Green NCAP’s 2025 ranking places electric vehicles at the top, confirming that compact BEVs like the Mini Cooper E and Fiat 600e are currently the least polluting cars on the market.
The least polluting cars in the 2025 Green NCAP ranking
When buying a new car, environmental impact should be as crucial as fuel consumption and price. To help consumers make informed choices, Green NCAP, the independent organization that evaluates vehicle energy efficiency, has released the results of its latest tests on the most eco-friendly and low-impact cars of 2025. The key innovation in this edition is the introduction, for the first time, of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as part of the overall evaluation.
Life Cycle Assessment: measuring the full environmental impact
Including LCA means the tests now account not only for direct vehicle emissions but also for the full environmental footprint, from raw material extraction to vehicle and battery production, distribution, energy use, routine maintenance, and end-of-life disposal. In other words, the assessment considers the complete life cycle.
The final rating keeps the familiar five-star system and introduces a percentage score based on three major categories: Clean Air, Energy Efficiency, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
New Green NCAP evaluation parameters
| Category | Focus | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Operational Efficiency | Weight Impact | Evaluates how vehicle weight affects energy use and performance. |
| Climate Efficiency | Temperature Sensitivity | Compares efficiency in hot and cold conditions. |
| Hidden Emissions | Brakes and Tires | Assesses non-exhaust emissions from tire and brake wear. |
| Total Sustainability | Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) | Measures the vehicle’s full life-cycle impact from production to recycling. |
Lab and road testing
The data comes from extensive laboratory and on-road tests under real conditions. To ensure consistency among the least polluting cars, the analysis assumes a 16-year lifespan and 240,000 km total mileage. Efficiency and consumption metrics also factor in temperature extremes, since cold weather can significantly reduce EV battery performance.
Which models were tested?
Green NCAP selected a mix of popular models, both electric, hybrid, and combustion. Only three battery electric vehicles (BEVs) achieved the coveted five-star rating: the Mini Cooper E, Fiat 600e, and Citroën E-C3. Below is the full ranking of the 12 tested models.
Green NCAP ranking: the most sustainable cars
| Model | Total Rating | Avg. Score | Clean Air (10) | Efficiency (10) | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MINI Cooper E | 97% | 9.4 | 9.7 | 10.0 | Electric |
| FIAT 600e | 96% | 9.6 | 9.5 | 10.0 | Electric |
| Citroën E-C3 | 91% | 9.3 | 8.1 | 10.0 | Electric |
| Volvo EX30 | 89% | 9.2 | 8.2 | 9.5 | Electric |
| Mercedes-EQ EQE 350+ | 70% | 7.8 | 5.8 | 7.6 | Electric |
| Hyundai i20 | 60% | 6.7 | 6.8 | 4.7 | Hybrid |
| BMW 1 Series | 59% | 7.7 | 6.1 | 4.0 | Hybrid |
| Renault Rafale | 57% | 7.1 | 6.2 | 3.9 | Hybrid |
| Kia EV9 | 56% | 7.6 | 4.0 | 5.4 | Electric |
| VW Passat (2024) | 55% | 7.8 | 5.5 | 3.4 | Hybrid |
| Mazda CX-30 | 44% | 7.0 | 4.4 | 1.8 | Gasoline |
| Mazda CX-80 | 34% | 6.6 | 3.3 | 0.4 | Diesel |
Note: Partial scores are based on a 10-point scale. Ratings above 90% (MINI, Fiat, Citroën) indicate outstanding environmental performance.
Electric vehicles dominate among the least polluting cars
The analysis crowns the Mini Cooper E and Fiat 600e as leaders, with average scores of 97% and 96%. Their success stems partly from compact battery sizes (40.7 kWh for the Mini and 54 kWh for the Fiat). This design choice reduces manufacturing emissions and vehicle weight, improving driving efficiency while minimizing tire and brake wear.
In warm-weather tests, the Mini recorded 15.0 kWh/100 km, slightly outperforming the Fiat’s 15.5 kWh/100 km. Cold conditions, however, showed sharper contrasts: the Mini’s range dropped from 268 km (warm) to 184 km (cold), while the Fiat proved more resilient, achieving 340 km and 225 km, respectively. Completing the five-star podium is the Citroën E-C3 with 91%.
In the mid-range, the Volvo EX30 (4.5 stars, 89%) and Mercedes EQE 350+ (4 stars, 70%) performed well. The Hyundai i20 is the first non-electric entry, scoring 60% and 3.5 stars. The three-star group includes hybrids like the BMW 1 Series (59%) and Renault Rafale (57%).
At the bottom are the Mazda CX-30 (gasoline, 44%) and Mazda CX-80 (diesel, 34%), confirming that conventional internal combustion remains the most polluting option.
