COLCHESTER, CT – Consumer Reports (CR), the nonprofit consumer research, testing, and advocacy organization, today announced the launch of Green Choice, a new initiative to make information about auto emissions more accessible to consumers. As part of Green Choice, CR will use a new green leaf icon to designate cars and trucks in its ratings that produce among the lowest amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) and smog-forming emissions, based on EPA data.

"To most of us on the road, green means go, but increasingly it also signals making a choice in the marketplace that is healthier for communities, better for our environmental footprint, and easier on everyday finances. We look forward to bringing our independent rigorous testing and analysis to more products as part of CR's Green Choice to better inform consumers and further incentivize manufacturers to meet these important consumer demands,” said Marta L. Tellado, President and CEO of Consumer Reports.

Greenhouse gases are emitted from the tailpipes of cars and trucks that combust fuel. The gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping energy in the atmosphere and causing it to warm. Typically there is a balance, but excess emissions activities like driving are changing the planet’s climate, raising sea levels, harming ecosystems, and causing dangerous effects to human health and welfare, according to the EPA.

“Climate change and air pollution present crucial challenges to this country’s health and well-being, and the choices we make matter,” said Karl Simon, Director of EPA’s Transportation and Climate Division­.  “EPA supports the effort to put good, trustworthy information in the hands of American consumers to help them make the best decision for their family, their health and the environment.”

Two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans are “very or somewhat” worried about tailpipe emissions contributing to health conditions related to air quality, according to a January 2021 nationally representative CR survey of 2,223 adults. Sixty-one percent said that those emissions are a “very or somewhat” important factor when considering which vehicle to purchase or lease.

Among CR’s 10 Top Picks in cars and trucks for 2021, four are Green Choices. This shows that it is possible for automakers to create vehicles that are safe and sustainable, and also are reliable, perform well, and make owners happy. These vehicles include the Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, and Tesla Model 3.

“For a long time we’ve included fuel efficiency in our road-test score for vehicles, but until now we haven’t looked at what’s coming out of the tailpipe,” said Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Automotive Testing and Consumer Reports. “Green Choice will make the vehicles with the lowest greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions readily apparent to consumers.”

Consumer Reports conducts a battery of tests on every vehicle it evaluates, including braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. CR testers drive 500,000 miles per year during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anoymously from the same dealers as car buyers and does not accept free samples from automakers for any of its ratings or evaluations.

For more information, visit CR.org/spotlight.