What are the top green cars for fuel efficiency and performance?  Well, the folks at Kelley Blue Book who have provided expert car reviews and advice for over 80 years have compiled a list of the top 10 green cars of 2011.  From Ford to Lexus or Toyota to Nissan, there’s a green car on the list offering broad appeal.

An easy way to reduce emissions and your carbon footprint is to make greener choices when deciding on transportation.  Yes, you can bike, walk, carpool or take public transport for the greenest options, but when driving your car is a necessity, consider driving green.  There are a variety of green cars on the market today that will help reduce consumption and preserve fossil fuels. 

A Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the worst gas guzzlers out there (the Bugatti Veyron is the absolute worst), so if you’ve got your heart set on a Jeep next, then I guess driving greener hasn’t hit your priority list.  For those who listen to their environmental conscience, check out this list of the top 10 green cars of 2011 (click on the link to learn more about each vehicle):

10) 2012 Ford Focus | fuel efficiency:  31 mpg (28 city/38 highway)
 9) 2012 Fiat 500 | fuel efficiency:  33 mpg (30 city/38 highway)
 8) 2011 Hyundai Elantra | fuel efficiency:  33 mpg (29 city, 40 highway)
 7) 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI | fuel efficiency:  34 mpg (30 city/42 highway)
 6) 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid | fuel efficiency:  39 mpg (41 city/36 highway)
 5) 2011 Honda Insight | fuel efficiency:  41 mpg (40 city/43 highway)
 4) 2011 Lexus CT 200h | fuel efficiency:  42 mpg (43 city, 40 highway)
 3) 2011 Toyota Prius | fuel efficiency:  50 mpg (51 city, 48 highway)
 2) 2011 Chevy Volt | fuel efficiency:  93 mpg equivalent
 1) 2011 Nissan Leaf | fuel efficiency:  99 mpg equivalent

Want a second opinion?  Check out this list from greenercars.org of the greenest cars of 2011.

So the electric cars are the top 2 green cars with the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf reporting a remarkable fuel economy of 93 mpg and 99 mpg respectively.  I’m sure that you’re asking yourself, how much will that save me on gas?  Well, according to www.fueleconomy.gov, based on driving 15,000 miles in a Nissan Leaf annually (45% highway/55% city), it would only cost $561 in annual fuel costs which is under 50 bucks a month.  Sounds like a good deal to me.  And if that’s not enough, the Nissan Leaf was named the 2011 World Car of the Year beating out the Audi 8 and BMW 5 series who were the other 2 finalists in contention for the title.