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Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder wins for Most Toxic New Car Smell
That envious "new car" smell, the unique scent that makes all of your friends jealous as they check out your new ride, is actually quite toxic. The potent brew of freshly released bromine, chlorine, lead, and other heavy metals are responsible for a variety of acute and long-term health concerns that adults, and especially children, should be concerned about. That being the case, the Ecology Center has released its annual consumer guide to the most toxic (and cleanest) new cars on the market. Taking the tallest podium as the worst offender is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GT. Following in second is the Suzuki Reno, while the BMW 128i Convertible lands third. The least offensive new vehicle, as researched by the Center, is the Acura RDX SH-AWD. The Smart Pure Coupe and Chevrolet HHR LT take second and third cleanest, respectively. While the Ecology Center is quick to point out that the offenders aren't as bad as last year's group, they offer little information as to how consumers can limit their exposure... short of not buying a new car.
[Source: HealthyCar via The Car Connection]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jcade 5:12PM (7/30/2008)
Oh man, I can't WAIT to hear used car salesman use this angle to sell me a car.
"Yeah, son... not only is it a Certified pre-owned vehicle with low miles... but the last owner sucked up all the toxic fumes so you don't have to!"
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luv_my_merc 7:03PM (7/30/2008)
Mercedes Benz E350 4Matic is a small car!!!!
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Jeff 5:15PM (7/30/2008)
I find it wierd that the lincoln pickup aka rebadged f-150 is up there but not an actual F-150
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Yar 5:17PM (7/30/2008)
Theres a lot of different interior materials between the two.
MachinaDC5 5:15PM (7/30/2008)
Now if only people were buying HHRs and RDXs...
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geo.stewart 5:44PM (7/30/2008)
thank you. enjoying the HHR though I wish it had a 5sp AT
mark 5:22PM (7/30/2008)
Mazda is coming out with the new 2009 Mazda6 wonder if they fixed the chemicals in the new model? any thoughts?
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Duhh 12:32AM (7/31/2008)
Double post.........
Hike15 5:23PM (7/30/2008)
why are there 11 worst toxic vehicles?
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Brent 5:46PM (7/30/2008)
Probably because the last three have the same score.
solarium_rider 6:48PM (7/30/2008)
It is because #9 #10 and #11 worst all scored the same.
mark 5:23PM (7/30/2008)
Mazda is coming out with the new 2009 Mazda6 wonder if they fixed the chemicals in the new model? any thoughts?
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Duhh 12:32AM (7/31/2008)
.........ever?
steven 5:34PM (7/30/2008)
Honda can win in a smell contest... DAMN talk about non-stoppable!!!
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Quattroporte 5:27PM (7/30/2008)
Since when is the Mercedes E350 4MATIC a small car? And, what interior materials make the 4MATIC different from the rwd model?
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dan 5:31PM (7/30/2008)
Hmmm...what about using activated charcoal, like how people use baking soda to remove funky smells? Not sure if that's possible...
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Seoultrain 5:36PM (7/30/2008)
Another thing for paranoid people to believe is killing them. Unless you're regularly licking your interior (what you do on your own time...), opening a window is likely sufficient to dilute these toxins.
Take a look at their white paper. They basically say that most of the things the test for are not high enough in concentration in cars to be any issue. The biggest issue, it seems, is allergic reaction. Scary.
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Juan 6:29PM (7/30/2008)
@Seoultrain, your post made me laugh...
CH 7:59PM (7/30/2008)
Another important thing to note from the white paper is that they did not measure the amount of toxins out-gassed or transferred on contact. The toxicity of the "new car" smell or the air within the car was NOT measured.
They only measured the concentration of certain elements within the solid materials. The amount of those elements that would out-gas or transfer on contact depends on, among other things, the specific chemical compounds and how the materials were processed and finished -- none of which were explored in the study.
The rankings are only fair if you not only lick the materials, but chew on them as well.
Dustin 5:46PM (7/30/2008)
A glass-half-full type of person would have title this "Acura RDX has Least Toxic Interior."
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