VW Tops the JD Power 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study

Volkswagen ranks highest among nameplates in the Automotive Environmental Index, with three models in the top 30. While there are no diesels within the top 30, several diesel models from Volkswagen also perform well, which is reflected in VW’s strong overall nameplate performance. VW is followed in the nameplate rankings by Honda and Mazda, respectively.

“High gas prices, coupled with consumers becoming more familiar with alternative powertrain technology, are definitely increasing consumer interest in hybrids and flexible fuels,” said Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle, remain the biggest concern among consumers considering a hybrid. The AEI highlights several non-hybrid models available that help consumers reduce fuel use and emissions.”


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PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 1:29:10 PM

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XeroKool- VW Ranked the highest, the PDF Explains the rest. The text is directly from the Press Release. The simple fact is Toyota has a larger line up than VW so it makes sense they could have more models in the top 30.

PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 1:32:09 PM

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Commonsense- Are you disappointed that JD Power didn't rank Toyota or Lexus first? If you want more pro Toylex articles post them yourself. It is getting hard to carry your Lexus flag for you since you refuse to furthur your cause. Are you simply finding that there really is little out there backing up your marquee?

PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 2:00:50 PM

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Commonsense- Interesting you say I slam Toyota so much. Let me give you a few stats here. I have posted 428 total articles on Auto Spies since the switch over (yes 428!) Of these there are 28 for Toyota/Lexus, 14 Against Toyota/Lexus. Only 3% of my total article postings are negative about Toyota/Lexus. There have been 29 combined for Audi/VW. Of my total postings only 10% refer to Toyota/Lexus and only 10% refer to Audi /VW. .

You on the other hand my friend, have not posted a single article. (Imagine that!) So you seem to have a problem when anyone mentions bad thing about Toyota/Lexus. BTW if you look close you will see I post bad things about VW and Audi too.

PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 2:23:43 PM

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XeroKool- Compare apples to apple. The VWs are only the gasoline versions; Toyota only had two of the non-Hybrids make the top 30. So actually if you think about it, the gasoline versions of VW's were ranked far higher than the Toyota equivalents. The Hybrids pulled Toyota up.

If you read the results you see the reason VW as a company ranked higher because the diesels and the WHOLE lineup were better performers than Toyotas overall. Even though Toyota had more models in the top 30, the division as a whole was worse than VW.

PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 3:43:32 PM

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XeroKOOL- Read the report. The top 30 and the graph are two different things. You need to understand that.

The top 30 are for individual models that excelled.
The graph is the overall score of all models for the brand.

Toyota has several excellent performers and those made the top 30.
The overall Toyota line up did not fair as well as VW and they place behind them. This is no doubt because they have a large number of poorly performing SUV's. (Hey they marketed them not me)

I don't know what models they used in the survey however the Rabbit being a 2007 probably was not included due to the fact it is too recent and this study research started earlier than that. Same for the Yaris.

If you have a problem with the survey, then boycott JD Power. And take the IQS and VDS with you. You seem to have no problems when Toyota is at the top.

You incorrectly stated the VW has none you forgot about the v8 Touareg?

chewy - 8/31/2006 6:31:54 PM

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Wow, face the facts. VW came out on top on this study.

chewy - 8/31/2006 7:17:35 PM

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XeroK00L

Buddy, go to the EPa website, there you will find that the new Jettas and New Beatles are JUST AS CLEAN AS THE PRIUS.

PlanoA4 - 8/31/2006 11:36:37 PM

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XeroKool- So you don't agree with the JD Power Alternative Powertrain Survey because it is hog wash. But you have no problems with any other JD Power Survey. It is pretty obvious you don't like to be wrong.

The reason that VW came out on top, was because overall they make small cars with great mileage. The only SUV they have, mathmatically didn't weigh as heavily as the full line Toyota SUVs did.

If Toyota dropped the SUV they would be very high as well. The only way Toyota is going to go up from here is if they revamp the entire SUV line, the broad scope of it hurts them. Just like Nissan and Infiniti, they banked alot of their lineup on SUVs.

00JT - 9/1/2006 2:23:54 AM

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Toyota has a much broader range of vehicles than the manufactors that scored above Toyota. Notice all the brands that scored above Toyota either only have one truck in their lineup or none at all, and they have no real truck based SUV's. Perhaps if the Tundra, 4Runner, Seqouia, and Land Cruiser weren't included in this survey Toyota would have came out #1.

That or I bet if they didn't include the Lexus GX and LX, Lexus may have come out as #1.

00JT - 9/1/2006 2:25:38 AM

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Hummer scored higher than Land Rover!?!

Thats a shock :0