Gas Mileage Battle – Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid vs Jetta TDI
Posted by Car Dude in Better MPG, Cars, diesel, hybrids, Volkwagen
The new Jetta launched last year and has become one of the biggest selling cars in the most competitive car niche; the mind-sized sedan segment. There are over 12 different trims levels that range in price from $15k to $31k. Four different engines are offered ranging from: a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0 liter with 200 horsepower, a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 170 horsepower, a 2.0 TDI diesel engine with 140 horsepower, and the new 1.4 liter hybrid powerplant. With so many options and varying prices, which engine offers you the best values for your money if gas mileage is your major concern? Well we know the base 2.5 liter and the turbocharged 2.0 liter are no match for the Hybrid and TDI in terms of fuel economy. So let’s compare which Jetta is better; the Diesel or the Hybrid. Read the rest of this entry »
Audi for some reason wants to have all areas of practically every little segment of the car industry covered. The Audi Q5 is their entry into the crossover realm and for the 2013 model year it seems they have an assortment of engines to fit anyone’s needs. There is a hybrid, a turbo 4-cylinder, a supercharged V-6, and now a diesel engine. Let’s take a look at the various engines and their MPG ratings. 
There are plenty of cheap cars with good gas mileage for the 2012 model year. In fact there are a handful of vehicles under the $15k mark that are very economical and fuel efficient. One reason why these cheap cars get such good MPG ratings is the fact that they are lightweight and have small puny engines. And we know that the smaller the engine the more fuel efficient it is for the most part. Many of the cars on this list have 4-cylinder engines that displace less than 1.8 liters. Besides a small engine these automobiles are mostly subcompact cars meaning the are tiny and lightweight. And these 2 factors (small engine and lightweight) combine to create some very fuel efficient cheap cars. 
The new 2012 Audi Q7 gets better gas mileage than previous model because it is equipped with 2 new six-cylinder engines and an eight-speed automatic transmission. But which one gets better gas mileage? There is a supercharged V-6 and a Turbo Diesel V-6 engine. The results might shock you. 
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owns the best hybrid gas mileage title. But you may be shocked to to know that thre are only 2 hybrid trucks available on the market. The Silverado and the GMC Sierra. These trucks are brothers as they share the same platform and powerplant. The Hybrid is a full sized pickup vehicle power packed with some great features capable of tempting any automobile aficionado. The Silverado is powered by a two mode hybrid system that offers superb mileage that none of the full size pickup trucks can afford to reach. With a base price of $39,640 the Silverado Hybrid is not cheap. So you have to decide is the payoff in gas mileage is worth the extra cost of the truck. But then again there are those who will still buy the Silverado because it is the best hybrid truck on the market today. This Silverado Hybrid is capable of showing up an estimated mileage of 20mpg within city limits and around 23mpg on highways. 
Toyota has always been the front runner when it comes to hybrid technology but it seems the past generation Toyota Camry Hybrid was severely lacking. The car cost a few grand more than the base 4-cylinder model and only returned a 22% better fuel economy. But the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is cheaper than the previous model and gets much better fuel economy. In fact the Camry Hybrid has retaken best-in-class fuel economy honors which were previously held by the Ford Fusion Hybrid. But what makes the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid such a good gas mileage sedan? 
The new 2012 Range Rover Evoque not only looks beautiful, the gas mileage ratings are equally as nice with the SUV getting 18 MPG in the City and 28 MPG on the Highway. Luxury SUV’s are not known for being fuel efficient. This is because the more luxury amenities a vehicle has, the more it weighs. And luxury SUVs are some of the heaviest vehicles around; think Cadillac Escalade. The luxury SUV’s that top the list of best gas mileage are mostly comprised of hybrids. But the Range Rover Evoque has a few tricks up its sleeve. And the Evoque ties the Lexus RX450h for top honors regarding highway MPG. 
Below is a list of the best gas mileage cars for the 2012 model year. As you can see Hybrids dominate the list. But the first 2 positions are taken up by electric vehicles. The EPA still gives these 2 MPG ratings based on energy usage but its apples and oranges. Really the Toyota Prius Hybrid is the 2012 car with the best gas mileage. 
The Buick Lacrosse was redesigned in 2010 and with it came a new motor that promised better gas mileage; the EcoTec direct injection engine. The premium model has an MSRP price of just under $38k. That buys you a 3.6 liter V-6 engine that has over 300 Horsepower. Bummer is that car is more expensive by $8k and the engine is less fuel efficient. The larger V-6 can only manage 17 MPG in the City and 27 MPG on the Highway. Nothing too exciting. This car is built with quality and luxury in mind. But what is even more impressive is that a hybrid model of this car is out on the market. The new 2012 Buick Lacrosse eAssist hybrid has a smaller 2.4 liter EcoTec 4-cylinder engine. Mated to the powertrain is a small electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This electric motor adds power and fuel efficiency up to 25%. The Hybrid with e-assist gets 25 MPG in the City and 36 MPG on the highway. The hybrid only has 182 HP but torque is ample at 172 ft-lbs. Oh and the hybrid starts at about $30k. 
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