What Car? top 10 greenest cars 2009

Winner - overall and small family cars category: Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe S
Price: £17,245
Target price: £15,374
CO2: 104g/km
Nitrous oxide (NOx): 0.164g/km
Particulate emissions: Too low to register
Average fuel economy: 72.4mpg
Green verdict: A classy, desirable saloon that's great to drive, but as a clean as a hybrid – the S40 is a win-win proposition Photograph: Newspress

Winner - superminis category: Fiat 500 Start&Stop
Price: £9,700
Target price: £9,700
CO2: 113g/km
NOx: 0.032g/km
Particulate emissions: na
Average fuel economy: 58.9mpg
Green verdict: Chic, yet cheap. The 500 is easy on the eye, easy on the environment and easy on your wallet Photograph: Newspress

Winner - family cars category: Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D T2
List price: £17,545
Target price: £16,515
CO2: 135g/km
NOx: 0.140g/km
Particulate emissions: 0.014g/km
Average fuel economy: 55.4mpg
Green verdict: The Prius isn't the only Toyota with amazing eco credentials – the new Avensis is our green family car favourite Photograph: Newspress

Winner - executive cars category: BMW 318d ES
Price: £24,235
Target price: £22,015
CO2: 123g/km
NOx: 0.149g/km
Particulate emissions: Too low to register
Average fuel economy: 60.1mpg
Green verdict: Pound for pound, we reckon this is the best green car that BMW makes – and the competition is stiff Photograph: BMW

Winner - multi-purpose vehicle category (MPV): Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi SX EGS
Price: £19,095
Target price: £18,115
CO2: 140g/km
NOx: 0.24g/km
Particulate emissions: 0.004g/km
Average fuel economy: 53.3mpg
Green verdict: Affordable to buy and own, practical, well-equipped, good to drive and emits far less CO2 than most rivals Photograph: Citroen

Winner - sports-utility vehicle (SUV) category: Lexus RX450h SE-L
Price: £50,460
Target price: £50,460
CO2: 148g/km
NOx: 0.0129g/km
Particulate emissions: na
Average fuel economy: 44.8mpg
Green verdict: Pinch yourself – a posh SUV that doesn't chuck out too many pollutants really does exist Photograph: Newspress

Winner - sports car category: Mini Cooper S
List price: £16,575
Target price: £16,412
CO2: 149g/km
NOx: 0.005g/km
Particulate emissions: na
Average fuel economy: 45.6mpg
Green verdict: Fast, frugal and feisty – the Cooper S delivers scorching pace without sizzling the planet Photograph: Newspress

Winner - luxury car category: Audi A8 2.8 V6 FSI SE
Price: £49,970
Target price: £43,569
CO2: 199g/km
NOx: 0.017g/km
Particulate emissions: na
Average fuel economy: 34.0mpg
Green verdict: A fantastically good luxury car that doesn't trade down on space or equipment to reduce its carbon footprint Photograph: Newspress

The technical award went to Vauxhall for its Ampera, an electric car that goes on sale in 2012, and which will seat four, offer all the luxuries consumers are used to, and meet exacting safety standards Photograph: Newspress

Tesla picked up the editor’s award for its pioneering battery-powered Roadster, which offers proof that electric cars offering sensational performance and outstanding driving abilities will appeal to petrolheads Photograph: Newspress