The first thing you notice when you turn on an FCV is what's not there. There's only quiet instead of the rev of an engine. Lights on the dash are all that tell you it's ready to go. As you press on the accelerator and the car begins to move, you hear the whine of the electric motor, which sounds a bit like a muted hair dryer. Because electric motors provide all of their torque immediately upon starting, the cars tend to have strong acceleration from a standstill. We found the new Honda FCX's acceleration to be similar to a four-cylinder Honda Accord's.

Compared with conventional cars, FCVs remain very quiet while driving even at highway speeds, with wind and tire noise the most dominant sounds. We've also found the latest models to be well developed, feeling as comfortably familiar inside as a conventional car. In some models, the hydrogen tanks can take up a lot of cargo space. Others, such as the Chevrolet Sequel, shown here, house them out of the way, under the floor.

Water can drip from the exhaust pipe. But that can be seen as a friendly reminder that no pollutants are accompanying it.