Source: Joenomias (Menno de Jong) on Pixabay

When it comes to being as eco-friendly as possible, a lot of people will tell you to reduce your waste, recycle more or opt for more environmentally friendly ways to live, like shopping local at farmers markets and the like. While these are all great ways to start reducing your footprint on the environment, they aren’t all you can do. If you still need to drive, one of the best ways to help reduce your carbon emissions and general footprint is to get on board with an eco-friendly car. Not sure where to start? Here are five of the best eco-friendly cars we found for you to look at.

Hyundai Iconiq

If you want a real back to nature car, this is it. Not only is the Hyundai Iconiq an electric car with zero emissions, but it’s also made with recycled materials inside including wood and cloth as well as volcanic rock for parts of the interior. Nothing says eco-friendly like this unique and beautiful car. Base models start from around $30,000 USD but it’s worth it. For the environmentally conscious driver, this is the car you have to have.

Fiat 500E

This impressive, beautiful example of eco-friendly cars really sets the bar higher for electric vehicles.With numerous safety features, a gorgeous interior, full HD touchscreen dash display and more, it’s easy to see why this version of Fiat has been so popular. With a luxurious finish and good warranties on the battery and car itself, this is an obvious choice for those looking to take their eco-friendliness to the next level. Base models start around $33,000 USD.

Toyota Prius V

With an aerodynamic design and ultra low emissions, the Toyota Prius V may not be the most eco-friendly car on the market, but it certainly does a good job of beating out other types. This Prius also has LED headlights and an Eco Mode which maximises efficiency. It’s spacious inside and ideal for those families who love driving around and going on road trips. The Prius also has a number of other great attributes like whiplash-lessening seatbelts and 24 hour roadside assistance, which makes this an ideal first eco-friendly car purchase. Base models start around $26,000 USD, which is a good starter eco-car.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

One of the most eco-friendly cars on the market, the Chevrolet Bolt EV features one pedal driving to help conserve energy as well as camera based safety systems, ten airbags and built in 4G WiFi. Does it get any better than that? Did we mention this car is 100% electric with zero emissions? With more horsepower than other electric cars and a real focus on safety, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has been voted 2017’s North American Car Of The Year as well as netting the 2017 Motor Trend Car Of The Year award as well. Base models start from around $37,000 USD, a bit higher on the price spectrum, but totally worth it.

Ford Focus (Electric Version)

Ford’s first electric car is an impressive starter vehicle for those making the transition from gasoline to battery powered vehicles. Being 100% electric with zero emissions means it’s a great first fully electric car for those wanting to make the switch. It’s got enhanced voice recognition and smart charging USB ports so you don’t have to worry about your phone or devices dying on the drive. Base models start around $30,000 making this a good mid-range fully electric vehicle for those wanting to make the change. 

So whether you’re into hybrids at the moment and want to make the change to fully electric or you’re curious about skipping the hybrid step, hopefully this list will help you make a decision around which vehicle you should try next. Good luck!