See “What the Numbers Mean” in The Ultimate Green Car Buyer’s Guide, 2012 for a full description of the metrics we collected for each model.

Hyundai Accent

Gasoline, Compact or Hatchback

Price Range: $13,300 – $17,700
City/Hwy/Combined MPG: 30/40/33
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,700
Air Pollution Score: 5
Greenhouse Gas Score: 8
ACEEE Green Score and Class Ranking: 50/Above Average
Safety Ratings: 4-star NHTSA rating
Space: 90.1 cu. ft. p.v./seats 5
Drive Score: 4
Similar Used: Redesigned for 2012

Good to Know:

• Hyundai made major upgrades to the Accent for 2012. Its 138 horsepower and 30/40-mpg rating offers the best combination of performance and efficiency in its class.
• The new fourth-generation Accent features radically updated body styling, a larger interior and a 1.6-liter, 138-horsepower engine.
• The stripped-down version of the Accent is truly bare-bones: It comes with manual transmission, roll-up windows and no air conditioning.
• The automatic Accent costs about $2,700 more than the base model with manual transmission. The more versatile hatchback similarly sends up the price compared with the four-door variant.
• The model doesn’t have as much cargo space as the competing Honda Fit or Mazda 2.
• The Accent’s low price means some of the materials, such as floor mats and armrests, feel cheap. Also, Hyundai doesn’t offer a navigation system or sunroof at any level of trim, unlike rival models from Ford and Chevrolet.

What the Press Says:

• “Better to drive, quicker, and way more refined than before, the Hyundai Accent is now a compelling choice. Rivals offer a sportier feel, but the Accent is comfortable, spacious and imbued with refinement that many competitors can’t match.” — Car and Driver
• “Given the Accent’s focus on fuel economy, we expected a somewhat limp driving experience, and while this isn’t the sportiest vehicle in the segment, we weren’t disappointed by the hatchback’s acceleration, handling or on-road manners.” — Autoblog

Hyundai Elantra

Gasoline, Compact

Price Range: $16,100 – $21,400
City/Hwy/Combined MPG: 29/40/33
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,700
Air Pollution Score: 5
Greenhouse Gas Score: 8
ACEEE Green Score and Class Ranking: 49/Superior
Safety Ratings: IIHS Top Safety Pick; 5-star NHTSA rating
Space: 95.6 cu. ft. p.v./seats 5
Drive Score: 4
Similar Used: 2011

Good to Know:

• The Elantra picked up 2012 North American Car of the Year honors.
• All automatic transmission trims come with Hyundai’s Active Eco System, which improves fuel economy by about 7 percent.
• Small doesn’t mean unsafe. The Elantra has a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• The car is one of just a few non-hybrids to be rated as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle by the state of California.
• The Elantra’s drag coefficient — just 0.28 — is among the lowest on the market.

What the Press Says:

• “The Elantra has all the makings of a sales success: stop-and-stare styling, a fuel-sipping 4-cylinder engine and an optimal blend of ride comfort and handling poise — all at a competitive price. In short, the Elantra is a home run in the compact segment, allowing more drivers to happily enter a fuel-efficient future.” — Cars.com
• “The Elantra combines nimble handling with a comfortable, well-controlled ride and a neatly laid out, well-equipped interior.” — Consumer Reports

What Drivers Say:

• “It’s a nice, safe and affordable vehicle, and the warranty is fabulous,” says Whitney Setser of Asheville, N.C., while also pointing out that the most basic model is pretty basic.
• Other drivers praised the handling of the car and said it has low road noise for such a small car. Most named mpg as their main reason for choosing this vehicle. Reports on real-world gas mileage came in at about 35 mpg, with drivers occasionally getting more than 40 mpg on the highway.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hybrid, Sedan

Base Price: $26,600?
City/Hwy/Combined MPG: 35/40/37
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,500
Air Pollution Score: 8
Greenhouse Gas Score: 8
ACEEE Green Score and Class Ranking: 47/Above Average
Safety Ratings: IIHS Top Safety Pick; 5-star NHTSA rating
Space: 103.8 cu. ft. p.v./seats 5
Drive Score: 4.5
Similar Used: 2011

Good to Know:

• Sonata Hybrid gives drivers the first and only lifetime hybrid battery guarantee in the industry.
• It was the second most popular hybrid — behind the Toyota Prius — in 2011.
• The Sonata Hybrid starts $6,000 higher than the gas-only Sonata, but it beats its non-hybrid sibling’s fuel efficiency by more than 30 percent.
• Uses more powerful and lighter lithium-polymer batteries instead of nickel-metal.
• The Sonata Hybrid is aerodynamic. Its styling — raked windshield, sharp creases, enlarged grill — allow it to match the great aerodynamics of the Toyota Prius (at just 0.25 drag coefficient).

What the Press Says:

• “The Sonata Hybrid is a comfortable cruiser with little to no trade-off in terms of comfort or performance compared with the gasoline-only 4-cylinder Sonata.” — Cars.com
• “The Sonata Hybrid isn’t battling the competition on fuel economy alone. It also features attractive styling that sharply differentiates it from the non-hybrid Sonata models, while also carrying an MSRP thousands of dollars less than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid.” — Autoblog

What Drivers Say:

• “I love my Sonata Hybrid. It doesn’t deliver Prius-like mpg numbers, but for those who want hybrid features in a spacious, very well-appointed car, it fits the bill nicely. The ride is really comfortable, interior cabin is surprisingly nice, there’s tons of space in the back seat, and plenty of trunk space.” — Trevor Einstein, Portland, Maine

Hyundai Veloster

Gasoline, Hatchback

Base Price: $18,100?
City/Hwy/Combined MPG: 29/38/32
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,750
Air Pollution Score: 5
Greenhouse Gas Score: 7
ACEEE Green Score and Class Ranking: 48/Above Average
Safety Ratings: N/A
Space: 89.8 cu. ft. p.v./seats 4
Drive Score: 4
Similar Used: New for 2012

Good to Know:

• The sporty Veloster features a 1.6-liter direct-injection engine and variable valve timing. It’s also available with an EcoShift dual-clutch transmission. These are great examples of ways that gas cars (non-hybrids) are flirting with 40 mpg.
• The Veloster comfortably seats four, but back seat access is limited to a single rear door on the passenger side. The unique configuration?gives the car a total of four doors (including the hatchback).
• The turbo edition is expected to hit the market next year. The turbo’s 201-horsepower output will blow away the current base-level Veloster with only a small sacrifice in efficiency, according to Hyundai.
• The edgy hatch design limits some visibility, a complaint also waged against hybrids such as the Honda CR-Z and the Toyota Prius.

What the Press Says:

• “The Hyundai Veloster is that rarity among hatchbacks, with evocative styling, a unique asymmetrical three-door layout and respectable performance. Yet the Veloster still achieves fuel economy figures that rival more commonplace cars.” — Edmunds.com
• “The Hyundai’s third door gives access to the most spacious-feeling rear seats of this group, with good legroom and just enough headroom.” — Automobile
• “Let’s be clear — the Veloster is a little slip of a vehicle. … It’s also a comparative bantamweight, tipping the scales at as little as 2,584 pounds. That’s not only lighter than its Japanese rivals, it’s less than a Mini Cooper S.” — Autoblog
• “The Veloster screams performance, but only moderately delivers.” — Motor Trend

More 2012 green cars: Find details about many more green cars from other automakers in The Ultimate Green Car Buyer’s Guide, 2012.

Photos from Hyundai