2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
Up until now, Volkswagen’s preferred method of maximizing mileage has with TDI turbocharged diesel engines. But despite wider availability, and ever cleaner exhausts, high diesel fuel prices have stalled their appeal to Americans. What to do? Well, you could turbocharge a small gasoline engine as many automakers are doing to EcoBoost their mileage, and of course there’s always hybrid powertrains. Well, how about combining the two… in the Jetta!
You won’t see turbo in the name, but the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid does indeed get down the road with a combination of internal combustion, forced air induction, and electric power. And it all works fairly seamlessly, though you can feel some shudder when the gas engine engages and disengages. It’s not disturbing; just more of a reminder of what exactly is going on.
And, what’s going on is 1.4-liters worth of all-aluminum, direct injected, turbo-charged I4 combined with a 20kW electric motor to output 170-horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. This combo produces Government Fuel Economy Ratings of 42-City, 48-Highway, and 45-Combined. That compares to 34 Combined for the TDI. Still, our lead-footed drivers netted nowhere near the hybrid ratings, averaging just 36.7 miles-per-gallon of Premium. That’s about 5% less than our last Jetta TDI. To be fair, we tested the hybrid in freezing temperatures which required additional gas engine running time so mileage should improve in warmer weather.
No disappointment with the very good Energy Impact Score of 7.3-barrels of oil burned annually with yearly CO2 emissions of 3.3-tons.
And we love almost everything about the Jetta Hybrid, as it is all so well done. The under-hood is pristine and purposeful with little hint of hybrid hardware, save for the orange high voltage cables. Trunk finish is exceptional for a non-luxury compact car; you do lose some cargo space due to the battery, 11.3 cubic-ft. versus 15.5 in a standard Jetta; but you still get fold down rear seatbacks for long item storage.
You can follow along with hybrid goings-on with a unique instrument cluster that forgoes the tach for a power gauge with readings for eco, charge, and boost. If you opt for navigation, you can also keep up with the specific hybrid screens and power flow diagrams. And there was good power flowing at the track, as the Hybrid feels every bit as spirited off the line as the standard Jetta and a bit better than the TDI. 0-60 in 8.0-seconds flat. And, that’s still with 40 MPG potential.
The Hybrid comes exclusively with Volkswagen’s 7–speed DSG automatic gearbox and we have no complaints about its very smooth operation or the commanding feel of its shifts as the car worked its way to the end of the ¼-mile in 16.2-seconds at 87 miles-per-hour. The Jetta’s mix of turbo and hybrid boost proved to be a great pairing; you get the e-boost off the line and once you get rolling, the turbo gets spooled up and gives you another. It’s surprising to us that it’s taken this long for such a powertrain to arrive.
When it comes to cone carving, the Jetta is by far at the top of the compact hybrid heap. The independent rear suspension comes straight from the sportier Jetta GLI and makes the Hybrid feel light yet solid, and very sport sedan like. It’s the hybrid you would expect Volkswagen to make. While on the street, the brakes may have a grabby feel because of the regenerative braking, especially at slow speeds, we were more than impressed at the track where we averaged just 119-feet to stop from 60.
The Jetta Hybrid will drive on battery power alone, but due to the small 1.1-kWh size, only for about a mile and only up to 44 miles-per-hour if E-mode is selected. But it is easily the most entertaining full hybrid out there, not so much that you forget it’s a hybrid, but pretty darn close.
You’d be hard pressed to tell by looking at it either, as the Jetta Hybrid is not super flashy looking, and bears little indication of its new eco-friendly credentials. But the details are nice, with the blue-highlighted VW logo and hybrid badging integrated smoothly into the Jetta’s classy and understated design. It also adds a new front fascia with redesigned air inlets, unique 17-inch wheels, and a rear spoiler.
When it comes to pricing, the Jetta Hybrid starts at $25,790. If you’ve been contemplating a hybrid, but non-committal due to not wanting to drive a boring car, well here’s the car you’ve been waiting for. And since you asked, yes Volkswagen will continue to offer the Jetta TDI which is far less well equipped but still cheaper by 2-grand.
Which one is right for you? Well we can’t answer that, but the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is a beautifully done hybrid wrapped in a very tidy package that we would enjoy living with every day. That’s why we picked it as our MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Best Eco Friendly. And if you were to pick one for yourself, we think it would be just as friendly to you as it is to the environment.
Specifications
- Engine: 1.4-liters
- Horsepower: 170
- Torque: 184 lb-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- 1/4 mile: 16.2 seconds @ 87 mph
- EPA: 42 mpg city/ 48 mpg highway
- Energy Impact: 7.3 barrels of oil/yr
- CO2 Emissions: 3.3 tons/yr
2024 Hyundai Sonata
Updated Sonata Continues To Deliver
Comfort and room to roam used to be core elements for attracting buyers to midsize family sedans. But thanks to SUVs, that’s not enough these days. Now, luxury, tech integration, performance, fuel economy, and even all-wheel drive have become must have sedan ingredients. And one more, value. So, let’s see if the latest Hyundai Sonata gives us all a lesson in chemistry.
The seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan has been on the road since 2020, and as usually happens when vehicles approach the end of their lifecycle, this 2024 Sonata gets a makeover to keep the looks fresh and electronics current until an all-new one arrives.
Standard tech includes a crystal-clear 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Both are now combined into one wide curved housing similar to what we’ve seen from BMW and other luxury brands. This required a complete dash overhaul; a big interior change you can’t miss. Top Limited trim ups the game with navigation, leather seating, 12-speaker Bose premium sound, head-up display, and sunroof. It’s quite roomy inside, though maybe not quite as spacious or as comfy as some rivals with newer designs. On the other hand, rear seat legroom is very generous with long distance comfort.
There are three powertrain choices. The base front-wheel-drive SEL works with a 191-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. And for 2024, you can now add all-wheel drive to it for $1,500. The sporty N Line puts a turbocharger onto that 2.5 which boosts output to 290 horsepower, but it remains front-wheel-drive only, as does this Hybrid. The Hybrid is 2.0-liter I4 based with a 39-kW electric motor that combine for an output of 192 horsepower.
The real draw with the Hybrid is fuel economy of course, and the Government Ratings are 44 City, 51 Highway, and 47 Combined. We manage just 42.7 mpg of Regular in our driving loop, but that’s still slightly better than in our recent tests of both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid. And it earns a much better than average Energy Impact Score, using 6.3 barrels of oil yearly, with 3.1 tons of CO2 emissions.
Minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed.
The price for that great fuel economy was paid at our test track with a slow roll to 60 of 8.0-seconds. There was no sense of urgency off the line, and while the engine sounded like it was really working hard, numbers on the speedometer were slow to climb. That meter was reading only 89 mph after 16.0 seconds as we crossed the quarter-mile. On a much more positive note, the Sonata Hybrid’s true six-speed automatic transmission provides a much more enjoyable experience than competitor’s CVTs.
And the experience in our handling course was positive too; minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed. We didn’t experience much in the way of oversteer or understeer, and stability systems stayed out of the way. In our panic braking runs, the pedal was soft, and we could really hear the ABS working overtime, but stops were straight and fade free, averaging a fine 114 feet from 60 mph.
The Sonata has always attempted to set itself apart when it comes to exterior design. That meant an awkwardly shaped “Digital Pulse Cascading” grille when this gen debuted; we much prefer the more traditional and sportier take of this update. The rear fascia also gets revised, looking both sportier and more upscale at the same time, with wide H-themed lighting to accentuate the Sonata’s width.
Pricing starts with the SEL at $28,650; adding the hybrid powertrain boosts it to $31,950, Limited comes exclusively with the hybrid engine and tops the lineup at $38,350.
Hyundai’s long-time formula for success, delivering more for less and tacking on a longer warranty than rivals, has done a great job of getting them where they are today. The 2024 Hyundai Sonata’s high value, impressive powertrain options, which now include all-wheel drive, and better than average driving dynamics, will ensure they stay a major player in the midsize sedan segment for years to come.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 2.0-liter I4
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Horsepower: 192
- Torque: 151 lb-ft.
- EPA: 44 City | 51 Highway | 47 Combined
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 16.0 seconds at 89 mph
- Braking, 60-0 (avg): 114 feet
- MW Fuel Economy: 42.7 mpg (Regular)