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Home » Good Guide » RightcarRightcar: Want to find the safest, most eco-friendly and energy-efficient cars for sale in New Zealand? The Rightcar website at rightcar.govt.nz makes it easy
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Our cars make a big difference to our finances, road safety, air pollution and climate change. More cars than ever have great eco credentials and serious safety features—but how on earth do you decide which is the right car for you?
New Zealand has over 3.8 million registered vehicles and transport accounts for 44 percent of our national energy consumption. For a small country, we emit an awful lot of greenhouse gases, placing us in the top 25 percent of emitters in OECD countries. We also have a horrifying road toll: there are around 400 deaths on our roads every year. We could make a change to these statistics by moving to safer, fuel-sipping vehicles and becoming more responsible drivers.
The smaller and lighter your vehicle, the better its fuel efficiency. Today’s compact cars are cleverly designed to make the most of their interior space and provide a comfortable driving experience. Safety features to look for when buying a vehicle include an anti-lock braking system (EBS), electronic stability control (ESC), safety belt reminders and air bags—front, back and, in newer cars, sides.
While most vehicles in New Zealand’s fleet run on non-renewable fossil fuels—petrol and diesel—biofuel blends are now available at Gull petrol stations. Car manufacturers are using new technology to make diesel and petrol engines more efficient, and there’s a growing range of hybrid cars on the market that switch between electric battery power and conventional fuel. The way you drive and maintain your vehicle can also save you a lot of fuel—and the less fuel you use, the more money in your pocket. For tips on making your petrol dollars go further visit fuelsaver.govt.nz.
In future our vehicles probably won’t rely on fossil fuels, but until then we need to select the best cars available—and that’s where the New Zealand Transport Authority’s Rightcar website can help.
Rightcar uses a six-star rating system to compare vehicles over five categories: fuel economy, driver safety, others’ safety, CO2 emissions and air pollution. The star ratings identify the best (those with the most stars), the worst and the average performers.
A simple three-step process allows you to select vehicles and see how well they perform in each category. First, search for a vehicle—your own, or one you’re considering buying—by entering the make and model or simply the number plate. Having found your vehicle you can then select others for comparison.
If you’re buying a new car in 2010, all you need to do to make sure it’s not a gas guzzling, toxic nightmare or a coffin on wheels is to hop online and check it out at www.rightcar.govt.nz. Over the next few pages we have manufacturers talking about their cars and their results from rightcar.govt.nz—maybe you’ll find the perfect car for you.
Rightcar's top 10 tips
What to look for when buying a new car:
- A better than average rating for likely harm to other road users. Your safety in a crash is important, but so is that of pedestrians and people in other cars.
- Alternative power. Hybrid cars can be switched between electric battery power and conventional fuel. The range of hybrids on the market is increasing.
- A good service history if you’re buying used. Check modifications: if you’re looking at an older car, make sure it hasn’t had its catalytic converter (which cuts pollution) removed.
- Airbags—preferably head-protecting side airbags.
- Biofuel compatibility. Biofuels are becoming available at the fuel pump, so check with the manufacturer whether your car is compatible.
- A manual transmission vehicle is generally more fuel-efficient than an automatic vehicle.
- Electronic stability control (ESC) if you’re buying a new or nearly new car; ABS brakes if you’re buying used.
- An engine smaller than two litres, or no bigger than you need for everyday life.
- The best safety rating you can afford: the more stars the better and at least four stars for driver protection.
- A car that runs on diesel, if it’s manufactured since 2002. Diesel vehicles are generally more efficient, and modern diesels can be up to 30 percent more economical than petrol equivalents. But older diesel vehicles can be more polluting, so try to avoid older models or at least ensure that they’re well maintained.
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