Cruiser control

Did you know that 2004 was the fourth-warmest year on record, and that 2005 is likely to be the second-warmest?

It’s enough to discredit all that hot air from the climate skeptics. They’re forced to justify a lot of "coincidences" when they try to explain it all away as "natural fluctuations."

Information like this has finally convinced governments around the world that global warming is real. The Kyoto Treaty is now in effect — without the participation of the number-one greenhouse culprit, the USA.

But on the state and local level, much is going on to not only put cleaner, climate-friendly cars on the road, but to pave the way for the hydrogen highway. Washington may soon be the first state outside the Northeast to adopt the stringent California emissions rules, with Oregon following close behind. And Ford announced last week that it was partnering with BP, the Department of Energy and the state of Florida to put a fleet of fuel-cell vehicles on state roads.

The upshot for consumers is that their auto choices are likely to get cleaner. But no, this does not mean that regulators will pry the SUV keys out of your stiff, unyielding fingers. Consumers are turning away from big SUVs like the Hummer and Ford Excursion anyway, while sales of smaller, more fuel-efficient variants are surging.

For 2005, an SUV, the Ford Escape Hybrid, actually makes the "Greenest Vehicles of 2005" list put out by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The Chrysler PT Cruiser, which I’m testing this week, is a good example of the kind of SUV that’s making sense to car buyers these days.

The PT Cruiser doesn’t have the fuel economy or the clean emissions of similar vehicles that make the ACEEE "Greener Choices" list. Standouts in that category include the Pontiac Vibe (29/34 mpg), Subaru Baja (21/28) and the Scion xA (31/38). But if you get your PT Cruiser with the five-speed manual transmission (and avoid the turbocharged GT), it will deliver 22/29 and be a Low-Emission Vehicle on the California scale.

The PT Cruiser achieves its numbers because it sits on the platform of the Dodge Neon, not a truck chassis. Its four-valve-per-cylinder four is the little engine that could, delivering a modest 150 horsepower. Some critics say the engine delivers anemic performance, but I found it adequate as long as you don’t expect scorching acceleration. Given the inevitable horsepower creep, it’s not surprising the car that was such a hit with the smaller engine was soon available with bigger power plants.

I’ve never cared much for the PT Cruiser’s looks, and I think it’s even uglier as the convertible that’s available this year. (The ragtop was extensively reengineered and lists at $22,900, compared to the $21,145 of our fully equipped test car.) The convertible also makes do with two doors and less utility.

The beauty of the PT Cruiser is not its retro styling but its practicality. The rear hatch is huge and the backseats fold to create quite a cargo area. Rear legroom is adequate so, despite the compact wheelbase, you can easily carry five, plus luggage.

There are some minor details on the PT Cruiser that I found annoying, including the back-to-the-future pushbutton door handles. Center-mounted window switches also take some getting used to. But on the whole it’s like a more utilitarian Volkswagen New Beetle.