10 PZEV Cars for Lovers of Low Emissions

Efficient PZEV cars—those that meet California’s guidelines for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles—provide greener transportation options in a growing number of states, as automakers seek to satisfy more emissions-conscious customers.

More specifically, these entries have to be at least 90 percent greener than the average new vehicle, while also offering a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty on emissions-control equipment and emitting zero evaporative emissions; that is, not allowing any fuel vapor from the gas tank escape to the outside air.

And though that may sound like it would limit PZEV cars to some fairly dull fare, the truth is that there are a number of surprises on the roster, all of which are drawn from the EPA’s “Model Year 2015 Green Vehicle Guide.”

(Note: For local PZEV availability, please check with your preferred Autobytel auto dealership.)

The 2015 Audi A3 has become a popular choice in the entry-premium segments, mostly because it provides a stylish entree to the four-rings brand at a relatively practical price point. But like a number of next-gen Audi products, the A3 line also showcases unexpected levels of efficiency, from a 43-mpg diesel model to a pair of premium PZEV cars: The 2015 A3 can qualify for PZEV status with either its 1.8-liter turbocharged gas engine or the more powerful 2.0-liter gas turbo, with the latter powertrain passing 220 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque through a quattro all-wheel-drive setup.

It’s further worth noting that even as GM gets plenty of credit for bringing 4G LTE connectivity and mobile wi-fi capability to its lineup, and rightly so, brands like Audi also are in on the action, providing cars like the Audi A3 with both features.

Top PZEV family cars include the 2015 Ford Fusion in three different high-efficiency flavors, supporting Blue Oval efforts to expand customer choice:

• EcoBoost, backed by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with the Blue Oval’s signature turbocharging and direct-injection technologies, along with a tale of the tape showing 181 hp, 185 lb.-ft. of torque and 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway/29 mpg combined
• Hybrid, raising the fuel-economy bar to 44 mpg city/41 mpg highway/42 mpg combined, courtesy of a sophisticated hybrid propulsion system
• Plug-in hybrid, adding a 20-mile all-electric driving range on top of the Fusion’s stellar hybrid performance

Also, like all PZEVs, this trio touts EPA “Air Pollution Scores” of 9 (on a 10-point scale), directly reflecting “tailpipe emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution, creating problems such as smog, haze and health issues.”

The 2015 Kia Forte is full of surprising touches, from its Euro-style design to its high level of amenities to its surprisingly competitive green credentials. Consider: Despite their reputation for efficient performance, not all compacts actually qualify for PZEV status; in fact, the EPA’s list of compact PZEV vehicles doesn’t contain competitors from Toyota, Ford, Nissan or Dodge, for example.

On the other hand, it does indeed contain the 2015 Forte, and the stylish sedan also has managed to squeeze out improved fuel-economy for the 2015 model year. All models see at least some increase, with a particular highlight being the Forte configured with its six-speed automatic transmission and standard 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine. In that configuration, drivers see fuel-efficiency jumps of 1 mpg city/3 mpg highway/2 mpg combined, with the vehicle posting an overall EPA line of 26/39/31.

Similar to the case with compacts, just because a certain vehicle has a hybrid powertrain, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to go light on emissions. That’s especially true in the luxury segments, where some automakers focus more on relative gains than truly reducing emissions.

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, however, is among the nation’s leading luxury PZEVs, leaping into the fray with the confident power of 188 hp, a combined EPA rating of 40 mpg and the added distinction of available Black Label elegance. With Lincoln’s new customization program, owners can upgrade the MKZ Hybrid—and other brand vehicles—to one of four curated interior-design themes, each blending sumptuous materials and meticulous craftsmanship. As an additional perk, Black Label owners benefit from access to a personal concierge for superior customer service and VIP treatment at select fine-dining establishments within the Black Label network.

The 2015 Honda Civic comes in a number of different configurations that earn high marks for low emissions, but what sets this nameplate apart from its rivals—even from other PZEV hybrids—is that it also achieves an “Elite” rating in the EPA SmartWay program, designed to recognize automobiles with greenhouse-gas and smog-forming emissions that are much lower than those of the average vehicle.

For the Civic Hybrid, its emissions performance is impressive enough to earn 10 out of 10 points for both its Air Pollution Score and its Greenhouse Gas Score, not the least because it produces a mere 196 grams of CO2 per mile.

Honda has a unique option for PZEV customers, too, in the shape of the Civic Natural Gas, since that’s the only PZEV in the country that can run on CNG.

And yes, there’s a traditional gasoline-powered Civic PZEV as well.

For a compact car that adds a dash of versatility to its PZEV performance, the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 fits the bill with a five-door hatchback that boasts 47.1 cubic feet of available cargo space to complement its low levels of emissions.

Consider that another advantage of Mazda’s SKYACTIV engineering principles, which rely on incremental improvements to key vehicle systems—including the powertrain and chassis—to deliver increasingly impressive grades for both performance and efficiency. As a result, the Mazda3 can reach 40 mpg in highway travel even with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that also makes 184 hp and 185 lb.-ft. of torque. Also, to be clear, that powerplant does meet the guidelines for high-efficiency PZEV cars, as does the Mazda3’s entry engine, a 2.0-liter unit that can produce 155 hp, 150 lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA fuel-economy high point of 30 mpg city/41 mpg highway/33 mpg combined.

Believe it: The only PZEV member of the MINI lineup is the hi-po 2015 Cooper S, providing owners with one of the most fun-to-drive PZEVs ever produced. The motivating force here, naturally, is a four-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine that’s been sourced from MINI’s parent company, BMW. With that 2.0-liter unit ensconced beneath the hood, the Cooper S comes out to play with 189 hp and 207 lb.-ft. of torque.

Just keep in mind that the mighty MINI isn’t playing around in terms of on-the-road performance, as it can rip off a 0-60 run in just 6.5 seconds and roll on to a top speed of 145 mph.

But it does so with both SmartWay certification and EPA grades as high as 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg combined, proving low emission rates and high handling limits aren’t mutually exclusive.

Thanks to VW, folks don’t have to keep bugging automakers to build convertible PZEVs; instead, buyers can choose the drop-top 2015 Volkswagen Beetle and enjoy both driving in the fresh air and breathing it. Operating that soft cloth top also is quite simple, with drivers able to enjoy powered opening and closing in as few as 9.5 and 11.0 seconds, respectively, along with an eminently usable amount of trunk and storage space.

Of course, the hard-topped Beetle makes a fine PZEV pick, and both are getting in on the ground floor with some new technology, too: As recently announced, Volkswagen’s Car-Net connectivity service is launching a new app for the Apple Watch, putting a host of remote features right on the wearer’s wrist. (Moreover, Apple’s CarPlay, and Android Auto, are expected to launch on the Beetle and other select VW products in the near-term future.)

PZEVs are currently available in more than 100 different configurations from across the industry, but after poring over the data, it looks like the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek is the only option for PZEV SUVs in the EPA SmartWay program. True, that narrows the field a bit, but Subaru does offer a relatively wide choice of qualifying powertrains, with the PZEV Crosstrek on sale with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that can be paired to either manual or automatic transmissions, and with a hybrid setup that can break 30 mpg in all facets of EPA testing.

Oh, and speaking of tests, this compact crossover also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS that included a “Superior” grade, the highest offered, for available front-crash prevention technologies.

Finally, it (almost) goes without saying that the Crosstrek XV features Subaru’s hallmark symmetrical all-wheel drive for confident operation in challenging road conditions.

When it comes to green reputations, they don’t get much more verdant than that of the 2015 Toyota Prius, which unsurprisingly caps off our presentation of the best PZEVs in the United States.

Also unsurprising is the fact that it does so with an “Elite” SmartWay ranking, a 10-point Greenhouse Gas Score, and EPA-certified CO2 emissions of just 178 grams per mile—and EPA fuel-economy marks of 51 mpg city/48 mpg highway/50 mpg combined. As for the Prius Plug-in, it joins the “regular” Prius on the PZEV honor roll by adding a significant electrically assisted driving range at 95 MPGe in combined travel.

Remember, though, that despite their other benefits, the other Prii—the city-sized Prius c and the Prius v wagon—are not offered in PZEV configurations.