Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

**Danny** · 02-09-2009, 04:53 PM

A new story entry has been added:

Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Quote:

Edmunds just completed a head-to-head comparison test of the 2009 Prius Touring and the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. I'll go ahead and ruin the climax for you: Edmunds picked the Jetta TDI over the 2009 Prius, saying that "Good fuel economy, above-average comfort and a low price win again."
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bwilson4web · 02-09-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny

A new story entry has been added:

Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

<AHEM!>For a good laugh, check out the "ps." in:

2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Comparison Test

". . . (By the way, there are ways to game the display to trick your friends into believing you are a god of efficiency.) . . ."

Bob Wilson

ps. I will now retire as my 'god of efficiency' head explodes.

**Tideland Prius** · 02-09-2009, 07:11 PM

In his Jetta TDI, our opponent, too, was idle, but idling too silently for a 2.0-liter oil-burner whose forbears' aural qualities have been likened to skeletons pleasuring themselves in file cabinets

usbseawolf2000 · 02-09-2009, 11:03 PM

What a shocker! Anything Edmunds compare to the Prius will win!

patsparks · 02-10-2009, 12:26 AM

Full house Prius right down to the "Prius" decal on the rear bumper, even a touring model most likely package #6 versus a base model which is well equipped because it has vents to the back seats, it hasn't got climate control but if you have vents to the back seat that is much better, and when I was a kid "leatherette" was a fancy name for vinyl, is that still the case? Then compare the price and make a song and dance about the payback period?

They even mentioned how steering wheel mounted controls will one day be on all cars, like the smart key system, the Golf has neither but no mention of that.

It's good to see an unbiased report for a change, yeah right!

I was expecting to read about the battery only lasting 100,000 miles or less, what a letdown.

**Tideland Prius** · 02-10-2009, 12:55 AM

Yes, leatherette is basically vinyl. Now there are other names (like MB-Tex or Volvo's T-Tec) material. T-Tec is a cloth-based upholstery.... not sure what type it is but it feels rubbery.

However, MB's new man-made leather (Artico) is actually quite good and feels quite realistic.

Shawn Clark · 02-10-2009, 01:01 AM

Pretty standard fare for automotive "journalists." I could put shit-on-a-stick on wheels and they would do everything they could to portray it favorably for a few months...until someone produced something new. Then the focus would shift to pumping that up vs. shit-on-a-stick.

Even with a $1300 credit they have to find an overly expensive Prius to test against...which served no purpose since they didn't favor any of the Touring's strengths (relative to a standard Prius) over the TDI, making the whole exercise beyond pointless. But, hey, pretty typical for the underendowed TDI crowd.

danl · 02-10-2009, 09:16 AM

Wow. Just wow. That's just pure misinformation at its best... It just doesn't make sense. Unfortunately, its a published article and so probably thousands will buy into the false pretension that the prius is an overpriced bloated under performing hybrid.

sdtundra · 02-10-2009, 09:43 AM

I'm sorry but I drove the TDI when the local dealer got one for test drives and pre-orders. The dash feels cheap, all hard plastic. The leatherette I will admit is a step above the vinyl seats in our 1986 Sentra Coupe. The bloated price tag of the Prius is a joke, of course they dont get the fully loaded TDI.
"While they might lack space, the Jetta's rear-seat passengers will enjoy HVAC vents, comfortable sculpted seats and a two-prong AC electrical outlet to power/charge personal electronics."

Too bad they wont be able to feel their feet and legs but HEY! They'll be cool!!

nyty-nyt · 02-10-2009, 10:59 AM

The Greek "Spartan" slant to the story made this ponderous to read, and I gave up. This is probably the worst-written automotive story, content-aside, I've ever read, and I have read a lot.
It is an interesting apples-to-oranges comparison, and thanks for including it here, though.

02-09-2009, 07:11 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI In his Jetta TDI, our opponent, too, was idle, but idling too silently for a 2.0-liter oil-burner whose forbears' aural qualities have been likened to skeletons pleasuring themselves in file cabinets

02-09-2009, 11:03 PM	#4
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,254 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 106 Thanked 178 Times in 111 Posts Friends: 59	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI What a shocker! Anything Edmunds compare to the Prius will win!

02-10-2009, 12:26 AM	#5
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,182 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 118 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Full house Prius right down to the "Prius" decal on the rear bumper, even a touring model most likely package #6 versus a base model which is well equipped because it has vents to the back seats, it hasn't got climate control but if you have vents to the back seat that is much better, and when I was a kid "leatherette" was a fancy name for vinyl, is that still the case? Then compare the price and make a song and dance about the payback period? They even mentioned how steering wheel mounted controls will one day be on all cars, like the smart key system, the Golf has neither but no mention of that. It's good to see an unbiased report for a change, yeah right! I was expecting to read about the battery only lasting 100,000 miles or less, what a letdown. __________________ All the warranty I need. Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it!

02-10-2009, 01:01 AM	#7
Shawn Clark Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,064 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 111 Thanked 101 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Pretty standard fare for automotive "journalists." I could put shit-on-a-stick on wheels and they would do everything they could to portray it favorably for a few months...until someone produced something new. Then the focus would shift to pumping that up vs. shit-on-a-stick. Even with a $1300 credit they have to find an overly expensive Prius to test against...which served no purpose since they didn't favor any of the Touring's strengths (relative to a standard Prius) over the TDI, making the whole exercise beyond pointless. But, hey, pretty typical for the underendowed TDI crowd.

02-10-2009, 09:16 AM	#8
danl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 164 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Wow. Just wow. That's just pure misinformation at its best... It just doesn't make sense. Unfortunately, its a published article and so probably thousands will buy into the false pretension that the prius is an overpriced bloated under performing hybrid.

02-10-2009, 12:55 AM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Yes, leatherette is basically vinyl. Now there are other names (like MB-Tex or Volvo's T-Tec) material. T-Tec is a cloth-based upholstery.... not sure what type it is but it feels rubbery. However, MB's new man-made leather (Artico) is actually quite good and feels quite realistic.

02-10-2009, 09:43 AM	#9
sdtundra Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 799 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 10	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI I'm sorry but I drove the TDI when the local dealer got one for test drives and pre-orders. The dash feels cheap, all hard plastic. The leatherette I will admit is a step above the vinyl seats in our 1986 Sentra Coupe. The bloated price tag of the Prius is a joke, of course they dont get the fully loaded TDI. "While they might lack space, the Jetta's rear-seat passengers will enjoy HVAC vents, comfortable sculpted seats and a two-prong AC electrical outlet to power/charge personal electronics." Too bad they wont be able to feel their feet and legs but HEY! They'll be cool!! __________________ National Registry EMT San Diego County EMT

02-10-2009, 10:59 AM	#10
nyty-nyt Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 105 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI The Greek "Spartan" slant to the story made this ponderous to read, and I gave up. This is probably the worst-written automotive story, content-aside, I've ever read, and I have read a lot. It is an interesting apples-to-oranges comparison, and thanks for including it here, though.

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