When it comes to cars, not all of them are built with the environment in mind. While many vehicles are becoming more eco-friendly, some models still have a major impact on the planet. From excessive fuel consumption to high carbon emissions, these cars are leaving a significant environmental footprint. In this list, we’ll take a closer look at 25 cars with alarming environmental impacts that you need to know about.
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Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Chiron is known for its mind-boggling speed and luxury, but its environmental impact is equally extreme. With an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine that produces 1,479 horsepower, it consumes fuel at an alarming rate, averaging just 9 mpg. This supercar emits a significant amount of carbon dioxide, making it one of the most inefficient vehicles on the planet in terms of emissions per mile.
Hummer H1
The Hummer H1, originally designed for military use, is infamous for its poor fuel economy and massive size. With a fuel efficiency of around 10 mpg, its massive 6.5-liter turbo-diesel V8 engine contributes to heavy carbon emissions. Its excessive weight, combined with its high fuel consumption, makes it one of the least eco-friendly vehicles ever made.
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV known for its spaciousness and towing capacity, but it comes at a cost to the environment. With a 5.3-liter V8 engine and a fuel economy of about 16 mpg, the Suburban is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions in the SUV category, due to both its size and poor fuel efficiency.
Dodge Ram 1500 TRX
Equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, the Dodge Ram 1500 TRX is a powerful pickup truck designed for off-road performance. However, it guzzles fuel at just 10 mpg, making it one of the most inefficient trucks on the road. Its high horsepower (702 hp) comes with a heavy toll on the environment, emitting large amounts of CO2.
Ford F-450 Super Duty
The Ford F-450 Super Duty is a massive truck designed for heavy-duty work, but it’s also one of the worst offenders when it comes to fuel consumption. With its 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, it manages only around 12 mpg, contributing to significant emissions, particularly for a vehicle driven primarily in non-commercial settings.
Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador, with its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine, is a supercar that offers thrilling performance but at a steep environmental cost. With a fuel efficiency of just 10 mpg, this luxury sports car contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions, and its high power output of 730 horsepower is matched by equally high carbon emissions.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the epitome of luxury, but its environmental footprint is far from elegant. Its 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine is incredibly thirsty, with an average fuel economy of just 12 mpg. This ultra-luxury sedan’s massive size and powerful engine result in significant CO2 emissions, placing it among the least eco-friendly vehicles.
Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is a popular full-size luxury SUV that’s notorious for its poor fuel economy. With its 6.2-liter V8 engine, the Escalade averages about 16 mpg, which, combined with its large size and weight, makes it a top contributor to carbon emissions in the luxury SUV market.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G63 AMG)
The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG is an iconic off-road vehicle that has become a status symbol, but its environmental impact is hard to ignore. Powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it produces 577 horsepower, while averaging just 13 mpg. Its heavy build and powerful engine make it one of the worst offenders when it comes to emissions in the luxury SUV category.
Bentley Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga is a luxury SUV with a powerful 6.0-liter W12 engine that emits significant amounts of CO2. Its fuel economy of 14 mpg reflects its high environmental cost, and despite its luxury appeal, the Bentayga’s massive engine and heavy body contribute to its alarmingly high carbon footprint.
Range Rover Sport SVR
The Range Rover Sport SVR is a high-performance SUV with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 575 horsepower. While it delivers exhilarating performance, its fuel economy is a mere 15 mpg. The SVR’s size and engine result in substantial emissions, making it one of the least eco-friendly luxury SUVs.
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition, with its large 3.5-liter V6 engine, is one of the largest SUVs on the market, and its fuel economy of 17 mpg reflects this. The Expedition’s size and poor efficiency result in high carbon emissions, making it a significant contributor to environmental damage in the large SUV category.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
The Ferrari 812 Superfast is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine, delivering 789 horsepower and extraordinary performance. However, with an average fuel economy of just 12 mpg, this supercar has an equally extraordinary environmental footprint, making it one of the worst for emissions in its class.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is an incredibly powerful SUV, featuring a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 707 horsepower. While it offers high-speed thrills, its fuel efficiency of 11 mpg makes it one of the most environmentally damaging SUVs, especially given its weight and size.
GMC Yukon XL Denali
The GMC Yukon XL Denali is a full-size luxury SUV that prioritizes power and space, but at the cost of environmental efficiency. Its 6.2-liter V8 engine offers plenty of power but averages just 14 mpg, leading to substantial carbon emissions, particularly in urban environments where it’s commonly driven.
Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is renowned for its durability and off-road capabilities, but its 5.7-liter V8 engine is a major contributor to poor fuel efficiency, averaging around 13 mpg. This large SUV’s significant weight and fuel consumption make it one of the most environmentally harmful vehicles, especially in terms of CO2 emissions.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is an SUV with the heart of a muscle car, powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 710 horsepower. While it offers exceptional performance, its fuel economy of just 13 mpg makes it one of the least eco-friendly SUVs, with high emissions due to its powerful engine.
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a large luxury SUV with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, offering plenty of power and space for passengers. However, it averages only 16 mpg, contributing to its significant environmental footprint. Its size and weight, combined with poor fuel efficiency, make it a heavy emitter of greenhouse gases.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo is a performance-oriented SUV with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering 541 horsepower. Despite its sporty appeal, its fuel economy is just 15 mpg, which, combined with its size, makes it a substantial contributor to carbon emissions in the luxury SUV segment.
Maserati Levante Trofeo
The Maserati Levante Trofeo is a high-performance luxury SUV with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 590 horsepower. While it delivers exceptional performance, its fuel economy of just 15 mpg makes it a significant polluter, contributing heavily to CO2 emissions in the luxury vehicle market.
Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada is a large, full-size SUV with a 5.6-liter V8 engine, averaging around 14 mpg. Its size and power make it a poor choice for those looking to minimize their environmental footprint, as it contributes to high levels of carbon emissions, particularly in city driving.
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a popular SUV known for its size and towing capacity, but its fuel economy of 15 mpg makes it a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With its large 5.3-liter V8 engine, the Tahoe is one of the least fuel-efficient vehicles in its class.
BMW X7
The BMW X7 is a large luxury SUV with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, offering both power and comfort. However, it averages just 16 mpg, and its size contributes to high emissions, making it one of the worst offenders when it comes to environmental impact in the luxury SUV category.
Infiniti QX80
The Infiniti QX80 is a full-size luxury SUV with a 5.6-liter V8 engine that averages around 14 mpg. Its large size and poor fuel efficiency result in high carbon emissions, making it one of the least eco-friendly options for those in the market for a luxury SUV.
Lexus LX 570
The Lexus LX 570 is a large SUV with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that delivers plenty of power but poor fuel efficiency, averaging around 14 mpg. Its significant size and weight contribute to its large environmental footprint, as the LX 570 is one of the highest carbon emitters in the luxury SUV segment.
This article originally appeared in MyCarMakesNoise.
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