By Adrian Imonti
November 20, 2008
Last year’s Green Car of the Year award was a cynic’s dream come true. Bestowing the annual eco-accolades upon the ginormous, environmentally challenged Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid could persuade even the most optimistic tree hugger to hang up his Birkenstocks for good. (Full disclosure: I do not now own, nor have I ever owned, a pair of Birkenstocks.) The current roster includes nominees that are both more credible and more diverse than the last. The 2007 event provided the choice of a hybrid, a hybrid, a hybrid, a hybrid or a hybrid. Now we have a couple of oil burners (BMW 335d, VW Jetta TDi) and something that could fit inside a duffel bag (smart fortwo), as well as a pair of the customary gas-electric hybrids (Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2). Drum roll, please: congratulations go to the VW Jetta TDi.
This new-for-America 2.0 liter model has finally discovered something that the red, white and blue version of the car has long been missing: power. Ponies have been bumped upward to 140hp. According to VW, you get 236 lb ft of torque, an MSRP starting at $21,990, and a low carbon footprint. According to the EPA, you can expect fuel economy of 30 city/ 41 highway if you choose a six-speed manual; shave 1 mpg from both figures if you’d rather remain shiftless.
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POWERED
November 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am
The economics really don’t work for diesel vehicles anymore. Maybe 30% more efficiency but you pay about 50% more a gallon and another 10% is slapped on the MSRP. Even Acura have given up on their TSX diesel.
Still, at least a GM hybrid didn’t get the prize.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am
True dat, no repeat of the disgrace that was the Hybrid SUV as top green car. Even Top Gear caught wind of that and made fun of the auto show. I guess GM didn’t have the funds to buy off the award again this year…
November 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am
What’s the deal with all the articles about cars today? I thought this was a congressional bailout opinion site (tongue in cheek). Nice to see things getting back to normal.
I couldn’t comment on Herr Schmitt’s WAS today for some reason, excellent updates of news I would not usually get…plus a dash of humor with the rodent story at the end. Stuff like this keeps me coming back….good work.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:47 am
50% more a gallon for diesel? That’s quite an exaggeration. At least where I live…
November 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Anuerysm_Boy: 50% more a gallon for diesel? That’s quite an exaggeration
Coming in to work today, Kokomo, IN. BP on US31, regular 1.67/gal…..diesel 2.48/gal…..(2.48-1.67)/1.67*100% = 48.5%. Close enough for rock-n-roll
November 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
It is, but the diesel haters always do that! Moreover, they assume that diesel will always cost more even though it doesn’t in the rest of the world and shouldn’t here when they have the infrastructure in place to deal efficiently with the low sulphur content now required here.
Regards,
November 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Umm… The Jetta TDI does NOT use urea to treat NOx emissions. The larger displacement BMW does. Also, VW uses an uppercase “I” in TDI.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Yes, urea is not used in the 2009 Jetta TDI. It uses a DPF for particulate matter and there is a regenerative catalyst, but no urea system was required to meet US Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions.
However, the Tiguan TDI is apparently not available in the US because it would have required a urea system even if they stuck the same 2.0 litre TDI in it.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
The vast majority of people who rag on Diesel cars in online forums have never owned, much less driven a Diesel car. However the majority of people who HAVE owned Diesel cars love them. Myself included in the latter group.
For typically American-style long distance driving the economy provided by Diesel is astounding when compared to gasoline and/or ethanol. Don’t believe the EPA numbers. I’ve consistently averaged 50 MPG with my TDI over the past six years. My wife’s Liberty CRD gets between 26 and 30 MPG.
Additionally Diesel is a fantastically flexible fuel format that allows you to truly take advantage of all manner of alternative fuels. I make my own BioDiesel at home, and my average cost to produce varies between 95¢ to $1.50 a gallon. Try that with gasoline!
–chuck
November 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Chuck, and I get 55 in my Prius. Anectdotes are worth precisely nothing.
Diesel, in addition to all the things you said, is also incredibly dirty compared to a hybrid engine. Even ‘clean diesel’ is dirtier than modern gas (non-hybrid) engines. It’s a step in the wrong direction.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
M1EK> most boring car ever!
I’ll take a diesel any day.
And a $3k new motorcycle can do 80′ish or more, not even getting to scooters…
November 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
most boring car ever!
I’ll take a diesel any day.
Name one passenger car diesel, available in North America, that is made by a company not notorious for general long-term reliability problems.
And a $3k new motorcycle can do 80′ish or more, not even getting to scooters…
And my bicycle gets infinite miles to the gallon. Your point is what?
A Prius or Jetta can carry four people in comfort and a reasonable amount of cargo in all but the extreme inclement weather. Right now, if I look out my window, I see road conditions that would probably kill a motorbike rider, and would certainly be uncomfortable.
Oh, and passengers? Like carseat-age children?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
The between emissions regulations and the new US sulfur standards making our diesel attractive for export to the EU the value proposition for Diesel small cars is DOA.
For any sort of towing or hauling its still there however. Tow a 10k lbs trailer with a gas and diesel pickup and the diesel wins by a big margin.
Long term reliability and longevity with the higher operating temps required to meet the new standard has yet to be proven.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
The between emissions regulations and the new US sulfur standards making our diesel attractive for export to the EU the value proposition for Diesel small cars is DOA.
For any sort of towing or hauling its still there however. Tow a 10k lbs trailer with a gas and diesel pickup and the diesel wins by a big margin.
Long term reliability and longevity with the higher operating temps required to meet the new standard has yet to be proven.
That being said the torque-rich nature of a diesel makes for a distinct and more enjoyable driving experience.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
As usual, the nay sayers have their facts a little slanted. Right now diesel is about 20% higher around here and how long does anyone think gas will be down around $2 per gallon. My diesel TDI gets nearly 40% better mileage than the similar gasser it replaced. You do the math. The IRS rebate wipes out most of the price differential for purchasing a TDI. Kelly Bluebook says the resale on a TDI is several thousand more than a comparable gasser. TDI VWs have consistently been more reliable than comparable gassers according to Consumer Reports. Diesels look pretty good in terms of greenhouse emissions and even better when you acknowledge they burn less fuel. To each his own, but lets not rule out diesels for phoney reasons.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm