GM Brands Clean Up In What Car? Going Green Awards
Published: 25th March 2006
- Award-winning diesel engines gain green recognition
- Saab 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower honoured
- Zafira named cleanest MPV
General Motors’ continuing efforts to improve the fuel efficiency of its cars have been recognised by the influential motoring magazine What Car?, with four cars from Saab and Vauxhall named as the greenest in their sector.
In a special section of the magazine devoted to ‘Going Green’, cars from all sectors of the new car market were assessed for their environmental credentials. Swedish premium marque Saab cleaned up in the prestige car segments, with its 9-3 and 9-5 models winning both of the executive categories. Vauxhall scooped a pair of awards too, taking titles for its Zafira and Tigra.
What Car? judges voted the Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD (120 bhp) the cleanest Compact Executive Car, stating that the aircraft-inspired saloon is "so good on CO2 emissions that it equals the output of the Ford Ka city car."
The Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi was named the greenest MPV, with the experts saying the "Zafira records a CO2 output of 165g/km, beating all of its closest rivals and bringing new virtues to its long list of talents."
The world’s first and only, turbocharged bio-ethanol vehicle, the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower, was named What Car?’s greenest Executive/Luxury Car, the magazine commenting that the Saab easily "has the potential to out-green any other cars here."
Meanwhile, for those who like to feel the fresh air in their hair,
the Tigra also picked up the title of ‘Greenest Open Top Car’.
What Car? experts said: "The two-seat Tigra’s 61mpg
average makes it the most fuel-efficient open-top car on sale in
the UK, so you’ll save money at the pumps as well as saving
the environment…. It’s a combination that marries open-top
style with genuine green credentials."
The Vauxhall Vectra Estate also gets acclaimed in the family car
section for being "a great big hulking estate with a 540-litre
boot, yet still rated to return 48mpg on the combined cycle."
The awards comes as General Motors continues to advance its commitment to the environment, with a range of ever-more fuel efficient and green cars and an onward commitment to alternative fuels such as hybrid powertrains and hydrogen fuel cell development.
To read our in depth road test of the Vauxhall Tigra [ click here ]
Saab 9-3
Our Saab 9-3 Guide lists the full specification of the current UK 9-3 range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £18,580 - £32,595
Body Style:
Fuel:
/ 
/ 
Models in the range: 21
We have road tested the Saab 9-3, to read our in-depth car reviews:
Saab 9-3 Review - Oct 2005
Saab 9-3 Review - Mar 2005
Saab 9-3 Review - Jul 2007
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
