The time to charge from 0% to 100% on a 7.4kW charging point is 3.5 hours. A standard three-pin domestic socket will require 5 hours. A 22kW charger takes less than an hour. The claimed CO2 emissions figure is 26g/km, which is massively lower than most hybrids out there. That’ll also qualify you for a Benefit In Kind.

Skoda hasn’t released a fully electric car in this range yet.

6. Kia Niro EV

The Kia Niro EV was one of the first mainstream electric cars to introduce a zero-emission, 250+ mile range between charges. While it doesn’t have the class-leading range anymore, there are other redeeming qualities, such as refinement and performance.

The lithium-ion battery has an impressive capacity of 65kWh, and the fully electric motor produces 201bhp. The travel distance is 285 miles, which you don’t normally see for such a price. In other good news, Kia’s range estimates tend to be very accurate, and you’ll get a perfect match to the claimed figures.

The level 3 DC fast charge (between 50 kW and 350 kW of power) takes the Niro to 80% in an hour. The less powerful level 1 charger (household outlet) took six hours to fully replenish the battery.

7. Audi A1

The Audi A1 is for the more sports-oriented buyer. Inside and out, the car looks and feels very upmarket-Audi but sells at a reasonable price. The hatch is less popular than some big-selling mainstream rivals, but there is a perfect customer for every model.

The first electrified version uses a so-called Dual Hybrid System. It consists of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and one (20 kW) electric motor, with an electric-only range of 30 miles. But since it emits slightly more than 100g/km of CO2 and can only be considered a “lowish”-emissions car, consider Audi’s fully electric car to qualify for the government perks.

The fully electric e-tron has a 270-mile range. Audi is working on a next-gen charging hub that reaches a high charging capacity of 270 kW. A 5%-80% charge would take roughly 23 minutes.

8. Volvo V60

Volvo has historically produced some of the most practical and family-friendly cars, and the V60 is no exception . Plus, it provides a commanding road view, not often seen in saloon models.

The V60 doesn’t have a fully electric version, so we’ll focus on a plug-in hybrid. The four-cylinder petrol engines are combined with a 65 kW electric drive motor with a maximum power output of 87 hp. The electric range is 54 miles.

As for charging, the maximum charging capacity is 3,6 kW, and it takes 3.5 hours for a full charge.

The claimed CO2 emissions depend on the trim, starting as low as 18g/km (five times less than the threshold) for the standard car. On the upper range, the hybrid car still doesn’t produce that much pollution - 46g/km.

9. Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is a fun supermini with some of the best efficiency values recorded in the segment. This green car is a frugal choice for those who value performance and good onboard tech.

The car is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. It’s coupled with a rather small electric motor and a 55 kW battery, the charging time is not specified by the automaker. The biggest downside is a modest electric-only range of only 1.2 miles.

Carbon dioxide levels depend on the trim. The Icon and Design trims register 92g/km in emissions, and the Excel trim goes up to 98g/km. The GR Sport goes above the “low emissions” limit with 110g/km.

10. Vauxhall Ampera

The Vauxhall Ampera set a benchmark for green cars with its innovative electric Voltec powertrain. The Ampera is a range-extender electric car with an auxiliary power unit that charges the battery on the go.

The Ampera combines a 1.4-litre petrol engine (range extender), a 111kW electric motor, and a 16kWh lithium-ion battery. The electric-only range of zero-emissions motoring is 50 miles, but the total range extends to more than 350 miles.

The Type 1 connection (3.7kW of power) charges the car in 4 hours (from empty to full battery). The hybrid accounts for 27g/km in CO2 emissions. Plus, it can be classified as zero-emission for a limited number of miles.

11. Ford Focus Estate

The Ford Focus Estate is a great family car that can surprise owners with a fun-to-drive factor. For the automaker, it’s a definite step upmarket.

The selection of efficient engines starts with EcoBoost’s 1.0-litre turbo hybrid engines with a combined 123bhp/153bhp of power. The 11.5 kW electric motor can handle up to 30-40 miles in the electric-only mode. The battery doesn’t require manual plugging because it recharges when driving.

The fully electrified Focus Estate comes with a 33.5kWh battery pack, which makes for an all-electric range of 140 miles. A fast-charging DC point takes half an hour to bring the car to 80%. The full charge on mid-range power takes 5.5 hours.

Final words: best low-emission cars in 2023

If you are on the market for an electric car, this selection should help you make up your mind. We’ve kept a healthy balance of hybrid cars and all-electric vehicles sold at different price points. Remember that models that are out of your price range are sold for much lower at the second-hand car market.

And lastly, Carplus has your back for all your car-buying needs. Contact us or use our search tool to be more eco-friendly and save money on fuel economy and road tax in the long run.