Official: 2009 VW Jetta Rated at 30/41 MPG

I'm looking forward to it as well, but with the next generation hybrids. Toyota's is due out in 2010, Honda just around the corner too.

why does the prius get an EPA rating of 60 when it gets 45 but the TDI gets a 40 when my dad gets 52 and he drives uphill everyday to work?

The EPA is filled with echo nuts that have an agenda. I feel they want to keep us tied to Middle east oil and then blame it on Chevron when prices go up.

IamEvilHomer. that's because a non-hybrid car (more like non-toyota hybrid car) varies quite a bit depend on how you dirve it and where you drive it. you dad's TDI may get 52 mpg when there is no traffic, but when there is traffic like LA, his TDI will be lucky to get 30 mpg.
the most fuel consuming part is acceleration. maintaining the crusing speed (even uphill) doesn't take much effort. physics is your friend.

40/60 was a very unrealistic estimate. 30/41...I expect in the real world to be a bit closer to 35/45.

If you want to put it in "perspective", why the Corvette? That car gets incredible mileage for the size and power of the engine and the performance. If you want to compare the Jetta to a car with poor mileage, there are many other better choices than a Corvette.

And the cost of Diesel (fuel and engine option) may not be the better alternative :-P

Comparing to a car not even in the same class is retarded! Corvette...please...

it that we the answer we would all be using it. Give me a gallon jug and a good rainstorm and I will drive to NY from LA

STOP

the *new* EPA ratings are more realistic than they used to be BUT -- I've had a 2G Prius and could average 52+ mpg easily. I now drive a Insight and have averged 72 mpg driving "normal" with speeds up to 70mph.

I think the actual Jetta MPG ratings will be a lot higher if you drive conservatively but right on if you're aggressive.

I drive an Insight (sadly) and have barely averaged 45.

I never really trust the EPA as I've heard #'s of late-model tdis go higher than the epas est. measure.

Put these cars in a real world test, and there is no way that a Camry Hybrid will be in the ball park with either the '06 Jetta TDI or the '09. The diesel got screwed again; plain and simple and the American people are being told a lie by the EPA! It is too obvious and the error is too big to be an honest error!

I drive an '06 Jetta TDI. The EPA (using 2008 figures) estimates that it gets only 34 (city/hwy combined), yet I have never gotten under 40 driving city/hwy; average 45 mpg and am sure I could come in pretty close to a Prius in a highway trip as I average 47 on the highway! I could blow away a Camry Hybrid on the highway--guaranteed. The '09 will be no different. They got screwed, because the car didn't come from a Toyota or GM plant, and because it doesn't use protected, hybrid technologies.

Of course diesel advocates are discrediting the new EPA ratings, because the new ratings, though they did tone down the exaggerations of hybrid cars, still go easy on pickups and SUVs; underestimate small cars which were already underestimated and are now even more underestimated; and grossly underestimate diesel cars, especially four cylinder, diesel cars. When they come in 10 mpg off, one must assume something is going on to affect consumer choices based on biased information.