Fuel economy numbers are often little more than a lie printed on a piece of paper and stuck to a car鈥檚 window. That said, they can be terribly misleading in the hunt for a fuel-efficient commuter car. Unlikely rivals in many respects, their strongest feature, that of being ultra efficient, makes them direct competitors. They鈥檙e also both compact cars (technically the Prius is classified as a mid-size) with seating for five, every day practicality and prices that, while varied, can stack up almost directly. Get the Flash Player to see this player. Powering the Jetta TDI is the same turbodiesel engine you鈥檒l find in a range of VW products, from the Beetle to the Passat. Power is rated at 140 hp, while torque is an impressive 236 lb-ft at 1750 rpm. The Prius, on the other hand, uses Toyota鈥檚 signature Hybrid Synergy Drive system, mating a gasoline engine, an electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
The numbers aren鈥檛 as easy to follow, with individual outputs for the electric and gas components, but the final number is 134 hp. Matching up trim levels is far from an exact science. 28,235 to upgrade to a similar surface in the Prius. Conversely, all Prius models come with keyless access and a push button ignition, while only the most expensive Jetta TDI does. In our similarly priced Jetta TDI Premium with Navigation and Prius Three, both came with equally disappointing navigation systems on tiny screens with lots of pixilation and poor ease-of-use. Toyota does offer its Entune system with a better nav system, as well as XM Gas Prices to help you find the cheapest gas near you, though you鈥檒l pay for it. 1,100. The Prius comes exclusively with a CVT transmission, while in a nod to the budget oriented and the enthusiast, the VW gets a 6-speed stick shift as standard. One of, if not the deciding factor is outright fuel economy, and the quoted numbers don鈥檛 even begin to reflect reality.
Officially rated at 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway with a combined 34 rating, testing on a morning commute run that, for the sake of transparency is heavy on highway miles, resulted in a shockingly good 46 mpg rating. That鈥檚 incredibly close to the Prius, which Toyota boasts has a 51 mpg city rating and a 48 mpg highway rating, for a combined 50 mpg. Thinking that the heavy highway commute might not act in the Prius鈥檚 favor, it still returned an astonishing 57 mpg. And in both cases its important to note that the highway speeds were not an unrealistic government mandated 55 mph, but a more real-world 70 mph plus - when we weren鈥檛 in stop-and-go traffic. For the Prius, however, there is a catch, as we tested the car in its most efficient Eco mode, which dulls throttle sensitivity to the point we were certain to have found the cure to insomnia.
Not to be overlooked, the feel behind the wheel is of tremendous importance in choosing the ultimate commuter car, with the driver of such a vehicle not unfamiliar with logging several hours a day on the road. In this respect, the Volkswagen seems the early favorite. Its torquey diesel delivers plenty of quick thrust regardless of the situation, while the car itself feels better planted at highway speeds, whereas the Prius seems generally unwilling. The Jetta鈥檚 overall driving dynamics also offer a more enjoyable time when the highway ends and the curvy roads begin. Mated to Volkswagen鈥檚 quick-shifting DSG dual-clutch gearbox, the transmission even masks the lackluster top end of the diesel, running through the gears quickly and efficiently to keep the power on tap. DSGs have their drawbacks as well, however, and after several days in both cars it was obvious that, unsurprisingly, the German transmission proved less smooth than the CVT in the Prius. Taking away from the slick feel, however, is the hybrid鈥檚 regenerative braking function, meaning neither car delivers a progressive feeling on the brakes and both require a unique technique.
