Volkswagen has announced a raft of minor updates for its entire lineup for the 2013 model year. Also, it has put official on-sale dates for its two newest models - the 2013 Jetta Hybrid and 2013 Beetle Convertible - which will go on sale at the end of this year. The German automaker says that its most important introduction this year will be the 2013 Jetta Hybrid, the brand鈥檚 second hybrid model. Powering the newest Jetta is a turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4 rated at 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque mated to a 27-hp electric motor that draws power from a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The whole powertrain sends its power to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Final EPA numbers have yet to be set, but VW estimates the Jetta Hybrid to achieve up to 45 mpg. 25,000 when it goes on sale this fall. 19,710 (both prices include destination). Soft-top VW fans can rejoice: the 2013 Beetle Convertible will be joining the Beetle lineup this year, and is rumored to debut at November鈥檚 Los Angeles Auto Show. Powertrain options for the drop-top Beetle will mirror those of the coupe: buyers can choose from a 170-hp 2.5-liter I-5, a 200-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, or a 140-hp 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 that is rated for 41 mpg on the highway. Transmission options will be either a six-speed manual or DSG dual-clutch. The TDI-powered Beetle coupe will go on sale in August, while a Beetle Fender Edition - complete with a Fender premium audio system and unique cosmetic updates 鈥?will go on sale in the third quarter of this year. Sharing their mechanicals with the Beetle are the Golf, GTI, and Golf R hatchbacks.
The outside temperature hovered in the mid-40s, and I drove it the same way I do other test cars. The Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid debuts new drivetrain technology for Volkswagen in the U.S. The hybrid system consists of a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine assisted by an electric motor that鈥檚 powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. It drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The high fuel economy alone might be enough for some efficiency-focused car shoppers, but the Jetta Hybrid offers more, delivering an overall driving experience that popular hybrids like the Prius can鈥檛 touch. Responsive steering and taut suspension tuning that鈥檚 still compliant enough for daily commuting make the Jetta Hybrid feel nimble in the city and comfortable on the highway. Many hybrids have a way of isolating the driver from the act of driving, whether through numb steering or sloppy handling. The Jetta Hybrid shines above the class norm.
Not all is well with the Jetta Hybrid model driving experience, though, as it suffers from poor brake-pedal linearity, excessive idle creep, and accelerator lag. These issues combine to make the car feel clumsy in stop-and-go driving and when maneuvering at slow speeds. Automakers have struggled to perfect brake-pedal feel in hybrids, which blend regenerative braking technology with traditional friction brakes, and the struggle continues in the gasoline-electric Jetta Hybrid. The first half-inch of pedal travel produces immediate stopping power from the car鈥檚 regenerative braking system, but after that initial forcefulness the response tapers off significantly, with the last few inches of pedal travel yielding modest braking. It was enough to scare one editor and his passenger. After a few days, I acclimated and the brakes felt less jarring, but they still demanded a lot of my attention in order to make a smooth stop. Let up on the brake pedal and the car will lurch forward rather than creep. The accelerator lag also drags down the driving experience.
Press the gas pedal to take off from a stop, and nothing happens for a moment before the car surges forward. The delay is brief and occurs consistently enough that you can account for it as you drive, but it鈥檚 nonetheless another idiosyncrasy that, like the brakes, makes the car feel unpolished. One of the key interior differences in the hybrid is its instrument panel, which drops the tachometer in favor of a gauge that shows instantaneous power use and when the car鈥檚 lithium-ion battery is being charged. As a coaching tool for driving more efficiently, the gauge isn鈥檛 as effective as the one in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which indicates when the gas engine will turn on, helping drivers keep the car in its electric-only mode (E-Mode). The Jetta Hybrid鈥檚 seats are finished in V-Tex simulated leather upholstery. The front buckets are supportive and comfortable, and there鈥檚 enough side bolstering to keep you properly situated in front of the steering wheel. The three-person rear bench seat is impressively roomy for two adults, with a comfortable seating position and generous legroom and foot space.
