The direct emission of refrigerants from air conditioners and indirect carbon dioxide emissions from its associated energy usage in vehicles contributes significantly toward global warming. The primary objectives of this investigation are to present the performance comparisons and highlight the environmental benefits of R430A as a replacement to R134a in vehicle air conditioners. The influences of seven critical parameters such as compressor angular velocity, ambient temperature, condenser air velocity, evaporator air velocity, passenger load capacity, relative humidity and solar radiation were considered for thermodynamic analysis of vehicle air conditioners. The experimental results revealed that the R430A has 4–10% higher refrigeration effect, 4–11% lower compressor power consumption, 7–12% higher coefficient of performance and 5–12% lower exergy destructions than R134a. The discharge temperature in the compressor of vehicle air conditioners using R430A was found to be 2–6 °C higher than R134a. The lubricants used in R134a systems were found physically stable at 6 °C elevated temperatures. The R430A has lesser total equivalent global warming potential by 32–40%, 30–35% and 44–50% than R134a in petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas-fuelled vehicles.