A new iPhone app launched by Volvo, in association with cleangreencars.co.uk, dispels the myth that small cars are automatically low emission cars.

The free app reveals the toxic emissions which impact local air quality and human health, such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates.

The app highlights some surprising facts, such as a Volvo V70 2.5 petrol manual estate generates 201mg/km of toxic emissions, compared with the 1.2 litre Fiat 500 Start Stop supermini, which at 425mg/km generates more than twice as many toxic emissions.

The app splits toxic emissions into seven bands - band A includes cars with toxic emissions of between 0-275mg/km, rising to band G cars with toxic emissions of over 600mg/km.

It shows the ‘dirtiest' car on sale generates a hefty 2080mg/km of toxic emissions, with a number of others emitting over 1,000mg/km.

The bottom 20 table (see table at end of this article) includes a surprising mix of cars, including a 1.2 litre petrol supermini, a low emission branded small family car and a mix of family cars and people carriers.

By contrast the cleanest car in the UK is the Skoda Yeti 1.2 105PS which generates 49mg/km of toxic emissions, followed by the Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0 4x2 (71mg/km) and the Honda Insight 1.3 IMA S/SE (73mg/km).

The app has been built with cleangreencars using data supplied by the Vehicle Certification Agency (www.vca.gov.uk ), the agency that publishes the official environmental details of all new cars sold in the UK.

"We proved earlier in the year that just because a driver is buying a small car doesn't necessarily mean they are buying a low tailpipe emission car," explained Volvo Car UK's managing director Peter Rask, regional president for Volvo Car UK, Ireland and Iceland.

"What our Emissions Equality programme aims to do is to help drivers make more informed decisions by giving them access to the total emissions data of their car.

"Ultimately by using the information on our App, drivers can genuinely help improve local air quality."

In conjunction with the new app, Volvo Car UK has also launched an online Facebook petition to mobilise the masses to try and influence Government into mandating the information contained in the App to be available in all car dealerships.

Details can be found at www.facebook.com/insidevolvouk

Worst 20 cars (toxic emissions - mg/km)

  1. Cadillac Escalade 6.2 Auto (2,080)
  2. Nissan Pathfinder 2.5dCi 190 (1,150)
  3. Corvette ZO6 (1,070)
  4. Seat Ibiza Coupe 1.2 12v 70PS (1,026)
  5. Cadillac CTS-V (1,026)
  6. Corvette 6.2 V8 auto (1,023)
  7. Citroen C5 1.6i THP (1,010)
  8. Audi A4 saloon/Avant 3.2 FSi Mtronic (999)
  9. Mercedes B-Class B160 BlueEfficiency (994)
  10. Renault Scenic/Gr Scenic 2.0 140 CVT (990)

Best 20 cars (toxic emissions - mg/km)

  1. Skoda Yeti 1.2 105PS (49)
  2. Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0 4x2 (71)
  3. Honda Insight 1.3 IMA S/SE (73)
  4. Porsche Cayman S 3.4 (79.1)
  5. Honda Insight 1.3IMA ES-T 5dr (82)
  6. Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder TipS (82)
  7. Lexus GS450h 17" wheels (110)
  8. Hyundai i30/i30 estate 1.6 ISG (111)
  9. Skoda Octavia/Est 1.6FSi 115bhp (112)
  10. Suzuki SX4 1.6 (120)