Price: $24,995 to $31,180
Competitors: Acura ILX Hybrid, Ford C-Max, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, Lexus CT200H, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius V
Powertrains: 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 150 hp, 184 lb. ft.; electric motor, 27 hp, 114 lb. ft.; combined system output: 170 hp, 184 lb. ft.
EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 42/46 (est.)
What?s New: The hybrid Jetta adds a fifth player to VW?s compact sedan roster. It?s VW?s second hybrid, after the Touareg crossover, but represents a much different engineering approach.
Like most contemporary hybrids, the new Jetta gets its basic propulsion from an internal combustion engine with an electric motor adding supplemental power on demand. Unlike most hybrids, though, the Jetta employs a turbocharged engine (1.4 liters, four cylinders) as that primary power source. The electric motor supplies 27 hp, and Volkswagen rates max combined system output as 170 hp and 184 pound-feet. The system sends power to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and combined fuel economy is forecast to be 44 mpg.
Tech Tidbit: Similar to Honda?s integrated motor-assist system, the Jetta?s powertrain integrates the electric motor and transaxle in a tidy engine/transmission package that mounts transversely in the engine bay. When the car is coasting, the system decouples the engine to reduce drag, enhancing replenishment of the lithium-ion battery pack.
Driving Character: The Jetta Hybrid has the same suspension as the sporty GLI?MacPherson struts up front, multilink rear?as well as the GLI?s firmer tuning. At 3312 pounds, the hybrid outweighs the GLI by 154 pounds, but it delivers the same willing-to-play persona, sharp steering, and supple ride quality. With engine and electric motor maxed, the Hybrid sprints to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, according to VW. That seems conservative. The turbo?s ample torque comes on early, peaking at 1600 rpm. The seven-speed DSG tranny keeps the powertrain in its sweet spot, and the hybrid system is transparent.
Favorite Detail: The Jetta is the only hybrid in its class with a conventional step transmission. It?s one of VW?s excellent DSG units?dual clutch (a dry clutch, in this application), seven speeds, and the option of manual shifting. The manual shifting would be more rewarding if this setup included paddle shifters. But it adds a driver-involving aspect missing in other compact hybrids while eliminating the slipping-clutch feel of the continuously variable transmissions many of VW?s competitors use.
Driver?s Grievance: A key component in all hybrid systems is regenerative braking, which converts heat energy from the calipers and rotors to electricity that?s returned to the battery. Some regenerative systems provide smoother operations than others. The Jetta?s regenerative brakes are among the ?others.? It?s a little tricky to get the right touch with them, and they?re prone to grabbing abruptly when employed at parking lot speeds.
Bottom Line: The Jetta Hybrid?s prospective fuel-economy ratings measure up well among competing compact hybrid sedans, but this new VW stands out from its small pack for reasons other than mpg. It?s the only turbo hybrid going, and it goes quite well?passing on two-lane highways, for example. Like all turbos, it performs well at higher altitudes. The sporty suspension and stiff body shell deliver the kind of decisive dynamics that still distinguish German sedans. And if this heaviest of Jettas is a little chunky, the location of the 80-pound lithium-ion battery pack at the rear gives the car better front-to-rear weight balance.
Jetta styling isn?t exactly compelling to begin with, and there?s little to distinguish the hybrid visually: The design includes blue highlights around the VW emblem, a specific wheel design, and a revised front air dam and decklid spoiler. And like other hybrids, this one carries a price premium that will make it the most expensive Jetta. On the other hand, the fuel economy benefit seems to be there, along with a fun-to-drive factor that?s all but absent in competing hybrids.
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