Consumer Reports (CR), the nonprofit consumer research, testing, and advocacy organization, launched 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.

Two-thirds (66%) 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. Green Choice will make the vehicles with the lowest greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions readily apparent to consumers.

—Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Automotive Testing and Consumer Reports

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 anonymously from the same dealers as car buyers and does not accept free samples from automakers for any of its ratings or evaluations.