Car buyers can now compare the running costs and carbon emissions of the various makes and models before heading down to the dealer, thanks to an innovative addition to the Government's Green Vehicle Guide: www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au.

With rising petrol prices and more people wanting to play their part in preventing dangerous climate change, the Green Vehicle Guide's new Fuel Cost Calculator is an extremely timely development.

This web-based consumer tool lets you estimate the annual cost of running a particular make and model of car based on current or future fuel prices as well as the distance you drive. It will also calculate the vehicle's annual CO2 emissions.

Filling up the family car can have a significant impact on the weekly budget. Knowing this cost in advance will help you make an informed choice and ultimately buy a car you can afford.

Empowering consumers with this type of information will also make it easier for them to choose and live a 'greener' lifestyle.

More than ever, it's important to consider not only the car's ticket price but also its ongoing running and environmental costs. For example, if you were to trade-in your 6-cylinder car for a mid-size 4-cylinder you could cut your annual fuel bill by up to a third and reduce your carbon emissions by up to a third as well.

ANNUAL RUNNING COSTS & CARBON EMISSIONS ACROSS VARIOUS MODELS

Make	Model	Star Rating	Annual Fuel Cost	Annual CO2 (tonnes)
Top 5 Sellers
Toyota	Corolla		$1,642	2.6
Holden	Commodore		$2,430	3.8
Mazda	3		$1,845	2.9
Ford	Falcon		$2,272	3.6
Toyota	Yaris		$1,350	2.1
5 Star Cars
Toyota	Prius		$990	1.6
Fiat	500		$1,125	1.8
Fiat	Punto		$1,282	2.0
Citroen	C3		$1,395	2.2
Fiat	Ritmo		$1,462	2.3
Hybrids
Toyota	Prius		$990	1.6
Honda	Civic Hybrid		$1,035	1.6

The models listed above are based on the best performing variant of the listed model. Variants with different engines and transmissions may have lower scores. Calculations of annual fuel costs and CO2 emissions assume an average petrol price of $1.50 per litre and annual distance travelled of 15,000 km.

Everyone needs to consider their own personal circumstances to make sure the car they buy suits their individual needs. The Green Vehicle Guide and its Fuel Cost Calculator is an important tool to have at your fingertips when selecting between cars.

A new national campaign encouraging everyone to 'Make a smarter choice' by visiting the Green Vehicle Guide website before buying their new car started this month. Below is an example of the ads that have started appearing on the back of buses:

The mandatory fuel consumption label has also been improved to provide additional fuel consumption information. The new label will start to appear on vehicle windscreens in the next few months, and will be mandatory for new models from October 2008.

COMPARISON OF TOP 2 SELLERS & TOP 2 PERFORMERS IN EACH VEHICLE CATEGORY

TOP PERFORMERS (Ranked by Overall Star Rating)				TOP SELLERS
Make & Model	Star Rating	Annual Fuel Cost	Annual CO2 (tonnes)	Make & Model	Star Rating	Annual Fuel Cost	Annual CO2 (tonnes)
2 Seater Cars
smart fortwo coupe		$1,057	1.7	Audi TT		$1,777	2.8
Lotus Elise		$1,665	2.7	Mazda MX5		$1,912	3.0
Small Cars
Fiat 500		$1,125	1.8	Toyota Yaris		$1,350	2.1
Fiat Punto		$1,282	2.0	Hyundai Getz		$1,372	2.2
Medium Cars
Toyota Prius		$990	1.6	Toyota Corolla		$1,642	2.6
Fiat Ritmo		$1,462	2.3	Mazda 3		$1,845	2.9
Large Cars
Lexus GS450h		$1,777	2.8	Holden Commodore		$2,430	3.8
Hyundai Sonata		$1,800	2.9	Ford Falcon		$2,272	3.6
Off Road Vehicles
Lexus RX400h		$1,822	2.9	Toyota Prado		$2,948	4.7
Jeep Compass		$1,958	3.1	Toyota Rav4		$2,048	3.2
Ute / Light Truck
Proton Jumbuck 4x2		$1,598	2.5	Toyota Hilux 4x4 (Diesel)		$1,845	3.3
Holden Rodeo 4x2 (Diesel)		$1.823	3.2	Toyota Hilux 4x2		$2,475	3.9
People Movers
Mercedes-Benz E280T		$2,250	3.6	Kia Carnival		$2,475	3.9
Citroen C4 Picasso		$1,800	2.9	Toyota HiAce Commuter		$2,790	4.4
Vans
Holden Combo		$1,418	2.3	Toyota HiAce		$2,610	4.1
Citroen Berlingo		$1,688	2.7	Mitsubishi Express		$2,340	3.7