Some hybrids are not a green as they seem, interest group says

Car buyers who think they are helping the planet by choosing a hybrid vehicle to aid in cutting emissions don't always get the biggest bang for their buck, according to an environmental interest group.

A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that some hybrids come at a much higher price tag than their similarly equipped, conventional-powertrain counterparts, yet offer little in the way of environmental gain.

These not-so-green hybrids compromise their value or eco-friendliness in a variety of ways.

For example, rarely is the hybrid powertrian offered on a vehicle's base model. That forces customers to take premium features that are packed with the hybrid version, adding to hybrid's price disadvantage.

Other times, a hybrid might not be built to achieve fuel-saving performance in the most cost-effective manner.

A UCS-released hybrid scorecard rates the green credentials of some popular hybrid models from "superior" to "very poor." According to the group, the biggest green offenders are:

-- Volkswagen Touareg hybrid

-- BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

-- Chevrolet Silverado 2WD hybrid

-- BMW 750i ActiveHybrid

-- Lexus LS 600h L

The vehicles that score highest in hybrid value are:

-- Lexus CT 200 h

-- Lincoln MKZ hybrid

-- Mercedes-Benz S500 hybrid

-- Toyota Prius

-- Ford Fusion hybrid

-- Honda Civic hybrid

-- Honda CR-Z

Have a hybrid vehicle in mind? Check out the full scorecard.

By Michelle Koueiter