Volkswagen Drops Hybrids From The Lineup - What Could They Have Up Their Sleeve?

I drove a Jetta Hybrid one day while my Passat was being serviced. I was very impressed with how smooth it was when transitioning between electric and gas power, and the mileage was extremely good for the in-town stop and go traffic (well over 40). I would have bought one instead of my Passat if it weren't for the RNS-315 radio in the Jetta. Could not stand that radio.

I think the biggest problem VW had selling it was almost no one knew they sold a hybrid. It just wasn't marketed very well, except maybe in California.

As I have said - I drive a Hybrid for work - a Ford Fusion - and while I have no problem breaking 40mpg on most all fillups - it is otherwise a car I find seriously flawed - especially the lack of trunk space, acceleration with the CVT - and brakes that feel wierd.

I think the future of HYBRIDS will be dedicated Hybrids that have no Non-hybrid version. The first thing people think when they compare a Hybrid to a regular gas version - is the cost difference and how long it will take to make that amount up in gas savings. Then they compare drivability - and the hybrids always come out behind on that. The Prius does not get that one - because there is no regular gas Prius. And that is where Hyundai - and Kia - and Mercedes - and I believe VW are also going.

They are dropping the Jetta Hybrid because it is piss poor at being a hybrid. Sales have always been terrible. VW--even before dieselgate--had terrible marketing. They literally never made the case for the Jetta Hybrid. And if they were serious, the Passat would have gotten a PHEV version to go up against the Fusion Energi.

Why buy a VW when for the same price you can have the quality of a Toyota instead?

I am not so sure that it was a poor Hybrid. But - it is clear that they are eliminating it because of lack of sales. AND I still do not believe it is just VW in this case. The reduction in the price of oil has pretty much doomed most Hybrid conversions - because Hybrids are really just transportation devices (I know - I drive one for work) - and would not be acceptable to the public if they did not get the mileage they do -they are just not any fun to drive at all - and assuming they have a CVT - that makes it even worse. Today - the cost difference will NEVER be made up by the mileage - with low gas prices. That eventually - most cars will have to be Hybrids to meet mileage standards only reinforces just how poorly they actually drive.

@TomM you are not sure because you have no direct information on which to base your opinion making it unsubstantiated. Reality: the Jetta Hybrid stickered for as much or more than and Prius and the Prius is by far the better hybrid. The Jetta Hybrid stickered for as much as the Camry, Accord, Fusion, Sonata, and Optima hybrids and those sedans are much better than the Jetta.

The Passat needed to be the hybrid at minimum.

The fact is that people are still buying hybrids just because they want to save the environment and VW stepping out of the market is an admission of utter failure.

VW is the problem in a nut shell. The hybrid Jetta was not so much the issue. A lot of people just don't like Volkswagen's right now. Dieselgate simply added to peoples dislike and distrust of them. They are going to have to figure out how to change that perception if they are to be successful in the US. Their mainstream products have boring styling(Jetta and Passat). Again we have to wait for VW to come out with the right sized and right priced SUV's/CUV's until 2018. A pickup truck might be nice. A really nice driving sports coupe would not hurt(other than the GTI). Since they did not make a sports car out of the beetle why not create a Karman Ghia coupe and convertible. That way it does not compete with GTI but offers an alternative to Mini Cooper, Mazda Miata and the Toyobaru twins. Better yet why not scrap VW and just bring in Skoda already. VAG will still get paid and they erase VW poor reputation in the US.