2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Or Jetta TDI: Which Would You Buy?
Volkswagen has long put faith in diesel technology as a way of offering both performance and economy to car buyers.
In October, buyers will be granted a second option, however--with the launch of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid.
Using a 1.4-liter, turbocharged and hybrid-assisted four-cylinder, the Jetta Hybrid will put out 170-horsepower, and uses a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.
That's enough to out-punch the already nippy Jetta TDI, a Volkswagen stalwart and a popular choice with those who want to save money on fuel. Rated at 30 mpg city, 42 highway and 34 combined--with the potential for more--it's a quick and frugal sedan with well-proven technology.
But will the Jetta Hybrid make it obsolete? Volkswagen estimates a 45 mpg combined rating from the EPA, which puts it 11 mpg ahead of its diesel stablemate.
It's also likely to be significantly better than the diesel in city driving, with VW touting a 1.2-mile electric range when it debuted at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
Volkswagen even claimed, back at Detroit, that the Jetta Hybrid would be competitively priced with other compact hybrids.
We expect that means it's closer to the $24,000 Honda Civic Hybrid than the $20,000 Toyota Prius C, but anywhere in that range will make it an option for buyers looking at the $22,990 Jetta TDI.
So where exactly does that leave the diesel Jetta?
Well, with less weight than the hybrid--3,161 lbs plays roughly 3,300 lbs--the TDI might still be the more nimble choice, and for many partisan Volkswagen buyers, diesel provides all the performance and economy they need--and let's not forget, the EPA's fuel efficiency ratings for the Jetta TDI are proving fairly conservative.
But for those who can't bring themselves to buy diesel, the Jetta Hybrid is a shrewd move by VW to appeal to a wider range of buyers.
Which would you buy, Jetta Hybrid or Jetta TDI? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Have an opinion?
It will be great to see another 45 mpg+ (combined city/hwy) option on the market.
My only negative is the TDI's require special motor oil that meets yje VW 507 requirement which is incredibly pricy at $50 for 5L jug online or $80 at the dealer, so changing oil is either something you do or the dealer as you cant buy this oil at your local wal mart.
If it is not a plug-in hybrid which can drive in EV only mode, then I'm not going to consider it (unless I can get an after market plug-in kit with extra batteries and drive at 60mph in EV only mode like the http://www.nilco2.com.au kit for the Prius).
2013 Volkswagen Jetta powertrain consists of a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque produced, that the peaks per 1400-3500 rpm. The electrical part of the equation consists of a hybrid 20-kW (27 hp) electric motor. At low speeds (as far as 37 miles per hour), the Jetta hybrid to full power for about a mile, with the gasoline engine comes to life when the throttle is flattened. At highway speeds, the Jetta hybrid works almost exclusively on gas engine with regenerative braking, charging the lithium-ion battery helps.
Also take into account that diesel contains about 17% more energy than gasoline. So if your diesel gets 17% more MPG than a gas car, it's not any more efficient, just has more energy to work with.
I do think a tiny 1.2L bluemotion TDI along with a hybrid powertrain would be interesting. Would it get better MPG than a Prius? Maybe. Toyota planning on tweaking their engine some more so it'll get better over time.
Wagon with manual transmission. The hybrid doesn't come in that flavor.
On a sidenote, I dislike the shape of the prius. Even though the prius windshield isn't small, it's so sloped that you get less vertical field of vision.
Maybe 55-60MPG realistic USA real world MPG if they do it right. It's not going to be that much better than a Prius.
It would combine the best of both worlds
Looking at the hp + torque figures between the 1.4 Hybrid and the 2.0 TDI, I'm convinced that the 2.0 TDI is a much more enjoyable ride. I love the TDI and will be my next car. I have driven other Hybrids from Ford and Lincoln, they are really querky to drive, the engine going off and on at slightest throttle press or lift was annoying. Ok, I do understand this would be great in super slow , stop and go traffic. But otherwise prefer a TDI w/ 6-spd real manual trans.
(1) Diesel fuel in the U.S. is as expensive or pricier per gallon than gasoline, unlike the many European countries where it's tax advantaged and cheaper. (2) The U.S. requires more stringent aftertreatment than any other market in the world, boosting costs. (3) Only half of U.S. fueling stations have diesel available, and of those, only half have it on the main pump ranks--the rest have it out back where semis fuel up.
Those factors together make diesels rather less obvious for U.S. consumers than their most ardent advocates may realize.
The lifetime environmental damage of a hybrid, from the manufacturing process to the disposal of expired batteries, is significantly higher than the env damage of manufacturing diesel vehicle.
The short story is that if you care about the environment, the entire impact (ie amount of env damage in aggregate of a hybrid is significantly higher due to mining lithium and the disposal of expired batteries.
(Ex 15,000m/yr At avg 24mpg = ~625 gal / @ avg 34mpg = ~440 gal. That's ~185 gal not used per year. AT $4/gal = $736 savings plus environmental benefits of not using 185 gal of fuel)
Just bought my 3rd TDI (81 Chevette/02 VW wagon/'11 VW wagon) There's a Facebook page dedicated to bringing Subaru diesel to the US.
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