Choosing a Car

About 80-90% of the energy consumed during the life cycle of a vehicle is used when it is being driven, and only a relatively small amount is used during its manufacture. This increases the importance of choosing a car that will save on energy and emissions throughout its life on the road.

When choosing a car for yourself or your company, it is important to choose a model that is optimally suited to the way the vehicle will be used.

Important factors include:

• Body model and size;
• Technical fittings; and
  
• Motor type and size.

Choices will be affected by considerations including whether the vehicle will be used for short trips for commuting and shopping etc or for longer road journeys, and whether the vehicle will be driven with light or heavy loads. The following web pages include tips to help anyone wishing to choose energy efficient car models for their own use or for a company fleet.

Useful information for Finnish drivers on vehicles’ emissions, fuel consumption and energy labelling is also provided on the website of the Finnish Vehicle Administration (AKE). Energy labelling systems make it easy for consumers to compare data on fuel consumption rates and emissions for every car model available on the Finnish market.

This website also links to a cost calculator produced by the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland to enable consumers to estimate the total costs of running different new car models for various periods.