Scion Unveils 2011 iQ - Premium Micro-Subcompact

Generally 1GreenProduct.com only reviews products that are available for purchase already - preferably after we've been able to test the product first-hand.

But rules were made to be broken.

And that's why we'd like to contribute some advance buzz to the newly unveiled 2011 Scion iQ - projected to hit dealerships early next year. Just unveiled at the NY Auto Show, the iQ looks primed to add some serious style to micro-subcompact sector.

Just how small is the iQ. At 120 inches long, it's about one foot longer than the Smart fortwo, but a good two feet shorter than either the Yaris or the Mini Cooper.

In my experience, the Yaris and the Mini Cooper (especially the Cooper) were both fun to drive. The Smart fortwo, not so much. Does that mean that iQ will fall somewhere in the middle in terms of excitement and comfort, or will it blow its subcompact competitors out of the water?

Scion promises that through innovative technology (ultra-slim front seat backs!), you'll be able to fit three adults and a pet (presumably a small pet) into this car.

From an eco standpoint, Scion is gunning for an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV-II) rating, plus combined mileage in the high 30s.

I'll be honest. I can't wait to test drive this thing. I love small cars for their maneuverability - and of course for the fact that they take up less room on the road and presumably require fewer raw materials in the manufacturing process. Plus the iQ just looks extraordinarily fun to drive. (Of course, the Smart looked fun to drive too and turned out to be painful, so looks can be deceiving...)

And let's hope that the tiny iQ doesn't come with an outsized price tag.

Stay tuned. The next few years should be pretty exciting when it comes to new Greener vehicles.

2010 Honda Insight

2010 Honda Insight (photo via Honda website)

They say, "Variety is the spice of life."

(Personally, I'd choose Garlic as the spice of life, but hey, Variety tastes good too.)

Which is why after more than 200 written reviews of green products, I've decided to branch out a bit and try my first audio review of the 2010 Honda Insight.

To create this audio podcast, I used a service called BlogTalkRadio. As the name suggests, BlogTalkRadio is really intended to be use less as a 1-way podcast and more as a 2-way (or 3-way or more-way) conversation.

But since this was my first time trying BlogTalkRadio, I just went ahead and recorded it as a typical podcast. In the future, I will give advance notice of my BlogTalkRadio shows here on this blog and also on some of my other social media sites (Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) so that anyone who wants to can call in and participate.

Of course, if you miss the show live you can also listen anytime using the BlogTalkRadio widget.

Listen to 1GreenProduct.com on Blog Talk Radi

What do you think? Do you like the audio approach? Do you have ideas or requests for future shows?

Thanks for reading - and listening! Hope you enjoy my radio review of the 2010 Honda Insight.

2010 Toyota Prius V

The 3rd Generation Toyota Prius - Greenest car on the road (image via Toyota website)

No need for waffling here. The verdict is simple. The Toyota Prius gets top honors for the most eco-friendly car I've driven thus far.

Over 10 days of driving and nearly 2000 miles, the 3rd generation version of this iconic hybrid champ delivered fuel efficiency (mostly on highways with 70 mph speed limits) in the 45 mpg range.

I had a chance to test the 2nd generation Prius back on last summer's Colorado trip and I have to say that this new generation takes a dramatic step forward in comfort and driving performance.

The 2010 car comes with both EV mode and Power mode buttons. Press the EV mode and the car will operate off electric power only provided the battery has enough juice and you're moving slowly enough. Press the Power button and you get a potent boost of acceleration that lets you rocket onto the highway or scoot past other cars in the parking lane. (I'll admit it, I got a thrill from passing both a BMW and a Porsche on the highway in the Prius.)

The top-of-the-line V version of the Prius came loaded with luxurious extras including heated side mirrors, heated front seats, a voice-activated touch screen DVD navigation system, satellite radio, integrated backup camera and so forth. I'll admit that I never figured out how to work out some of the options (like Intelligent Parking Assist).

The Radar Cruise Control is a nifty feature that takes us one step closer to the notion of self-driving cars. Basically, a radar device in the nose of the car can sense if you're getting too close to the car in front of you and try to adjust accordingly. If you're already a fan of cruise control, the Radar version will probably make you even happier, but personally I've found that I usually can get better mileage and feel safer with cruise control off on all but the most empty roadways.

My favorite geeky tool on the Prius V was the Lane Keeper Assist (LKA) device that actually keeps track of the lanes and not only beeps to warn you if you're veering outside the lines, but actually gives you a nudge back toward the center of the lane. (Putting on the turn signal supersedes the LKA so you don't need to worry about fighting the car when it comes time to exit the highway or switch lanes.) I think LKA could literally be a lifesaver on dark roads or in cases where the driver is a little bit tired. I wouldn't say it eliminates the need to pay attention or to get enough rest, but LKA definitely seems like the best active safety device I've seen since inventions like Anti-Lock Brakes and Vehicle Stability Control.

From a design standpoint, the new Prius has better lines on the outside and more comfort on the inside. Focusing on the sharp lines of the exterior, I think the Prius has truly entered the 'beautiful car' category.

Meanwhile on the inside, with the rear seats folded down, the cargo capacity seemed voluminous. I liked the high clearance on the hatchback door. The seats were supportive and reasonably comfortable even after 9+ hours on the road. The view through the rear window is still somewhat obstructed by a horizontal solid panel, but Toyota has definitely improved visibility over the previous generation Prius.

Really, I have only two complaints about the Prius. One is mileage. Yes, the Prius gets great mileage, but for the price (more on this later), I would have liked even better mileage. Call me demanding, but since I somehow managed to achieve 50+ mpg in a 2nd generation Prius, I would have hoped to get at least 50 mpg in the next generation Prius.

The second issue is price. Highway mileage of 45 mpg is great, but these days lots of conventional gasoline-engine cars are knocking on the mid-30s in terms of highway mpg. My wife and I will be doing some car shopping ourselves in the near future, and despite being an eco-conscious shopper, I'm having some trouble justifying the Prius premium.

After all, the 2010 Toyota Corolla is rated at 35 mpg on the highway and I've seen promotions for Corolla leases for around $160/month. By contrast, I haven't seen the Prius offered with any lease specials at all. (I called one dealer and was told that a Prius lease would probably cost me $300-500/month.) For folks who prefer leasing, this makes the Prius relatively unattainable. (From a straight purchase standpoint, you'll pay around a $7,000 premium for a Prius over a Corolla.)

So ultimately, the Prius is a fun car and a fantastic choice for any eco-friendly driver. But I keep hoping that Toyota will push the envelope more in terms of both mpg and affordability. Perhaps we'll see some new developments next year in terms of a hybrid Yaris that will check both those boxes?

Perpetually unsatisfied. I suppose so. But that's what makes me excited about all the eco-friendly advancements I think we'll see this year and beyond. We've made great strides in terms of Green gadgets and tools, but there is still a long way to go to get to the point where we can enjoy comfortable high-tech lives without placing too much of a burden on the planet.

PS - Interested observers have inquired as to the relative environmental costs of producing a Prius compared to a typical gasoline-only (i.e. non-hybrid automobile). I asked Toyota about this and received a response from Wade Hoyt, Northeast PR manager that " the Prius's manufacturing carbon footprint is slightly higher [than the footprint of a non-hybrid mid-size sedan]. However, when looking at its total lifecycle assessment, including manufacturing, plus the in-use life of the car, as well as its end-of-life recyclability, Prius's carbon footprint is significantly smaller." I tried to get some hard data to quantify the Prius's carbon footprint advantage, but was told that such data has not been released outside the company.

Where to Buy:

At your local Toyota dealer, of course! The 2010 Prius starts at $22,400, but prices can climb steeply from there. With delivery and processing fees added in, my tester car had a total MSRP of $32,771. Ouch.

Disclosure: Toyota generously allowed me to test drive the Prius for more than a week.

2009 Nissan Cube

Nissan Cube - funky and fresh as a cucumber

Happy New Year!

I can't wait to see what sorts of efficient, eco-friendly products hit the market this year.

We're going to start off the year with a couple car reviews. I expect we'll see lots of hybrid cars come to market this year, but meanwhile most cars sold in the U.S. are gasoline-only.

I recently had the chance to test the Nissan Cube - the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the EPA's Small Station Wagon category other than the diesel version of Volkswagen's Jetta Sportwagen.

With 28 mpg highway and 30 mpg city, the Nissan Cube offers more than respectable mileage while still packing 58 cubic feet of storage capacity (with rear seats folded down) into one of the funkiest bodies on the road.

Make no mistake, the Cube turns enough heads to cause neck injuries in passersby.

I've test driven all manner of eco-friendly cars over the past 6 months and the Cube gets more stares than any of them, including the smart fortwo.

I actually had a parking lot attendant crawl into the front seat just to get a closer look at the Cube's instrument panel.

If you ever needed proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, try driving the Cube. Some prospective passengers recoiled at the idea of being seen in the snub-nosed squared-off beast. Others literally shook my hand for having the luck to be a Cube driver.

Personally, I think the squat little Cube resembles nothing so much as a little urban tank. It looks a little space age. A little futuristic. A little cartoonish.

But how does it drive and ride? The wide cushy seats make short trips as relaxing as plopping down on the couch. And the Cube's smooth acceleration and handling lets the car glide through urban and suburban traffic with ease and moxie.

On the highway, it was a different story. The Cube's tall, boxy profile left it vulnerable to buffeting by wind gusts. Truck-induced turbulence gave me a hard time keeping the Cube steady within its lane. Compared to my last test drive in the low-and-wide Mini Cooper, I worried that the Cube seemed a little tipsy in high-speed turns. And the seats that had been so cushy for shirt trips didn't offer enough support (lumbar or otherwise) to make me look forward to long road trips.

So the Cube is a mixed bag. It's practical, relatively eco-friendly and you won't have any trouble finding it in the parking lot.

On the other hand, if your commute calls for a lot of highway driving or if you get enough cubicle time at the office, the Cube might not be the right box for you.

Personally, I think the Cube's designers deserve credit for pushing the envelope and taking design risks. I really admire some of these innovative touches on the Cube. For example, I like the way that the rear door opens to the side (like a regular car door) instead of like a lift gate. And I think the asymmetrical glass corner on the right rear of the car is brilliant from both a design and functionality point of view since it gives the driver lots of visibility when merging to the right or backing out of a parking space.

The biggest success of the Cube may be to show car designers and consumers alike that there is nothing to fear from thinking outside the box.

Where to buy:

Your local Nissan dealer. The Cube has a MSRP of $13,990 to $20,120 depending on engine and options.

Disclosure: Nissan allowed me to test drive the Cube over several days.

MINI Cooper

The Mini Cooper in red. (via Mini Cooper website)

"You drove all the way here in that?!"

That's the response I got when I casually mentioned that my wife and I had driven from New York City to Nashville in a MINI Cooper sedan.

What's more, I had a great time all 1,800 miles or so of the roundtrip ride along freeways through hills and valleys cloaked in forests resplendent in their multi-hued autumnal finery.

But enough with the poetry.

The point is that the car performs. As the MINI Cooper ads used to invite, this vehicle makes you want to jump in and start motoring someplace.

("But didn't you feel nervous alongside the big rigs on the highways," asked my sister? Not really. I don't think a midsize sedan or even an SUV would perform any better in a big rig collision than the MINI Cooper, which happens to have 5-star safety ratings for rollovers and side crashes involving front seat passengers.)

So what makes the MINI Cooper worthy of consideration by Green drivers?

For starters, the EPA ranks the MINI as having the best MPG in its class of minicompact cars. My automatic sedan was rated for 25 mpg in the city and 34 in the highway. In hilly terrain with light traffic most of the way, I managed to attain low to mid-30s mpg for much of the journey.

Like the Smart car I reviewed recently, I think that MINI should also get some eco points purely on its small size. It seems logical that making a small car would require fewer raw materials than a large car and MINI has taken the concept a bit further with a minimalist philosophy that includes the use of lightweight and recyclable materials.

From a driving standpoint, the MINI is both comfortable and fun. The sport seats on my test vehicle ($250 extra) were nicely firm and supportive in all the right places. The suspension ate up most of the bumps in the road without so much as a hiccup. The MINI's low, wide stance gave the car stability and traction to spare. I didn't even feel nervous taking the curves at 70 mph in dense morning fog on the hills outside of Charleston, West Virginia.

The view other drivers will see when getting passed by the Mini. (via Mini Cooper website)

From a design standpoint, MINI had me from the moment my hand touched the old-fashioned metal door handle. The doors close with a satisfying thunk and there's something neat going on with the way that the windows automatically seal themselves a fraction tighter once the door is closed and you're ready to roll.

Basically, the MINI just has that premium car feel. There are nifty little touches such as color adjustable mood lights that pop on at night or in cloudy conditions on the roof in front of the rear-view mirror. And I liked the way that the circular gas gauge consisted of little petals arranged in circular formation. Heck, I even liked the way MINI dinged to remind me that the parking brake was on or that I needed to fasten my seatbelt. (You know you're in a fancy car when the ding sounds harmonious.)

Want more evidence that the MINI has little luxe touches? How about the Cold Weather package that included heated mirrors, heated seats and power-folding side mirrors for tight squeezes.

That being said, MINI isn't perfect. What are the drawbacks?

• Being low to the ground may be good for stability and handling, but it means that getting in and out of the car could be hassle for some people. Entering and exiting the Toyota Yaris, for example, was much more of a breeze.

• Acceleration was puzzling. Sometimes the MINI was responsive and agile. Other times - especially on long uphill stretches - I struggled to maintain speed without flooring the accelerator and sending the engine racing. This racing engine issue - which once sent the tachometer soaring toward the red zone - even appeared a couple of times while I was testing the MINI's cruise control, prompting me to turn off the cruise function and rely on manual controls.
  
  

  

  A speedometer so big that the driver behind you may be able to read it. (via Mini Cooper website)

• Sometimes the MINI's design just felt too cute or clever by half. The saucer-sized spedometer in the center of the car never won me over. I would have preferred a smaller and simpler spedometer behind the steering wheel. Even after a week behind the wheel, I sometimes still reached down to roll down the window and forgot that the controls were on the central panel. I would have preferred that the car automatically lock its doors when reaching a certain speed (i.e. 5 mph) as many cars do rather than requiring me to remember to lock the doors manually (again from the central console). I constantly ended up changing the station when I wanted to change the volume on the radio. These are all small quibbles, but it just felt like the designers could have made the car's internal systems - audio, climate, windows - much easier to control. Oh and while the low roofline may make the car aerodynamic and add to its curb appeal, it also makes it a little tough to see stoplights if you're the first car in line without leaning forward and craning your neck upward.

• The MINI is really comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger, but I tried sitting in the back seat once and I'm convinced that the only passengers who can comfortably use that rear seat would be infants, pets or people who have no legs. I wasn't able to take a photo showing the paucity of rear-seat leg room, but take my word that there were only a few inches between the back of the drivers seat (in my driving position) and the front of the rear-seat cushion. Anyone forced to sit there for long would be at serious risk of deep-vein thrombosis and or claustrophobic breakdown. Now with the back seats folded down, the MINI has quite a decent amount of cargo space, but advertising the car as providing realistic transportation for four adults just seems misleading to me. I almost wish that MINI had just made this a two-seater with a large cargo bay, but I suppose it is nice for parents with young children to have the option of securing car-seated toddlers in the back.

Even though MINI has been in the States since 2002, I guess it's still somewhat of a phenomenon outside big urban areas. From the time I left the greater NYC area, I only noticed one other Mini on my side of the highway until I had practically reached Nashville, at which point a MINI Cooper S (the sportier version) passed me. As he went by, the driver gave a jaunty wave - just the sort of cheery camaraderie one might expect from one MINI driver to another.

Parking, as expected, is a snap in the MINI.

U-turns are a breeze.

After a couple of thousand miles and fighting my way through the gauntlet at the Holland Tunnel back into NYC, I was ready to give up the key to my MINI, but just a couple days later I found myself wishing I could be back behind the wheel. To me, that's a strong endorsement of the MINI's appeal.

Where to buy:

MINI is superbly customizable, although take note that snazzy options like checkered-flag side mirrors can end up costing a bundle if you go crazy with the bells and whistles.That said, you can build the MINI of your dreams online and then send that package to a dealer.

Or just go to a dealer directly and see what they've got in stock.

Note that all that MINI cuteness doesn't come cheap. My MINI Cooper sedan started at $18,550, but with the cold weather package (heated seats, heated mirrors, etc.), automatic transmission and a handful of other options plus destination charge, the total came to $22,800.

Other versions of the MINI have steeper (sometimes much steeper) base prices. The sportier MINI Cooper S starts at $22,300. The MINI Cooper convertible begins has a base price over $24,000. The top-of-the-line MINI John Cooper Works models begin at $28,800.

To put that in perspective, a 5-door automatic transmission Toyota Yaris starts at a shade over $12,000 and you can probably pick one up nicely equipped for less than $17,000.

The MINI has more of a premium feel and is more fun to drive, but on the other hand the Yaris offers better mpg and the actual ability to hold four (or even five) adult humans in relative comfort.

Bottom line -- If you want a fun car with good performance, good comfort, good looks and relatively Green specs - and you never need to transport more than two adults - the MINI could be your perfect fit.

PS - MINI is apparently in the process of field-testing an electric version MINI called (appropriately) the MINI-E, but there's no word yet on when (or if) the electric version will reach dealerships.

Disclosure - MINI loaned me a MINI Cooper sedan to test drive for this review. Unfortunately, I had to give it back when the test was complete.

Smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet

Lowering the top on the smart fortwo cabriolet is a breeze

Parking a smart fortwo should be at the top of the list of Easiest Things in the World.

Even if the parking space is lilliputian, even if you have approached it from an odd angle, even if the cars on either side of you are gargantuan trucks, you should be able to squeeze into the space with room to spare.

I must confess that I was a little nervous to test driving the smart fortwo. Yes, I requested a loan of the car. After years of decrying the practice of individual people commuting in massive trucks, I decided it was time to squeeze myself into what is surely the tiniest car on the market today.

The two-passenger smart car's dimensions tell the story. Its total length is less than 9 feet - more than 3 feet shorter than the already compact Mini Cooper. The relative tinyness of the smart fortwo has an interesting effect on interactions with other drivers. You must drive defensively because some drivers will act as if they simply don't see you because it's impossible anything as small as a smart fortwo is actually on the road. On the other hand, there are also drivers who are also so charmed by the smart fortwo's cuteness that they will wave you along and give you some special deference, much as a tiger might refrain from chasing a canary.

Does the smart fortwo feel cramped inside? Not particularly. I stand over 6-feet tall and I had plenty of headroom, enough elbow room and just enough leg room.

Of course, you can't take long road trips in the smart fortwo - unless you put your luggage into a compacting machine first. If you want to see out the (small) rear window, don't count on holding more than your smallest suitcase and a couple of bags of groceries. That's all we managed to fit in the Smart's 7.8 cubic feet of cargo space (up to the belt line).

The smart fortwo coupe. Cute? You betcha.

How about the smart fortwo's design? Cute as a button - and about the same size! :) People will stare. They may start conversations or ask to trade the smart fortwo for whatever gas-guzzler they're driving. Almost every time I parked the smart fortwo, I turned to marvel at how compact and fun it looked next to whatever staid minivan or sedan was parked next to it.

I thought the fit and finish of the inside components was generally pretty good. I liked the bold red accents on the dashboard and control panels.

I was also very impressed with the performance of the Cabriolet roof that opened and closed at the push of a button by sliding along a track at the top of the vehicle.

On the other hand, I would have exchanged the Passion Cabriolet's complicated audio system in a heartbeat for an interval windshield wiper system or cruise control.

So from a looks, design and fit standpoint, I was pretty pleased with the smart fortwo. Then I started driving it.

I had been a little trepidatious based on my advance read of several blogs including Edmunds and The Truth About Cars that excoriated the smart fortwo's transmission, acceleration and handling.

Basically, I wholeheartedly endorse their conclusions. I drove the Smart in urban traffic (Brooklyn, Manhattan), suburban (Long Island) and rural (Hudson Valley). If your commute involves very smooth, straight roads at moderate speeds of 40-50 mph, the smart fortwo could be a good car for you. But if your route involves winding roads, hills, highways where good acceleration is a must or the traffic flows around 70 mph, I would say that the smart fortwo could very well make for a scary ride.

I'm not refering to its size or safety characteristics. Smart has created a great website (SafeandSmart.com) with compelling personal anecdotes about the strength of the car's "safety cell" structure. I fully sort of believe that the safety cage would protect me in a crash, but I'd prefer to avoid getting in a crash in the first place and I had several occasions (off ramps, on ramps, hard turns, occasions that called for acceleration) where I felt that I was lucky to avoid collisions with other vehicles or the landscape in my smart fortwo.

And then there's the small matter of bumps in the road. Both my passenger and I actually had back pain after driving for several hours in the smart fortwo down admittedly very potholed and uneven highways in the NYC metro area. Yes, I blame the highways, but I've ridden electric bicycles that offered a smoother ride at 20 mph on New York's streets.

I could go on to talk about how the 'automated manual transmission' drove me crazy in both full automatic and semi-manual modes. Or about how the vibration and engine noise are exhausting even at low speeds, but you probably get the picture.

It's all a shame since the smart fortwo really is an attractive car from an eco-friendly standpoint. In mostly highway driving, I managed to get around 40 mpg, which is very impressive for a non-hybrid car.

Not only that, but the smart production process is pretty eco-friendly too, including the use of prefabricated modules at the French factory where smarts are produced, plus water-soluble paints, recyclable body panels and a power-coating of the safety cell that eliminates the need for solvents.

Heck, the car even has 'flax-based components' in its dashboard! How cool is that!

The car itself is classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). Smart's press materials trumpet the clever design of an electric pump that "blows fresh air into the exhaust port when the engine is cold to almost completely oxidize the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) and render them harmless." Sounds good to me.

Truth be told, I would have a hard time recommending the current generation of the smart fortwo. As this blog attests, I'm pretty passionate about protecting the environment, but I also have minimum comfort and handling thresholds when it comes to assessing a car and smart fortwo didn't meet them.

On the other hand, I'm still excited about the news that smart is planning an electric version of the fortwo, expected to arrive in the US (via pilot programs) in late 2010. With any luck, the electric car will have better and smoother acceleration. If so - and if smart can improve handling and shock absorption - the electric smart car could be a very smart choice indeed.

Where to buy -

Purchase a smart fortwo at a Dealer near you.

The smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet starts at $16,990, but a few options (like power steering) and destination charge brought the model I tested up to just $17,980.

According to the smart website, there is a base Pure Coupe that lists for under $12,000, but expect to pay extra for options such as air conditioning and radio.

Disclosure - Smart USA lent me a smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet to review.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

2010 Camry Hybrid - stylish but subtle hybrid (photo via Toyota.com)

In the last few months, I've had a chance to test drive both a Toyota Camry Hybrid and a 2nd generation Prius.

I liked both cars, but from an eco-friendly standpoint it seems to me that the Prius is the clear winner. In Colorado, I averaged approximately 50 mpg in mountainous terrain on the 2nd gen Prius. By contrast, in admittedly horrible traffic in and around the New York metro area, I averaged only around 30 mpg in a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Now I presume that the 3rd generation Prius (i.e. the 2010 model year currently for sale in dealerships and advertised on Toyota's website) gets even better mileage and delivers even better performance than the Prius I tested, but I'll restrict my comparison to the older Prius that I actually test drove.

So how does the Camry Hybrid match up against a (last generation) Prius?

For me, the Prius wins by a knockout, offering better manueverability, better forward visibility and much better electric-only performance at low speeds. Indeed, one of the selling points of many hybrid cars is that they are supposed to be able to use electric power only to save gas and propel the car at low speeds. The Prius lived up to this billing, but while the Camry shut down its gas engine at stop lights to conserve gas, it seemed impossible to drive the Camry at more than about 5 mph without having the gas engine kick back in.

In terms of performance, neither car will win any drag races. Both perform admirably when cruising at high speeds, but you'll need to leave plenty of time for accelerating, merging and passing.

So why would a buyer putting eco-friendliness high on her list of purchase criteria choose the Camry Hybrid over the Prius? I can think of only a couple of reasons:

1. Anonymity. Prius drivers advertise their eco-minded attitudes to the world. Remove a couple of subtle little badges and the Camry Hybrid looks just like any of the other countless Camrys on the road. Some people like standing out. Others perfer to fly under the radar - the Camry Hybrid accommodates that desire.

2. Sedan v. Hatchback. I quite like hatchbacks both for their style and their versatility, but some people just want to drive a sedan. Since the Prius is only available as a hatchback, that pretty much disqualifies it from contention. I will say however that the Camry's battery pack reduces its trunk space considerably (a point emphasized in this review at eHow.com). One big suitcase will completely fill the trunk space. Fortunately, the Camry Hybrid comes with standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, providing some much-needed extra cargo space (as long as you aren't carrying any passengers in the back seat).

The comfortable, predictable interior of the Toyota Camry Hybrid (photo via Toyota.com)

3. Comfort. Both cars are comfortable from a driving standpoint. In fact, I think I found the Prius even more comfortable than the Camry Hybrid, but the Camry definitely has a bit of a more plush feeling, more of an intangible cushiness factor. For example, dual-zone climate control comes standard and you can upgrade to an options package with heated front seats.

4. Size. The Camry Hybrid is slightly bigger than the Prius. Both are mid-size cars, but the Camry is a few inches wider and more than one foot longer. The Camry Hybrid also weighs about 600 lbs. more than the Prius. For people who equate size with safety and weight, the Camry Hybrid may feel like the safer choice. Also, because of its bigger exterior dimensions, it has a few more inches of interior space, which may make it more comfortable for some people. (These perceptions may have some basis in reality. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Camry Hybrid its highest 5-star rating for frontal crashes, whereas the 2009 Prius received only 4 stars. The 2010 Prius had not yet been rated at the time of this review.)

Bottom Line - It's great to see lots of hybrid cars coming to the market for buyers of all tastes. The Camry Hybrid could be the perfect car for someone who wants a solid, comfortable mid-size sedan with good gas mileage (rated 33 city / 34 highway) at a decent price.

IMHO, the Prius is clearly the more eco-friendly car and also a much better value. The Camry Hybrid carries a MSRP of over $26,000 (my tester was $28,138 nicely equipped and including delivery processing and handling fee). For comparison, the base version 2010 Prius carries a MSRP of $22,000 -- although the top-line version does go up over $27,000.

Incidentally, although the Camry Hybrid is clearly the more eco-friendly choice, it's probably very hard to justify the Hybrid version of the Camry on an economic basis. The non-hybrid base Camry (MSRP $19,395) has a nearly identical highway mpg rating (33 mpg vs 34 mpg for the hybrid) and gets 11 fewer mpg in city driving (22 mpg vs 33 mpg for the hybrid).

To the casual observer, it's just a stylish sedan. But we know this 2010 Toyota Camry is a hybrid. (photo via Toyota.com)

Using oversimplified calculations that assume an average mpg half way between the highway and city numbers, we'd get an average mpg of 33.5 for the Camry Hybrid and 27.5 for the regular base Camry. In other words, over 100,000 hypothetical miles of driving, the Camry Hybrid should require 2,985 gallons of gas, while the regular Camry should require 3,636 gallons of gas. Assuming a gas price of $3 per gallon, the regular Camry would require approximately $2,000 more gas over 100,000 miles, which means you would need to drive more than 300,000 miles before you could make up the extra cost of the hybrid purchase.

(Of course, you would make the hybrid premium more quickly if gas prices rose to $4 per gallon or higher as they did in 2008...)

It will be very interesting to keep an eye on innovation in the hybrid sedan segment over the next year or two. With plenty of competition among the Camry Hybrid, the Nissan Altima Hybrid ( 35/33 mpg), the Ford Fusion Hybrid (an impressive 41/36 mpg) and the Mercury Milan (also 41/36 mpg), hopefully we'll soon see some breakthroughs on price, battery performance and/or mileage.

Where to Buy -

Use Toyota's website to find a Toyota dealership near you.

Eco-Travel in Colorado: Boulder, Fort Collins, Estes Park and Pawnee Grasslands

Hiking path in Boulder Colorado (photo by Aaron Dalton)

This just in - Colorado has mountains!

OK, it's not exactly the newsflash of the century, but I'm sure I'm not the only person who ever flew into Denver (where I'd spent my entire previous trip to Colorado) and wondered whether the distant outline on the horizon was in fact the Rocky Mountain range.

Well, after spending a week in northern Colorado bouncing around between Boulder, Fort Collins, Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park, I can in fact report that the mountains do exist.

(Although truth be told they look remarkably similar up close to the fake mountains at the Disney theme parks, especially the Big Thunder Mountain ride. I kept expecting a theme park coaster full of screaming kids to materialize from behind an escarpment at any moment. Nonetheless, despite the resemblance, I'm prepared to believe that the Rocky Mountains are not just a creation of Uncle Walt.)

And now, with apologies for such extensive throat clearing, I present a few nuggets (pun intended) of information on eco travel in northern Colorado.

Boulder - The Denver Post has described Boulder as a "little town nestled between the mountains and reality."

It's true. Boulder is very close to the mountains - and it is a bit separate from reality. There's a certain vibe here as though the 60's never ended. Strolling around the pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall on a Thursday afternoon, my wife and I encountered a sizeable crowd sitting in the shade and listening to a duo of folk singers. I don't think I had smelled so much incense in the air since graduating college.

Later that night, in the courtyard of the sophisticated yet comfortable St. Julien Hotel & Spa, a much larger crowd rocked out in unpretentious glee to the upbeat sounds of a Brazilian band, while women and children hula-hooped on a grassy lawn.

Here's the best way I can sum up my experience in Boulder. When the valet at the St. Julien found out I was writing a story on the place, he told me how much he loved the town for its "gentle" vibe. I've never heard anyone else describe their town as gentle, but it really does seem to fit Boulder.

Anyway, back to the St. Julien. With its in-room recycling bins, its use of low-VOC materials (carpets, paints and wall coverings), its use of earth-friendly cleaning products and its decision to avoid any leather products, the St. Julien has a long list of eco-friendly qualities. The hotel's restaurant - Jill's - not only serves a seriously delicious buffet lunch (salads, pizzas, sandwiches, soup, fresh bread, etc.), it does so while sourcing as much organic produce and humanely-farmed livestock as possible, composting its food waste and recycling its cooking oil for the creation of biodiesel. The hotel recently planted an on-property herb garden to make sure Jill's had plenty of locally-grown ingredients for its recipes. Some of these same herbs are then incorporated into the St. Julien's spa treatments. Expect to pay approximately $240-260/night for a room at the St. Julien this fall.

Prickly pear flower in Boulder Colorado's Chautauqua area (photo by Aaron Dalton)

We took advantage of another eco-friendly perk at the St. Julien -- free use of cruiser bikes for hotel guests. The cheery bikes look cute and retro, but the lack of hand brakes may frustrate some riders. That grumble aside, the hotel is practically across the street from an entrance to one of Boulder's nicest bike paths that threads alongside Boulder Creek.

The St. Julien also sits close by the Chautauqua Park area, part of more than 45,000 acres of open space land owned by the city of Boulder and managed by the department of Open Space and Mountain Parks. The Chautauqua area is not only convenient to downtown, it contains a variety of trails leading right up to the famous Flatirons rock formations that serve as beautiful backdrop to the town.

You'll frequently see Boulder appear at the top of city lists for its livability and healthy environment. For example, the town attracts a wealth of athletes who come to train in its sunny, high-altitude environment. But it's the community that really makes Boulder special. The city is proud of its claim to be the first city in the U.S. to tax itself for the acquisition, management and maintenance of open space back in 1967. The city's residential green building code dates to 1996 - another first.

That community has attracted the type of people who own Green companies including Namasté Solar, IZZE sparkling juice, Pangea Organics (previously reviewed on 1GreenProduct.com), Horizon Organic, Fiona's Granola and Ellie's Eco Home Store.

The city is considered to be a fine-dining destination. We didn't spend enough time in town to confirm or deny that reputation, but I will say that chef Eric Skokan's Black Cat Farm Table Bistro cooks up some awesome organic and local dishes. I was particularly impressed with the beet salad (sliced paper thin) and the cucumber soup (refreshing and clarifying on a warm evening). Service was warm, friendly and informal - par for the course in Boulder.

In short, it's a bit silly trying to describe everything that's eco about Boulder. Let's just say that Green-minded folks will breathe deeply of the clean mountain air and feel instantly at home. For plenty more Green info on Boulder, visit the Environment page of the Boulder CVB.

Amazing cyclists on the beautiful Peak to Peak Byway - the roundabout route between Boulder and Fort Collins
(photo by Aaron Dalton)

Fort Collins - This college town (home to Colorado State University) has a great reputation. Among the many awards won by the city, residents seem fairly proud of the  2006 designation by Money Magazine, which called Fort Collins the best place to live in the U.S.A.

More recently, the Natural Resources Defense Council placed Fort Collins #3 on a list of 'Smarter Cities' based on environmental standards including use of renewable energy, creation of green space, encouragement of alternative transportation and energy-efficient building techniques.

Speaking of alternative transportation, the 280+ miles of bike lanes and 30+ miles of bike paths have helped Fort Collins achieve a Gold level designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Recently, the city installed new bike racks downtown with the help of New Belgium Brewery, a local institution praised as much for its eco-sensibility as for its awesome microbrews.

Visitors to Fort Collins can take a tour (and tasting) at New Belgium, learning why the brewery's signature beer is called Fat Tire and about the important role bikes play in the company's culture.

I have a lot of respect for companies and communities that are willing to put their money on the line alongside their Green sensibilities. Just as the citizens of Boulder took a hit to their pocketbooks when they voted to tax themselves to preserve Green space, so too did New Belgium's employees take an economically irrational decision back in 1999 when they voted unanimously to give up profit-sharing bonuses for 10 years in order to pay a premium for wind-powered electricity.

Full bike rack outside New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado
(photo by theregeneration via Flickr)

New Belgium also has a sweet policy of giving employees a free cruiser bike on their one-year anniversary with the company.

Meanwhile, the company isn't slowing down on its efforts to become Greener by diverting more waste from landfills and planning installation of a solar photovoltaic array. Basically, I came away super-impressed by New Belgium's ability to turn challenges into beautiful eco-friendly solutions. Faced with the destruction of the state's beautiful lodgepole pine forests by beetle infestation, New Belgium decided to use some of the fallen dead trees to build its new packaging hall. When the company had to find a better way to treat wastewater from its brewing and packaging activities, it built its own treatment facility that captured methane gas and used it to power a co-gen plant that supplies up to 15% of the company's electrical needs.

And did I mention that the beer is pretty tasty? ;-)

Incidentally, Fort Collins also has other well-regarded microbreweries (Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins Brewery and Coopersmith)  and a massive Anheuser-Busch macrobrewery.

Fort Collins also has an ambitious project underway to create the world's largest zero-energy district. Called FortZED, this district encompasses the historic downtown and the main campus of CSU, aiming to reduce energy demand and simultaneously meet the remaining demand with Smart Grid technologies including wind and solar energy.

Colorado State University also plays a major role in Green research and development. The university's Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory (EECL) looks for ways to make engines more efficient and investigates potentially useful biofuels like algae. If you happen to be visiting Fort Collins with a group of at least 7 other eco-minded friends, you may be able to organize a tour of EECL by contacting Stacy Grant at CSU.

While in Fort Collins, eco-minded visitors might like to sample the yummy organic/vegan fare at Tasty Harmony. I enjoyed the jackfruit taco and the awesome berry smoothie.

If you're looking for a little adventure, Mountain Whitewater Descents offers rafting trips on the Cache la Poudre river, Colorado's only Wild and Scenic River. I'd been rafting once before and had unintentionally gone swimming a couple of times on that previous trip, so I was a little anxious about the ride, but the Cache la Poudre trip actually turned out to be just the right mix of relaxing floating and adrenaline-pumping rapids. MWD's prices range from $49 to $109 per person for half-day or full-day rafting trips. (Since the rafts are human-powered and go downstream with the current, the experience seems relatively benign and eco-friendly for the river. Of course, there are diesel-powered buses involved in bringing the rafts and people upstream to the put-in point, so the experience can't be classified as totally eco-friendly, but MWD does give back to the environment with an annual river cleanup, tree-planting to offset carbon emissions, purchases of wind-power credits (with a goal of being 100% wind-powered) and donations of 2% of gross receipts to non-profit organizations. The company also lives the recycling credo in its everyday life by re-using salvaged lumber and materials in its office and recreation areas.

Oreo - resident cat at the Armstrong Hotel - needs a bigger chair
(photo by Aaron Dalton)

If you'd rather park your car and spend your time walking and biking around Fort Collins, I'd suggest staying at the Armstrong Hotel, a 1923 landmark that was restored in 2004. With free wi-fi in every room, a great location and free cruiser bikes available to guests, the Armstrong was a great home base while in Fort Collins. Cat lovers take note -- lazy kitty Oreo seems to spend all day snoozing away in the chair next to the front desk and is perfectly happy to be petted whenever you like.

If you want to get out of town and enjoy nature, the city of Fort Collins does have a Natural Areas Program funded by citizen-initiated taxes and encompasing more than 32,000 acres of land suitable for hiking, biking, bird watching and horseback riding - most of which are open from early in the morning (5 a.m.) until late at night (11 p.m.).

Two other quick eco tidbits about Fort Collins. The city has a Climate Wise program to help businesses figure out ways to reduce waste, save energy, conserve water and promote alternative transportation. And in case you're not staying at the Armstrong, there's also a local Bike Library in Fort Collins where you can borrow a bike for up to 7 days at no cost.

Oh and in case you're in the market for a lithium-ion powered tricycle, I just read about a new electric bike shop called RunAbout Cycles that relocated to Fort Collins.

Morning view across lake in Estes Park, Colorado (photo by Aaron Dalton)

Estes Park - Estes Park is one of the gateway towns for Rocky Mountain National Park, which gives eco-minded travelers more than a quarter million acres of rugged land with almost 360 miles of trails, 150 lakes and more streams, vistas and wildlife than you can shake a stick at.

If you're looking for non-motorized ways of exploring the beautiful countryside around Estes Park, consider a horseback ride from Aspen Lodge or an exhilirating downhill bicycle tour with Colorado Bicycling Adventures.

(Be sure to wear warm clothes on the cycling tour. I was freezing in just a t-shirt in the middle of July. I also was happy that I'd taken the relatively gentle North Fork tour rather than the windswept, high-altitude Trail Ridge Tour. Plus the North Fork riders get to enjoy the awesomely delicious cinnamon rolls from the Glen Haven General Store.)

If you're looking for a good meal in Estes Park, consider the Rock Inn, which we found to have a comfortably casual atmosphere, welcoming service and even some organic ingredients on the menu (coffee, tea, apples, quinoa, etc.). You might also enjoy the unbeatable lakeside view in the Shores Restaurant at the Lake Shore Lodge hotel.

The clear mountain air and high elevation make Estes Park a lovely place for star-gazing. Amateur astronomers will get a thrill out of visiting the newly-opened Estes Park Memorial Observatory with its 16-ft. diameter observatory dome, its Meade 12-inch LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and its gracious staff. The observatory has two open houses scheduled for August (15th and 29th), but I believe you can make appointments to visit on your own at other times by emailing the observatory directly.

Timeless shortgrass prairie and modern wind farm practically invisible on the far horizon
at the Pawnee National Grassland (photo by Aaron Dalton)

Pawnee National Grassland - For most tourists, Colorado equals mountains for skiing, hiking or just sightseeing. But the fact is that much of the Eastern section of the state consists of high prairie. Most of this high prairie has been developed for farms, ranches or cities, but you can still see nearly 200,000 acres of the grassland in their native form at the Pawnee National Grassland.

This is definitely the road less traveled. Conditions can be extreme on the grasslands - very hot and dry in summer, dangerously cold and snowy in winter. But if you've got a hankering for wide open spaces and a desire to see something like the views that the first caucasian settlers must have seen as they crossed the plains, the grassland can't be beat.

As a bonus, the Grassland has a reputation as a world-class birding destination where bird enthusiasts come to see raptors, hawks, burrowing owls, thrashers, lark buntings, numerous kinds of sparrows and literally hundreds of other species of birds. Guides to the Pawnee National Grassland urge birders to do their birdwatching from the car so as not to disturb birds or scare them away from nests. Since the Grassland is actually a patchwork of private and public land, staying on the numbered roads is also essential. And since many of those roads are unpaved and not even graveled, be sure to check the weather reports since rains can apparently make many of the roads impassable.

Your intrepid editor hiking near the Pawnee Buttes on the Pawnee National Grassland

If you come to the Grassland, make a point to seek out the Pawnee Buttes, remnants of an ancient landscape that has been mostly eroded away by the action of wind and water over millions of years. A hiking trail leads to the base of the Buttes - just be sure to watch your step to avoid cacti and prairie rattlers.

If you'd like to spend a night out on the grassland, you can try to get a room at the West Pawnee Ranch B&B. For more creature comforts, the most convenient urban base close to the Pawnee Grassland would be the city of Greeley, an interesting place in its own right that began in 1868 as a utopian agricultural colony founded by Nathan Meeker, agricultural editor of the New York Tribune. Meeker named the town after his editor at the Tribune, Horace Greeley, whose name has become inextricably linked with the 19th Century ralling cry, "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country."

Today, the country has certainly grown up and moved on. The countryside that Americans like Meeker, Greeley and others knew less than 150 years ago has mostly disappeared, but remnants like the Pawnee Grasslands endure and provide a glimpse back into another world.

Well...even the view isn't quite untouched. On the horizon, a line of bluffs marks a boundary with Wyoming and a wind farm atops the bluffs provides an inspiring clean energy sight. I think this might be the Ponnequin Wind Farm owned by Xcel Energy.

If your curiosity for the Pawnee National Grassland has been aroused, definitely check out these gorgeous photos of the Pawnee Buttes by Rick Dunn.

(I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked in Greeley, but the town seems to be home to some interesting cultural attractions including Kress Cinema & Lounge and The Greeley Philharmonic - oldest continually running orchestra between St. Louis and San Francisco!

Afterthoughts -

1. Prius - I had a chance to drive a Toyota Prius for the first time in Colorado - not the new 3rd-generation Prius but the second-generation version. I'll save a full review for when I get a chance to test drive the 3rd-generation car, but generally I was very impressed with the vehicle. Green Car Congress notes that the 1st generation Prius had a combined mileage rating of 41 mpg, the 2nd generation car had a mileage rating of 46 mpg, while the 3rd generation Prius has a combined mpg rating of 50 mpg.

Amazingly, even at high altitude and with lots of uphill mountainous driving (and of course lots of corresponding downhill rides), I managed to get over 50 mpg in the 2nd generation Prius. This gives me great home for achieving even better mileage in the 3rd generation car. I found the car's feedback system simultaneously exciting and annoying -- I liked knowing exactly what impact my driving habits were having on fuel efficiency, but I also found that it distracted me a bit from the road, the scenery and the pleasures of driving.

Still, in the end, 50+ mpg can't be beat. I loved driving around Colorado for a week and then topping up the tank for $16 and change.

2. Denver Airport Solar Array - On my way back into the airport to fly home to NYC, I noticed a large solar array on the approach to the airport. This is certainly the biggest airport solar installation I've ever seen and one of the biggest solar arrays I've witnessed firsthand. Information online indicates the array generates more than 3 million kWh of electricity, enough to provide half the energy for the underground train that connects the terminals at DIA.

I also noticed that some of the limited-access highways near Denver allow bicycling on the shoulder of the road. What do you think of that? Clever idea or recipe for disaster?