The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is hosting its third annual Eco-Run from today till Thursday. Eco-Run? It’s a series of back-to-back drives by eighteen AJAC members over three days in eighteen new emission-reducing, fuel-efficient vehicles. The purpose is to showcase the vehicles’ respective greenness.
The featured technologies range from electric vehicles (EVs) to plug-in and conventional hybrids to diesel and even some exceptionally efficient gas-powered cars. The vehicles themselves range from subcompacts to sedans, SUVs, and even a pickup truck. (The key is efficiency, first. Economy of size doesn’t get as much play.)
The first two years of Eco-Run took place in central Canada. This year, the event is running through British Columbia, from Vancouver to Pemberton with stops in Squamish and Whistler. I am attending and will send daily updates on the event from the behind the scenes.
In the meantime, the following are the featured vehicles, their fuel economy and as-driven prices.
Ford C-MAX Energi — city 1.9 L/100km, highway 4.5 L/100km; $42,864
Honda Accord Hybrid — city 3.7 L/100km, highway 4 L/100km; $35,690
Kia Optima Hybrid — city 5.6 L/100km, highway 5 L/100km; $36,195
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid — city 4.2 L/100km, highway 4.3 L/100km; $50,350
Mazda3 SKYACTIV — city 6.8 L/100km, highway 4.8 L/100km; $21,395
Mazda6 i-ELOOP — city 7.2 L/100km, highway 4.9 L/100km; $35,295
Mercedes-Benz E 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC — city 7.3 L/100km, highway 4.7 L/100km; $61,300
Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC — city 11.9 L/100km, highway 8.6 L/100km; $89,380
MINI Cooper — city 6.8 L/100km, highway 4.7 L/100km; $25,740
Mitsubishi i-MiEV — doesn’t use gas; $33,998
Nissan Altima — city 7.5 L/100km, highway 5.1 L/100km; $29,128
Nissan Leaf — doesn’t use fuel; as-driven price not available but starts at $31,698
Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid — city 10.4 L/100km, highway 8 L/100km; $126,635
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel — city 10.6 L/100km, highway 7.4 L/100km; $70,090
Volvo S60 Drive-E T5 FWD — city 9.4 L/100km, highway 6.3 L/100km; $51,050
More tomorrow.
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Though a co-owner and former editor of DailyXY, Steven Bochenek is actually an advertising writer who does some journalism on the side. In 2011 he was accepted into the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada. His other interests include playing music, long-distance running, skiing and writing in the third person.
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Photo courtesy of Mirari Erdoiza.
