VW TDI forum, Audi, Porsche, and Chevy Cruze Diesel forum banner
Cancel

Motor Trend: Golf TDI vs Hybrid

3638 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  thrab, 
S
First part is comparing a 2 door manual to the Honda CR-Z...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...a_cr_z_vs_2010_volkswagen_golf_tdi/index.html

Part 2 is a 4 Door DSG compared to the Prius...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...ii_vs_2010_volkswagen_golf_tdi_dsg/index.html
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
R
I like this part
I happened to mention that the Golf TDI reminds me of the lighter, smaller (and, to me, more elegant) 3 Series cars BMW used to build. "I know what you mean," Ed replied. "This car's a delight in the twisty sections, it is indeed 3 Series-esque.
And listen, if you're among those still suffering from manual myopia, still blithely blaspheming double-clutch trannies, I've got some troubling evidence to share. This 97-pound-heavier, four-door DSG-equipped sibling to the manual two-door reached 60 mph three tenths sooner and returns 1-mpg-better highway mileage. Shifts faster too. And you can keep both hands on the wheel in the corners, and...look, need I continue? It's time to move on, troops
1ST PLACE: VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI DSG
The TDI wins this round too, but only by a few strokes. The Golf's bigger tires, faster steering, and conventional styling make for an interesting counterpoint to the mileage-is-everything Prius.

2ND PLACE: TOYOTA PRIUS III
Futuristic, intellectually entertaining, and certainly the fuel-economy choice for non-car enthusiasts. The Prius's problem is that ain't us.
Click to expand...
Reply
Save
Like
G
I had always thought you could get more diesel out of a gallon of oil than you can gas, but apparently I wasn't well read in fuel chemistry.

Good articles that I agree with 100%
Reply
Save
Like
mrlinch
Awesome reads. Thanks for the find.
Reply
Save
Like
C
Comes off both times as "we decided the winner before we wrote the article"

Still the Prius portion did get one thing right, we are at the beginning of the hybrid's run up in progression and nearing the end of exploiting diesel. Sure some might say to combine them but two expensive technologies rarely combine to find buyers.

Plug in hybrids / etc are going to remove much of the care as to what type of petrol engine powers the car. I figure by the time my TDI is ready for trade, figure 2013 or so that there will be a good number of plug ins about.
Reply
Save
Like
P
My use is 95% highway (no braking, no start/stop). How would I benefit from a hybrid?
Reply
Save
Like
C
philcollison said:
My use is 95% highway (no braking, no start/stop). How would I benefit from a hybrid?
Click to expand...
A plug in hybrid will do you just fine. Because not all your mileage can be 95% highway, maybe your commute, but do you really just park it when your not using it? You really don't put any miles on your car that are not highway?

Throw a plug into the equation and you can remove a set number of miles from your commute. Even if the electrical part of a hybrid is only to get off from a stop there is savings.

Plus, when you take your foot off the accelerator in a newer car all you are doing is not burning fuel, in a hybrid you are regaining energy to be used later. Even more so when braking. Something our TDI's cannot say.

Now what would I want? A capacitor based system, where it used the capacitor charge to get the car rolling and charges it from braking/coasting. Anything to get that initial acceleration off the gas/diesel engine where my mileage is in single digits
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Y
Interesting articles to say the least. I do agree it appears that they chose their winner before the competition actually started. (Although I find this true in many auto mags these days).

I currently commute 150+ miles a day, so I am looking for an economical car that is still fun to drive. So far the only thing that has met those requirements is the TDI Golf. Since I tend to keep my cars for 10+ years and 150k+ miles, I also need something that will be reliable over the long haul, which brings in the DSG vs Manual dilemma.
Reply
Save
Like
shurikt
glennco said:
I had always thought you could get more diesel out of a gallon of oil than you can gas, but apparently I wasn't well read in fuel chemistry.
Click to expand...
I think you're misreading the article. Refiners currently generate 18-20 gallons of gasoline PLUS 9-10 gallons of diesel from each barrel of oil. It's not either/or, it's both.
Reply
Save
Like
M
No Place to go for the Diesel?.....Baloney

Motor Trend says there is no place to go for the Diesel and that hybrid/diesel technology is too expensive. However, if the US Spec TDI's ever get the Blue Motion Stop Start Technology look out.
The 1.6 liter TDI Blue Motion in the 2011 Euro Spec Passat is rated 58 mpg so I think the stop start technology in some of the bigger Diesel Engines like the 2.0 liter 140hp or 170hp GTD may still be in the offing and may get close to the mileage claims of Prius. The 1.2 liter Polo TDI is pulling like 68 mpg so boo hoo Motor Trend; do your home work and do your job before blabbering about no place to go for the diesel!
Reply
Save
Like
T
I've driven both the Prius and my Golf TDI quite a bit. I have to say if you're primarily an inner city dweller and rarely hit the interstate the Prius is a sexy car. If you're on the highway a lot I'd much rather a Golf TDI. It's just a lot more solid at higher speeds and gets the same mileage as the Prius. Past 60mpg I have a hard time passing with the Prius. In the Golf TDI passing is trivial. Also, the Prius sucks in the mountains bad, only got 23mpg and struggled the whole way.

My view is that the Golf TDI is really a general purpose high mileage vehicle. The Prius is targeted at those who never exceed 50mph and spend most of their time at a stop light. I'll go with general purpose.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
VW TDI forum, Audi, Porsche, and Chevy Cruze Diesel forum
A forum community dedicated to Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, and all turbo diesel owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, troubleshooting, TDI, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
VW Mk4 Jetta, Golf, New Beetle, Passat TDI forum Mk5 VW Jetta, Sportwagen, and Audi A3 TDI forum New TDI forum member introductions VW Mk6 Golf, Jetta, Beetle, Sportwagen TDI forum General Diesel Discussion
Top