How to guide
How to use the Green Vehicle Guide
To help you make a smarter choice the Green Vehicle Guide lets you:
- View Top CO2 Performers and Top Sellers lists , so you can see the best environmental performers as well as how Australia's best-selling vehicles compare.
- Do a quick comparison of vehicle(s) using the 'Quickly compare up to 3 vehicles' function.
- Search for specific vehicle(s) using the advanced search function.
- Search for vehicles with specific features using the advanced search function.
- Use the Fuel calculator to estimate your particular fuel costs and CO2 emissions.
Information provided by the Guide
The Green Vehicle Guide (GVG) provides information about the environmental performance of new light vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) sold in Australia. The GVG can help you to choose a cleaner car.
Detailed information helps identify individual vehicle models, including the make, model and variant name, engine and transmission, body style, seating and fuel type.
Information provided for each vehicle will help you compare the level of emissions of different vehicles and consequently their impact on the environment. The information includes:
- Tailpipe CO2 emissions - to help you compare a vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.
- Fuel Lifecycle emissions - to help you compare a vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions associated with its fuel production as well as combustion.
- Fuel Consumption (in L/100km) - to help you identify the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your needs.
(Note: The Green Vehicle Guide only provides information for vehicles sold as new in Australia from 2004 onwards. Information for most 1986 - 2003 vehicle models can be found on the former Fuel Consumption Guide website). - Energy consumption and electric range - to help you identify any electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles that may suit your needs.
- Air Pollution Standard - to help you compare a vehicle's contribution to urban air pollution (and associated effects on the environment, human health and amenity).
- Annual fuel costs - to help you compare how much a vehicle may cost to refuel relative to other vehicles for a given distance and taking into account different prices for different fuel types.
- Annual tailpipe CO2 emissions - to help you compare a vehicles contribution to greenhouse gas emissions over a given distance.
When buying a new car you can use the Green Vehicle Guide to identify the most environmentally friendly vehicle that meets your needs.
Searching for vehicle(s) using the 'Quickly compare up to 3 vehicles' function
The 'Quick Compare' function allows a user to compare up to three particular makes and/or models.
The 'Quick Compare' function is located on the Green Vehicle Guide homepage.
Under the 'Vehicle 1' tab, use the drop down boxes to select the Year, Make, Model and Variant of the first vehicle you wish to locate. If you want to compare all models of a particular make, you need only select the make from the first box.
Repeat step 1 if desired for 'Vehicle 2' and 'Vehicle 3'.
Click the 'Compare vehicles' button to display the selected vehicles.
If you would like to compare more vehicles or perform a search using more detailed criteria instead, click the on 'Advanced Search' underneath the green 'Compare Vehicles' button or the magnifying glass at the top right of the homepage. This action will initiate a new search.
You can either for a specific vehicle model and compare more vehicles using the 'Search by Vehicle' tab or a vehicle with specific features using the 'Search by Features' tab.
Searching for specific vehicles
From the Green Vehicle Guide homepage, click on the 'Advanced Search' option 'Compare Vehicles' button or the magnifying glass icon at the top right hand side of the GVG homepage.
Use the dropdown boxes to select the 'Year', Make', 'Model' and 'Variant' for the vehicle you wish to search. To view this vehicle only click on the green 'Search for this vehicle' button below the dropdown boxes.
You can create a list of multiple vehicles to search by clicking on the blue 'add to compare list' on the right. After you have added your first vehicle repeat these steps for each vehicle you wish to compare. Once you have listed all the vehicles you wish to compare 'Click on the blue 'Compare Vehicles' button underneath the compare list.
You can select the number of models you would like to display, by using the 'Return' drop box in the bottom left hand side corner (the default number is 50). Some models have a large number of variants you may wish to select more returns, especially if you are comparing several vehicles.
You can also select how you would like the vehicles to be sorted e.g. by CO2 emissions, Fuel Consumption or Air Pollution Standard by using the 'Sort By' drop box (the default is to sort by CO2 emissions).
If you wish to limit your search to vehicles with a certain level of CO2 emissions, fuel consumption or air pollution standard you can use the drop boxes next to the return dropdown to filter your results.
Searching for a vehicle(s) with specific features
You can search for a particular vehicle or a type of vehicle using more detailed selection criteria. For example, a search could be made for petrol vehicles which are automatic transmission, 4WD and for a specific make/model.v
To search for a specific vehicle, or for a type of vehicle, using more detailed search criteria:
From the Green Vehicle Guide homepage, click on 'Advanced Search' underneath the 'Compare Vehicle' button or the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the homepage. Then click on the grey 'Search by Features' tab on the top right.
Select the criteria relevant to the vehicle(s) you are interested in from the dropdown options in this tab.
You can select the number of models you would like to display, by using the 'Return' drop box in the bottom left hand side corner (the default number is 50). Some models have a large number of variants you may wish to select more returns, especially if you are comparing several vehicles.
You can also select how you would like the vehicles to be sorted e.g. by CO2 emissions, Fuel Consumption or Air Pollution Standard by using the 'Sort By' drop box (the default is to sort by the CO2 emissions).
Click the 'Search vehicles' button to display the selected vehicles.
Comparing vehicles
Having done a search, you can then compare a smaller number of selected vehicles from your search results.
To compare vehicles:
Click the tick box next to any vehicles of interest on the 'Search Results' page.
Click the 'Add to compare list' button to add these vehicles to your compare list at the top of the search results page.v
To remove a vehicle from the list click on the cross next to the vehicle you wish to remove in the compare list. You can also clear the compare list by clicking on 'Clear Compare List'
When you have completed your compare list click on 'Compare List'
Refining your search
When you have a set of results you can refine your search without having to re-enter your initial search criteria.
To refine your search/narrow down the number of returned results:
Click on the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the page to open a search box allowing you to enter more specific search criteria.
Enter additional search criteria.
Click the 'Search' button to display results that match these new criteria.
Downloading the data
At the left of the 'Comparison Results' or 'Search Results' page click on the PDF or CSV icons to download your results in your preferred format. These results can also be emailed to your email address by clicking on the 'Mail' icon.