Up until recently, if you wanted an efficient Volkswagen, there was no better alternative than a diesel-powered model. Their diesels were and still are very competent, but now US car buyers can get a different kind of green V-dub, the Jetta Hybrid. Revealed in early 2012, at the Detroit auto show, the car has been on the market for a while now, and Consumer Reports recently got their hands on one to try it out.
As a brief reminder, the Jetta Hybrid comes with a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine, which in conjunction with an electric motor makes 167 hp (170 PS), sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
While not as fuel efficient as some other hybrids (i.e. the Prius has an EPA estimated 50mpg combined ve the Jetta’s 45mpg), it is definitely one of the most fun to drive vehicles of its type, and one of the quickest.
The brief review by CR highlights the fact that the car is starting to show its age, and the interior looks a bit old, especially when compared to that of the new seventh-gen Golf. Also, the fact that the lithium-ion battery pack takes up trunk space was a really big minus in their book, and it was also criticized for being a bit on the expensive side, especially one with lots of options.
By Andrei Nedelea
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