Jetta TDI vs Hybrid on 1 Tank from Seattle to San Francisco

Hey Prius owners, I thought some of you might be interested in these videos that show a new Jetta TDI vs a Prius in a one tank from Seattle to San Francisco Challenge.

For the record, we think the Prius is a great car for all the right reasons. Maybe after seeing these videos, the Jetta TDI may be added to the list of great cars for the same reasons.
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znEt_7zH-ro"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znEt_7zH-ro[/ame]

The test was not well thought out and some of the quotes in the report were downright inaccurate. This is good for media publicity and propaganda but bad for quality journalism and for society. You can read about the whole list of complaints about the testing procedure in this thread: HERE



Then you can look at the actual amount of fuel used during the trip between the 2 cars. This is assuming the amount of fuel used was accurately recorded.. No gripe against the TDI as it does throw down great milage and the majority of us on PC would rather someone buy the TDI than buy an SUV or gas guzzler of similar nature (Dodge Magnums come to mind).

Besides the Jetta TDI having a much dirtier emission rating, the fact is that real-world data just doesn't stand up to Prius. Challenge all you want. But at the end of the day, it's ordinary owners that are making the difference with their genuine mix of driving conditions over the long-term.

48.0 MPG is my average after driving 102,188 miles over the past 4.75 years in Minnesota using E10 for fuel.

Show me the data!

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I think the Prius is tons of fun to drive. Obviously they hired someone from Auburn VW to drive it so of course they are going to knock it at every chance they get.

The 2009 model allotment for the US is planned to be only 8,000.

Compare that to the 181,221 Prius and the over 16,000,000 other vehicles sold in the US last year for perspective.

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You measured how far a tank of fuel take both cars.

Did you measure how much pollution each car emitted per tank?

Having both low emission and high fuel efficiency is the real solution. Achieving just one of them under certain condition and ignoring the emission just pollute (pun intended) your object.

Have you ever driven a new Jetta? TDI or otherwise? If you think the Toyota is fun, you really owe it to yourself to drive the VW. There really is no comparison to a Prius. I’m curious what kind of cars you’re used to driving as it seems that people who don’t like cars, really like the Prius. There are many valid arguments for the Prius as the superior automobile (I don’t agree with them, but they are still valid) to the Jetta, but “fun to drive†just isn’t one of them. I think that’s the real beauty of the Jetta TDI. It’s made for people who LIKE to drive and are enthusiasts about driving. The Prius is fun to drive like maybe a golf cart is, but not like a sport sedan.

You're right. VW will not import nearly enough of these for the demand. That is unless the orders continue to pile up like they are now.

It's not just fun, it's comfortable (up front). I drove one of the dealer models and it has a great height adjust. Too bad they're starving the U.S. I'd buy one now if there wasn't a huge shortage cost (dealer told me that it would be 30k to get one). BTW the back seat bites. The prius is luxurious in the back row in comparison.

I actually got rid of my Passat (which I bought from the Auburn VW) to get the Prius. The Passat was ok, but cost too much and didn't get good gas millage. I wouldn't go back to the Passat if anyone paid me.

Auburn VW is not charging extra. Ask for Matt.

Regarding the test.

1) Prius Driver hired by VW. As biased as you can get.
2) Jetta started out with more gallons of fuel.
3) Prius was cheaper per mile as diesel is a $1 more.
4) Prius may only edge out TDI in cost per mile on the highway, but completely crushes TDI in city driving.
5) Maybe you should try a Touring Prius. I've driven co-workers standard and touring models and they are like night and day. No comparison. I've driven newer Jettas, but not a TDI.

I've owned:

1) Two 300ZX twin turbos both highly modified and stock.
2) Lexus SC400(still have it after 275K miles and it drives like new).
3) Two C5's.
4) Infiniti FX45.
5) Eclipse GSX.
6) Pathfinder.
7) Durango Hemi Limited.
8) RX7.

Based on your first posting, it's obvious that you're either a VW dealer or had something to do with the production of the completely bogus fixed TDI vs Prius test.

Prius is the number one most reliable vehicle on the planet at any price. VW, well, we all know about it's stellar reliability

Oh my. Where do you get that broad generalization from? Research? Hope you didn't pay too much for it! Seems a bit...faulty, like the TDI vs Prius test.

I STILL OWN a 1992 Eclipse GSX with 72,000 miles on it. HEAVILY modified to run the 1/4 mile in 11.8 seconds. Suspension mods too. Awesome car - extremely fun to drive. And guess what? I typically pick the Prius over the Eclipse. I find the Prius VERY fun to drive and I LOVE cars. Is it the same "fun" as the Eclipse? No. I find it fun to try and get another MPG each time I drive the car. Very different from the Eclipse, but still very fun to drive.

Don't put me in the category of "people who don't like cars" because I drive a Prius. VERY offensive remark, you're not helping your cause.

Zhe Wiz

I have both a 06 Jetta TDI and an 07 Prius. The Jetta is just not comparable in fuel economy to the Prius if the Prius is driven for fuel economy. Attached is my most recent tank. I could have gone further on this tank as I had gotten a flashing PIP about 75 miles earlier, so fuel starve was about 50 miles further.

Wow! After watching a few of the clips, it couldn't be more obvious that the comments were scripted. Not only that, most of them were completely false and or misleading.

Over the years I've been accustomed to driving the following cars: BMW 330xi, Lexus IS250, Lexus RX400h, and the Acura MDX...

I haven't driven a VW Jetta, but I seriously doubt that I'm missing anything...

My last cars....









Yet I still think the Prius is fun to drive. As much fun as the new TDI? From a handling aspect most likely not but from the techy aspect, I would say more so.

Exactly! I KNEW I wasn't the only one. There are a lot of current and previous owners of some AWESOME vehicles on this site who STILL believe the Prius is fun to drive.

Zhe Wiz

No my friend, you are not alone. There are many of us on this site and we all still love the Prius. It is just a different kind of car. There is a lot of skill that can be applied to driving it that makes up for any of the performance "shortcomings". I honestly would not want it to have more HP or be any faster because that is not what the car is about nor do I want to be encouraged to drive it like a sports car. The handling could be improved IMO but I am content even with that (although a set of 17" rims and sticky tires does help a ton).

The TDI seems to be a great car from all that I have read, especially from valued members of this forum who own both and do their best to educate us on the pros and cons of the cars. I only take issue with the "test" and how the methods were carried out as well as the lame falsehoods dished out in the media portion of this "production".

I completely agree. Had diesels been available when we purchased, we certainly would have looked at them. (They wouldn't pass NY emissions) I was leaning in the diesel direction until we tried a Prius and found PriusChat. Decided to go for it and haven't looked back. When we buy our next, I expect diesels and probably pure electric cars will be back in the picture.

I'm just very annoyed by the test being more marketing than test. 1 tank this, 1 tank that. How big is that tank again? Then the comments about the Prius being for those that don't like cars. I probably would have kept quiet had it not been for the last part. Just do the test, present the facts and let me decide w/o force-feeding me misleading information.

Zhe Wiz