The Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and Prius Showdown

September 25, 2008 -- Filed under Technology by Normand Miron

Yesterday, popularmechanics.com published the results of a comparative test between the new Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and the Toyota Prius hybrid car. On the menu of course were two very full days of similar conditions for the two vehicles that minimised the impact of different driving habits on fuel consumption.

Day one: eleven hours on the road around Los Angeles to simulate one week of city driving, for a total distance of around 383 kilometres.

Day two: another 383 kilometres, but this time on the desert highway close to Palm Springs.

The results:

• City driving, advantage Prius: 5.3 L/100 km vs 7.4 L/100 km for the Jetta TDI Clean Diesel
• City driving: the comfort and driving pleasure advantage went, however, to the Jetta TDI Clean Diesel thanks to its more classic interior, more luxurious materials and 236 lb-ft of torque delivered by its 140-hp, 2-0 litre four-cylinder turbo diesel.
• Highway driving: Surprise! Slight advantage: Jetta TDI Clean Diesel 5,2 L/100 km vs 5,3 L/100 km for the Prius.

Conclusion: the friends of Popular Mechanics expected without great surprise to find in the Jetta TDI Clean Diesel a vehicle that is more fun and comfortable to drive, but at the same time they seemed to have been surprised to have also discovered a credible challenger to the Prius.

What do you think?

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