Honda Civic Tops List of Least Toxic Cars, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Last – Video
The new 2012 Civic might not be landing at the top of a lot of lists this year, but it can claim best marks when it comes to the level of toxic materials used.
The Ecology Center has just released its fourth consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars at HealthyStuff.org, and the Honda Civic is rated as the least toxic car out of 200 2011- and 2012-model vehicles. The study tested for chemicals that off-gas from parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, and seats – the same chemicals that contribute to that new car smell everyone seems to enjoy.
“Research shows that vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals that off-gas in small, confined spaces,” said Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center. “Since these chemicals are not regulated, consumers have no way of knowing the dangers they face. Our testing is intended to expose those dangers and encourage manufacturers to use safer alternatives.”
Topping the charts this year for least toxic was the Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-Z, Nissan Cube, Acura RDX, Acura ZDX, Audi S5, Smart Coupe, Toyota Venza, and Smart Passion. At the bottom of the list was the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – the most toxic of 200 or so popular models that were studied.
The report also showed that Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, and Ford were the most improved brands compared to their 2009/2010 model counterparts while Daimler AG and Volvo both saw declining averages over the same time span.
Check out a video of the report below:
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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