If you are concerned with driving a “green” vehicle, you need to think about a small car, or a hybrid. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says that out of the 12 cars that are ranked the highest for being green in 2008, one third of them have hybrid powertrains. These cars have a combination of an internal-combustion engine along with a motor that is electric. This improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.

The last few years one of the mainstays of the list was the natural gas powered Honda Civic GX. It is back at the top for 2008, it scored 57 points. This car operates with compressed natural gas. The Civic GX was the highest-ranking car environmentally because of its high efficiency rating and emissions that are near zero.

There are some new additions to the Greenest list for 2008. One is the smart fortwo, which came in at number four. Another model from Europe that made the list is the Mini Cooper. This vehicle comes in number eight, scoring 44. The only domestic car to make the list was the Ford Focus. It comes in ninth place.

Consumers are becoming more concerned with “green” cars. These cars are environmentally friendly, as well as fuel-efficient. This will save you money at the gas pump and allow you to put your money towards important things, such as an auto warranty, and maintenance costs.