What Car? Q&A - Which fast cars don't damage the planet?

Q: I'm looking for a sporty car that looks good, handles well and is fast in a straight line. However, although I want something exiting to drive, I feel guilty about the damage cars are doing to the environment. Is there a happy medium? I have about £20,000 to spend.
Paul Wilmot

A: Generally, faster cars have bigger engines, and this means they usually pump out a lot of carbon dioxide.

However, there are sporty cars that emit no more carbon dioxide than the average family runaround.

The Lotus Elise achieves just that, thanks to its low weight. It looks great, will get to 62mph in 5.8 seconds and there are few cars in any budget that corner as well.

At £24,500, a new one is a little over your budget, but there are plenty of two-year-old cars around for under £20,000. Carbon dioxide emissions are 196g/km.

A cheaper option is the Seat Leon 2.0 TDI FR at £17,695.

It's not as quick as the Lotus, but is much more practical and has even lower carbon dioxide emissions - just 161g/km. 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds, and it's great on the twisty bits.