1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Gas-Sipper Smackdown at Edmunds: Prius vs. Smart Fortwo vs. Ford Focus vs. 05 VW Jetta TDI

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by cwerdna, May 22, 2008.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,122
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    In the 2 categories where Jetta TDI won (highway & backroads), the margin was narrow.

    In 2 that Prius won (city & fuel cost), the margin was extreme. The other (greenhouse) was narrow.

    Too bad there wasn't a SMOG emission category. That's another extreme advantage for Prius.

    Of course, what's the point of comparing a MANUAL transmission to Prius anyway? It would be far more appropriate using an automatic... but then, Prius would sweep every category.

    .
     
  3. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2008
    2,760
    320
    3
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    .
    The Prius won the OVERALL over the TDI. Take notice.

    In Round 1, Driving up hills for prolonged time (see the photos) requires a lot of torque and power. (for those that think it takes power but not torque, shift your bicycle into a high gear and try riding uphill) The battery on the Prius would be exhausted, and the gasoline engine would be struggling. The diesel would be at home driving up hills.

    For Round 2, it's no surprise the Prius won. It's hybrid system is optimized for stop-and-go traffic. The engine even shuts off at stop lights.

    Round 3. For highway driving, I would think the engine with the lowest displacement (liters) would be the most efficient, since all it has to do is simply maintain speed. Any displacement beyond the minimum required to do that is wasted. That is a comparison when all cars are using the same fuel. The diesel won because diesel is more efficient.

    --
    In an earlier thread, many people (including myself) assumed that because diesels have more carbons per molecule and black soot on their rear bumpers, they "must" also emit more CO2, but this article clearly stated "Greenhouse gases are not the visible pollution (called particulate matter) that can be seen chugging out of the Jetta's tailpipe."
     
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The video and the text don't match.
    "there's no overall winner..." says the video
    " The Toyota Prius was the overall winner, with victory in three rounds: best city roller, lowest fuel costs and greenest car." says the text

    huh?


    Btw, John, they ALWAYS use a manual Jetta TDI cause they want the max. advantage for the diesel. They did the same for Driving Televisions Hybrid Commuter Challenge. The Jetta TDI was a manual.
     
  5. JSH

    JSH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2007
    2,605
    140
    0
    Location:
    PDX
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I guess that is one way of looking at it. What I noticed was the HUGE difference between EPA mileage and actual mileage for the TDI. The EPA rates the '05 5 speed TDI @ 30/39. Edmund's got 47 mpg on backroads and 48.9 mpg on the highway @ 75 mph. That is 20.5% and 25.4% better than EPA respectively. It even beat the EPA in the city by 5.2%.

    Why use a manual? Because the object was to get the best fuel economy and that is what they had. VW also sold a lot of 5 speeds mated to TDI's. The auto is only rated 1 mph worse than the manual. (30/38 vs 31/39)
     
  6. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I thought being objective was to make comparisons as similar as possible.

    Also, keep in mind how much more efficiency can vary when manual shifting is involved.

    .
     
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    How do you suppose they measured mileage given the uncertainty of the Prius gas tank?

    Tom
     
  8. JSH

    JSH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2007
    2,605
    140
    0
    Location:
    PDX
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    If the object was to be as similar as possible why include the Smart fortwo at all?
    Why compare a 5-person coupe, 5-person hatch, 2-person hatch, and a 5-person sedan?
    Why use a CVT, Auto, Manual, and clutchless manual?
    Why compare a hybrid, turbo gas, turbo diesel, NA gas?

    Why ask Why?

    I prefer a manual so I don't see a CVT or automatic as being a positive feature. I bought my Prius in spite of it having a CVT and because I couldn't find a Civic Hybrid within 500 miles.
     
  9. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2004
    15,140
    611
    0
    Location:
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    Persona
    it was not to compare similar cars... it was looking at the cheapest way to get around. storage, passenger comfort, legroom, etc...not part of the equation.

    i like the line "The Prius... if you have the money.

    price a TDI jetta lately??? how much money do you save by buying one of them??... not much
     
  10. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Regular Unleaded-$4.15
    Diesel-$5.00

    which is cheaper now.....? hmmmmmm
     
  11. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    1,748
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Brunswick, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Actually, as John knows (but will never point out) the DSG Auto TDI cars get better mileage than the manuals. SO using a manual TDI was putting the TDI at a bit of a disadvantage.
     
  12. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Wasn't the reason for this to provide data just like that?

    All transmissions have peaks & lows. With it, I could have pointed them out. But they didn't use it. Why?

    Do you have data to support your claim?

    .
     
  13. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    1,748
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Brunswick, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Just those pesky EPA ratings, which I've sent you before.
     
  14. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Well, then there's no contest. A minor bump is still not enough.

    Of course, we all know estimates are never as good as real-world.

    .
     
  15. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i bet prius could have won out on top in all categories had they chosen to use a non-touring model
     
  16. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    1,748
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Brunswick, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Dude... I mean, come on.

    I was just pointing out that the manual is not as efficient as the manual, which is what people were saying.
     
  17. david81

    david81 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2008
    62
    1
    0
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius

    I'd be more concerned with the driving styles of the different drivers. We picked up our 08 Touring on Valentines Day and we are currently averaging a bit over 58 MPG. I expect this to climb to around 60 once the weather here in NE Ohio decides to get with it and stay warm for more than a couple hours.

    The differences between Touring and non-Touring just don't effect mileage all that much.

    David
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I think DSG official mpgs are close to the manual, if not equal. I'm not sure if they're better. (I do not know how different the EPA ratings are esp. with the new ratings).

    But a manual done right can improve fuel economy. Two of my friends have a TSX - one auto, one manual. According to Transport Canada, the manual gets a lot worse mileage than the auto (no idea why.. short gear ratios?).

    Real life, the friend with the manual gets a lot better mileage than the rating and a good chunk (nearly 1.5L/100km) better than the auto friend.
     
  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The "soot" is generally considered particulates (PMs) and aerosols (PMs and gas together) correct? Quite different than greenhouse gasses in their effects on our health and local environments. Diesels definately put out more of those than does a gasoline vehicle although one should not discount the fact that particulate size has decreased overall with catalytic converters. This could be deemed even worse than the large particles since they remain airborn longer and are more easily driven through the respitory system (similar to the problems with nanotechnology). Any better info on this? I'm not well served in anatomy. :confused:
     
  20. allargon

    allargon Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2006
    113
    1
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Wow... my touring never broke 45mpg/tank until I hit 20k miles on the odometer.