The gauntlet is thrown: VW Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius

The gauntlet is thrown: VW Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Toyota, Volkswagen



Clean diesel or hybrid drive? It's an intriguing question, and one that's not quite so easy to answer. There's the price of diesel fuel to consider, which runs a few dimes over that of regular gasoline. Then there is fuel mileage. Does the Volkswagen Jetta TDI have a shot at dethroning the Toyota Prius as the undisputed mileage champion of the U.S.? To get a preliminary answer to some of these questions, Popular Mechanics put almost 500 miles on both cars, dividing up their miles between the city and the highway. It's not a knock-out for either car, but it may offer some early answers to a few questions.

First, the mileage. In the city, there's just no beating a hybrid, which uses its electric motor to good effect and scores over ten mpg better in the stop-and-go traffic of Los Angeles. On the highway, though, the Jetta TDI is able to eke out a narrow victory, scoring less than one mile per gallon better. Once the price of crude is factored in, the Prius remains the overall cheaper car to keep filled up. Of course, there is more to the story than that, including which car is a better to drive -- according to PM, the Jetta. Finally, the TDI qualifies for a $1,300 tax credit that the Prius can't claim. It's too close to call. Expect a rematch soon enough.

Read our First Drive of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and full review of the Toyota Prius to see what we think.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

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Diesel cars are so much better to drive, because of the amazing amount of torque the engine puts out. I've been looking at the Jetta TDI and its cost to drive 25 miles (www.fueleconomy.gov) is the same as a Corolla

Plus the according to them "fun to drive" factor. Plus, considering VW's safety record, I might just go to clean diesel vs corolla.

hummer ftw

^ lol that was uncalled for..

Just mod a Geo Metro

Geo Metros are just uhh.... Look bad... Some golf carts look better than those...

i made the move to vw for the safety and standard features. toyota is nice, but the inside is a bit lacking. vw service costs more, but worth it to me.

LOL, but you have a rabbit... I would go with a rabbit over a corolla too probably...

After test driving the GTI..... I wouldn't mind having one, great motor.

I would too. But VW in general is just way too unreliable.

agreed.
GTI>Rabbit>Corolla

qftmft

???

quoted for the mofo truth.

what is wrong with a rabbit? the rabbit is my commuter car. if you are going to say the gti has more power, that is not what i was looking for. i could of waited and got the r32 or evo x, but i don't need that as a commuter. i also older and over the whole "this car has more horsepower than that car" kind of thing.

hmm... after re-reading the posts I actually dont know why I put the "lol, but you have a rabbit..." phrase... just disregard the first phrase...

I also understand where you are coming from with buying the rabbit for a dd. I had the chance of buying a turbo eclipse but passed because it would most probably cost me time and money.

It really was too haha

You disagree? Go to www.carsurvey.org, and look at all the little blue sad faces VW owners give their cars.

They break down quite often. This is coming from my professional auto mechanic friend who fixes German cars. He'll fix them, but he won't buy them. LOL

Fact. And im not even a VW Audi hater.

LOL so this is the comment of a Jetta owner in Germany: "The only fix for this car is to stick a rag in the gas tank and set in on fire"

ROFLMFAO!!! I wouldn't mind an Audi A4 though.

Dude seriously. Audi has some sick cars. Just not cars I would want longer than the warranty...

I don't know about unreliable, but they are way too expensive to fix compared to TOyota. The result of having so much electronics and gadetry I guess.