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Can green cars also be fun? We say yes, and here are ten cars that attempt to prove that it’s possible to combine efficiency and driving enjoyment.
The BMW i8 is the world’s first plug-in hybrid supercar with a three-cylinder petrol engine, and it combines a top speed of 155mph with an official economy figure of 150mpg and emissions of 42g/km CO2. However production has now ceased so you’ll need to be quick if you want one.
A pure electric BMW can even be fun, in the form of the i3, or even better, the BMW i3s, which is a rear-wheel drive pure electric family hatchback, complete with BMW driving genes.
Yes it’s another BMW, and another plug-in hybrid, the BMW 330e, which delivers the rear-wheel drive handling of a touring car, the ride comfort of a BMW 5 Series, the performance of a sports car, and the zero emission driving ability of an electric car.
The Tesla Model 3 is all-electric, is available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with ‘standard range plus’ or long range, and with a 0-60mph acceleration time of as low as 3.2 seconds.
Read more about the Tesla Model 3
The Jaguar I-PACE makes it into our list because it has huge performance, it’s also excellent to drive, and of course it has zero tailpipe emissions.
Read more about the Jaguar I-PACE
The Volvo V60 T8 Twin Engine is one of the best plug-in hybrids that we’ve tested: it delivers an impressive all-electric range, it’s great to drive with lots of performance, it has all-wheel drive, and it’s a practical estate.
Read more about the Volvo V60 T8 Twin Engine
Okay, so the Mazda MX-5 may have a petrol rather than an electric powertrain, but it’s lightweight and efficient; the 2-litre model is excellent, but the 1.5-litre is slightly lighter again, and so even better on twisty Welsh B-roads…
Read more about the Mazda MX-5
The Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ are two of the most fun cars that money can buy, and they’re also a lot more efficient than a V8 supercar…
Read more about the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ
The Ford Fiesta ST offers fun combined with a 47mpg official economy figure – in other words, it’s exactly what we’re searching for – a great driving experience and efficiency.
Read more about the Ford Fiesta ST
The MINI Cooper S is fun to drive, it offers good performance, but it can also be efficient if driven carefully.
Read more about the MINI Cooper S
