In time for Earth Day, NADAguides.com has announced its Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars of 2009.

Hybrids aren’t the only choice for those who wish to minimize the environmental impact of their driving and while NADAguides.com is a large proponent of hybrid and alternative fuel technology, given that the industry will be highlighting hybrids for Earth Day, the company wanted to show that there are also conventional vehicles that can help cut down on air pollution.

So, to provide consumers with an alternative to alternative fuel vehicles, NADAguides.com evaluated fuel economy and emissions data and determined that the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, MINI Cooper, Pontiac G5 and Hyundai Elantra are the Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars of 2009.

Despite improvements in production efficiency and material costs, the prices of gas-electric hybrid vehicles remain considerably higher than those of their gasoline-only counterparts. The base price of the all-new 2010 Honda Insight, designed to rival the fuel economy of the Toyota Prius for about $2,000 less, is still expected to retail for nearly $2,000 more than the MINI Cooper, the most expensive car on the NADAguides.com top 5 list.

The Chevrolet Cobalt LS, Ford Focus S, Pontiac G5 and Hyundai Elantra GLS all qualify for PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle) certification, while the MINI Cooper is designated as an ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle).

NADAguides.com chose the Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars based on a combination of scores from three criteria:

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
2. Smog-Producing Air Pollution Levels
3. Combined Miles per Gallon

Greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane gas (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and represent vehicle combustion by-products that contribute to global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions are expressed in tons per year based on 15,000 miles of average driving. These figures are directly proportional to the vehicle’s fuel economy and type of fuel used.

Smog-forming air pollution includes nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), various carbon-containing compounds (including hydrocarbons), formaldehyde (HCHO) and solid particulate matter. These compounds, which contribute to smog and other health problems, are measured in pounds emitted per year based on 15,000 miles of average driving.

Combined fuel economy is calculated from EPA city/highway miles per gallon figures, based on 55 percent city and 45 percent highway driving.

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