Green and frugal

Here then are our top five best value green cars:

Seat Leon Ecomotive

Price: £16,840

CO2 Emissions: 99g/km

MPG: 74.3mpg

Road Tax: Exempt

Seat has upped its game in recent years, ensuring the Spanish marque (owned by VW) has carved itself out a sporty and lifestyle-orientated image. This 105bhp Leon might not have the poke of its siblings but offers real frugality thanks to its stop/start technology. An energy recovery system and subtle tweaks to the car's shape also ensure better aerodynamics.

Volvo C30 DRIVe

Price: £15,355

CO2 Emissions: 99g/km

MPG: 74.3mpg

Road Tax: Exempt

The finest-looking Volvo to run off the production line in quite some time, this sports coupe offers decent enough performance with a 0-60 time of 10.7 seconds. While you may wince at the eco alloys (which look like something out of a bad 80s sci-fi movie) you won't blanch at the technology. The battery is charged by collecting the energy usually wasted during braking, and the base model also comes with cruise control, electric door mirrors and a CD player.

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Price: £14,860

CO2 Emissions: 91g/km

MPG: 80.7mpg

Road Tax: Exempt

Even the baby of the VW group offers the same upmarket image and interior quality we have come to expect. This BlueMotion version though offers cleaner technology for green-aware drivers. With a cosseting ride, stop/start technology and aerodynamic tweaks to the exterior, this frugal Polo feels like a supermini for grown-ups. You will need to adjust your driving style to get the most from the teeny engine, but it's well worth the investment.

Skoda Fabia GreenLine

Price: £14,300

CO2 Emissions: 89g/km

MPG: 83.1 mpg

Road Tax: Exempt

For those in need of more space in addition to green technology and superb fuel economy, then we recommend this Skoda estate. It can't match the sporty looks of the Seat but it more than makes up for it with this group's best fuel economy, a whopping 83.1mpg. That means an impressive 823 mile range from one tank of diesel. With a 0-60 time of 13.8 seconds, don't expect thrusting acceleration but do enjoy super savings at the diesel pump and luxuries such as cruise control and air conditioning.

Focus ECOnetic TDCi

Price: £17,345

CO2 Emissions: 99g/km

MPG: 74.2mpg

Road Tax: Exempt

Featuring the Focus's legendary handling and epic space for the familial paraphernalia, the Focus hatchback uses Start/stop technology and regenerative charging to achieve an mpg of 74.2. It also produces a slight 99g/km of CO2. This version of the Focus also offers driver information on how to change your driving style for better fuel economy. That might sound a little cloying, but it's best to regard such features as an ally in this age of austerity.