Ranking Auto Pollutiong: EIJ's "Briquette Test"

Just because tailpipes aren't smoking as much as they used to doesn't mean cars aren't polluting the air and warming the planet. Burning a gallon of gas still generates 20 pounds of CO2.

Every now and then, someone finds a way to make invisible pollution suddenly, graphically, comprehensible. In our previous issue, John Ryan, the director of Northwest Environment Watch, observed that driving a gas-burning car "is like tossing charcoal briquettes out the window."

Because carbon molecules account for 37.5 percent of CO2 by weight, burning a gallon of gasoline produces the carbon equivalent of 7.5 pounds of charcoal briquettes . We have ranked the following cars and light trucks to show the equivalent number of five-pound bags of briquettes produced by driving each vehicle 100 miles. Ratings are based on 1997 EPA mileage tests for city driving.

16.6 five-pound bags of briquettes (83 pounds of soot)

Lamborghini Diablo (9 mpg).

15 bags

Ferrari F355 Berlinetta (10 mpg).

13.6 bags

Rolls/Bentley(11 mpg).

12.5 bags

Rolls-Royce (12 mpg).

10-12 bags

Porsche 911, Dodge Viper, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Aston-Martin Volante (13-14 mpg).

9-10 bags

BMW 5-Series, Plymouth Firebird (15-16).

8-9 bags

Subaru SVX, Audi A8, Cadillac De Ville/El Dorado, Chevrolet Camaro, Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, Ford Mustang, Ford Taurus/Thunderbird, Eagle Vision, Ford Crown Victoria Jaguar XJ6, Lincoln Continental/Town Car, Hyundai Accent, Mitsubishi 3000GT, Mercury Cougar XR7, Mercury Grand Marquis, Oldsmobile Aurora, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Plymouth Grand Prix, VW Jetta, Pontiac Bonneville, Oldsmobile 88 (17-18).

7-8 bags

Toyota Camry, Lexus ES 30/LS 400, Honda Accord, SAAB 9000, VW Golf, Volvo 850 Series, Cabriolet, Mercury Sable, Buick Century/Le Sabre, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Chrysler Cirus, Dodge Avenger, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Galant, Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique, Oldsmobile Achieva, Plymouth Grand Am, Acura, Mazda 626, SAAB 900 (19-20 mpg).

6-7 bags

Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Sonata/Tiburon/Infiniti, Nissan 240SX, Nissan Maxima, Honda Prelude, Avalon, Eagle Talon, Toyota Celica, Volkswagen Cabrio, Plymouth Sunfire, Plymouth Breeze, Chevrolet Cavalier, Mazda Miata/Protege, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Nissan 200SX, Subaru Impreza, Nissan Altima, Integra, Kia Sephia, Plymouth Neon, Toyota Corolla, Saturn, Geo Prizm, Dodge Neon (21-25 mpg).

5-6 bags

Mercury Tracer, Ford Escort (26 mpg), Suzuki Esteem (27 mpg), Honda Del Sol, Ford Aspire (28 mpg), Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Mirage (29 mpg, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Tercel, Geo Metro (30 mpg).

Trucks, Vans and SUVs

16.6 bags or more per 100 miles

AM General Hummer (9 mpg).

12.5 bags

Chevrolet Suburban, Dodge Ram Pickup, Ford Econoline Van/Club Wagon, Chevrolet Suburban, Range Rover (12 mpg).

10-12 bags

Chevrolet CK Pickup, Land Rover Discovery, Chevrolet Express/Van, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Ford F-Series Pickups, GMC Savana Van/Sierra Pickup, Honda Passport, Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus LX 450, Dodge Dakota, Acura SLX, Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Isuzu Trooper, Jeep Grand Cherokee (13-14 mpg).

9-10 bags

Chevrolet Astro, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, GMC Safari, Infiniti QX4, Mitsubishi Montero, Nissan Pathfinder, Isuzu Rodeo, Mazda MVP, Mazda B-Series Pickup, Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Ranger, S-Series Pickup, Toyota 4-Runner/Tacoma, Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Jimmy (15-16 mpg).

8-9 bags

Ford Aerostar, Ford Windstar, Mercury Villager, Nissan Quest, Plymouth Voyager, Pontiac Trans Sport, Chevrolet Venture Minivan (17-18 mpg).

7-8 bags

Kia Sportage, Suzuki Sidekick (21 mpg).

6-7 bags

Toyota RAV4, Geo Tracker, Suzuki X-90, Isuzu Hombre Pickup (22-23 mpg).

What You Can Do: If you insist on driving a car, check out the Green Guide to Cars and Trucks [American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, No. 801, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 429-0063] for the "cleanest and most efficient" vehicles available.