Who Wins The Gas Sipper Smackdown?

Jetta did quite well for an older TDi engine.
When the new one comes out, it will be even better and will have less green houses gas than the Prius and even better MPG than the Prius on the highway.

Until the next Prius that comes out in 2010? They are already field testing plug in versions and Lithium ion is also coming down the pipe.

Thanks for sharing that info Turbo aka Midengine aka Sport, but BMW was not in this comparison test. Are you trying to say something? Is BMW related to VW?

Turbosport, and all Toyota has to do is introduce a plug in version and lithium ion batteries and it will still be ahead.

TurboSpyder , Volkswagen diesels are less effecient even compared to mazda diesel :

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/220890/mazda_6_estate_vs_vw_passat.html

vw - 37,5 imperial gallons
mazda - 40,2 imp gallons

not to mention honda diesel - 43,9 imp gallon:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/222012/accord_vs_rivals.html

"In the second comparo AutoExpress chose the Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi as the winner over the Accord."

ford mondeo - 39,5 imp gallon

after VW switch to common-rail I think it wouldn`t be more effecient becouse common-rail is rather installed to less vibration and noise(vw diesel is the noisiest diesel as i hear every day from streets) than to effeciency .

abcd, do you even know what you are talking about?

Do you think technology hasn't progressed enough, or that VW's engineers are that thick that they couldn't make a brand-new engine design more efficient than an old design?

And of course common-rail contributes to efficiency, as it relates to how fuel enters the cylinder.

My goodness.

here in Houston, diesel is near $1 more than regular gas.

of course if you brew your own B100, you can make the Jetta a bargain!

One thing to consider is availability and sales price. The Focus didn't look too great in the comparison, but you can purchase one very cheap and easy compared to all of it's competitors in this article. Though it lost all of the comparisons, it's overall value is great.

If it didn't have that faux fender vent, I'd really spout how good this car is for saving $ in a practical sense.

*I do not own any Ford products, so no, I am not a "fan boy".

Agreed.

The Smart did poorly considering its size and what is has to offer. For such a small two seater it should have done much better. But then again, it was going up against a hybrid and a diesel so it was at a disadvantage.

Not to mention it also requires premium fuel.

Really!?!

Yeah the smart is a big dissapointment considering how small it is and having such a small, low powered engine. the Geo Metro aka suzuki swift with the 3 cylinder got way better mileage and it was a bigger car.

The simple fact that a 3 year old, non-urea (blutec, blumotion, etc.) Jetta TDI did so well against a 2008 Toyota Prius has proven what I've been saying for a while: The world needs a Hybrid-Electric Diesels! Yes, on the surface it would seem to most people that this would be too expensive and for the uninformed, not "green" enough, that it can't work. You factor in the initial cost of buying said vehicle, government tax breaks, cost per mile based of the price of fuel (it has been documented that despite the $.60 + difference between regular gas and diesel, diesel's cost per mile is still lower), owner's maintenance cost over the life of ownership, and resale value, it becomes a win-win-win situation (mfg., vehicle owner, environment).
Also, I'm glad that turbospyder pointed out that BMW's 1 series diesel (Euro spec) has an "auto off/on start" function that would be a welcome addition to any vehicle if mass licensed and produced.

PLEASE NOTE: I'm not an Economics guru nor a knowledgeable environmentalist (my main vehicle is a gas-guzzling V8 Grand Cherokee that I will get rid of ASAP) so if you have factual proof, as opposed to B.S. propaganda that the ignorant loves to bandwagon off of, please share with the rest of us.
Also, keep in mind that I suggest this only as a good next step in the right direction. I would like to see more mass produced vehicles before I die that run on Natural Gas, Electric, waste-based E85 (meaning not using 1/5 of the annual corn harvest, or other consumer goods, of the U.S. -- what a waste and I think it's inhumane!), and/or Hydrogen.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=db9_1196372649

the most fuel consuming part is acceleration. not idling (unless you idling for more than few minute. having "start/stop" thing won't improve your mpg dramatically. (see GM mild hybrid).

Great article! Well done with the scorecard, best article of its type I've read.

I think this is a fare comparison.
I am always a non EPA number believer. Majority of the cars are optimized for EPA tests. those number a so unrealistic in real life. ie. a BMW 528 claims to get 28mpg. but frankly, how many of you guys can get that number?
One of the most important things to take away from Edmund's test is that Prius consistently gets 47 to 52 mpg. In fact, most people who drive prius get that number no matter how they drive it or where they drive it. Here at L.A. the traffic is always jammed; the I-10 freeway can have much more stop and go than the Las Vegas strip. I’d like to see the advertised 40 mpg city/50 mpg TDI does when it driven by real people, on real road.

Idiotic that the Honda Hybrid was not part of the comparo...

Yes and no.

The idea, the best hybrid, vs the best ultra compact vs the best diesel vs (the best value?) compact gas saver.

Not sure why the Focus was picked. It is a great car, but they could have used Corolla, Civic or ____.

The Civic Hybrid would have fallen behind the Prius. MPG is not as good and the price is essentially the same, right?

Dammit, TurboSpyder, did you have to remind us of how "cheap" gas was back before April 2006!?

"When will the hurting stop!?"

Bull.

That site is fraudulent, and lies frequently. The cars aren't water powered, they're powered by hydrogen made by the electrolysis of water, which is hugely energy consuming. The site claims scientists will tell you that it's impossible. They won't. It is possible, and always has been.

Ignore him, he's spamming.

if all your driving is stop start in heavy traffic then forget the hybrids and get an electric car cheaper to buy more reliable and much cheaper to run with no petrol motor starting up all the time to recharge the battery, the only disadvantage is that the range is limited, but most people dont drive very far often so no problem and very practical getting to the shops or work

and if a lot of your driving is on the freeway or open road forget hybrids they only work when stationary or driving very slow, a good efficient diesel is way ahead, both on economy and emissions