By Kevin Harrison
Those who know me know that I love cars and I love performance cars even more. However, as much as I love performance cars there is the niggling sensation in the back of my mind whenever I drive one: the gas.
Not only am I spending lots of money on the stuff, but I can’t deny the affect it also has to the environment in addition to my pocketbook. It’s cliche but true. I don’t want to leave behind a tattered world for the next generation. So what’s a performance nut to do?
Well this is why I’ve always liked diesels. Diesels of today are not only oodles of fun to drive with loads of torque but they are much cleaner than they’ve ever been and are inherently good on gas -and most importantly, you can still get one with a stick.
That’s why I’ve always been a fan of Volkswagen’s diesel TDI engines. They’re a good blend of performance and efficiency with minimal environmental impact. But it seems as though Volkswagen isn’t entirely convinced that this engine will appeal to everyone. After all, North Americans have a silly habit of hating on diesels (your guess is as good as mine as to why).
So in order to achieve world domination, and Volkswagen has stated quite clearly that it wants to be the number one auto maker in the world, they’ve come up with a hybrid to nab those like me who value performance in efficiency, but perhaps prefer to do it in a more modern way.
The question is, is it any good and is it better than the TDI?
First things first, there’s very little to differentiate the Hybrid from the TDI – or any iteration of Jetta for that matter. VW enthusiasts will immediately notice the slightly revised LED tail lights, as well as the lip spoiler. Up front the headlights are slightly redesigned as well (my Highline model incorporates LED daytime running lights) and the grille is reworked with the word ‘hybrid’ written on it. There are also unique 17 inch wheels which admittedly are pretty polarizing, but otherwise, that’s it, you’ve got yourself a standard looking Jetta. Basically, it’s an inoffensive design likely to appeal to hybrid lovers who don’t wish to be too showy about it.
Inside Jetta owners will feel at home as well, the only glaring difference is the hybrid’s gauge to the left indicates charge, eco and boost modes where a tachometer would otherwise be. The interior is simply if not traditionally plain, but the materials are of high quality and everything is logically laid out. The Fender audio system is, as you’d expect, quite good with crisp sound. Rear seat leg and head room is good and the seats are generally comfortable and supportive. The controls on the centre stack are easy to reach but in traditional Volkswagen fashion, everything reacts a bit slowly to commands. Cargo room isn’t plentiful thanks to the battery. It doesn’t prevent the seats from folding, however the pass through isn’t very wide. The battery acts like a bit of a shelf in the way.
The Jetta hybrid gets a 1.4 litre turbocharged four cylinder mated to a 220-volt battery which combined develops 170 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque. That power gets mated to Volkswagen’s superb DSG automatic gearbox which means shifts are quick, responsive, and smooth. Aside from the DSG being inherently good, it actually is the first duel-clutch seven speed transmission ever put into a hybrid. In fact that and the fact that Volkswagen goes out of its way to put the word ‘turbocharged’ in the Jetta Hybrid’s official name means that it wants to show potential customers that this isn’t your typical hybrid. It’s got a performance kick to it.
When you put your foot to the floor, the turbo takes a little bit of time to spool up, but once it does, it propels the Jetta forward as you’ve expect. However, since this car is still built for fuel efficiency which means that DSG switches to higher gears quite quickly. In turn, that sort of takes away from any fun you thought you were going to have my mashing your right foot to the floor. Switching it into manual mode takes care of this, however given Volkswagen’s apparent desire to give the Jetta Hybrid a sporting nature, it’s a bit odd that they choose to not fit it with paddle shifters.
Another good thing is the exhaust note. When pushed it doesn’t have a typical whiny, drone to it like most hybrids do, it sounds a bit more throaty, almost, dare I say, diesel sounding. Getting the Jetta Hybrid to 100 kph from a stand still takes about 7.9 seconds (real world testing) but I can assure you that it feels quicker than that and it might be because of that exhaust note.
Braking has always been a contentious issue with hybrids due to the regenerative braking system. I’m sorry to report that this is true for the Jetta Hybrid but in an entirely different way. That brakes are super touchy. In fact, it’s almost as if they have two modes to them. There’s the first mode which feels like they grab quite quickly when you initially brake. This causes you to ease up a bit on the brake pedal because otherwise you’d stop well short of where you wanted to. Once you do this, the brake pedal then gives away a bit of tension letting you move forward a bit more. When you eventually get to where you initially wanted to stop in the first place, you then put more pressure to the brake pedal which then generates a mushy feeling and it’s almost as if there’s not braking at all. It’s very odd and unlike any braking sensation I’ve ever felt before. I’m not sure why or how the brakes start off grabby but then get mushy but it’s a feeling you don’t ever get used to, and I had a week with the Jetta Hybrid and couldn’t get the handle of it.
Cornering is typically German feeling, that is to say it feels as if you’re carving the corners rather than just taking the corners. It feels balanced, poised and planted. In fact, I’d wager that the Jetta Hybrid corner’s better than what I experienced because my tester came with winter tires. A good set of summer tires would likely realize further handling capabilities. A reason why the Jetta Hybrid does so decently in the corners is because it actually shares the same suspension as its hotted up brother, the GLI. Steering feedback is a tad on the light side, but not numb feeling.
Now being a hybrid, of course, those fuel consumption numbers better be worth it. The Jetta Hybrid is rated at 4.4 L/100 kms combined city and highway driving which is pretty good considering its sporting nature and how it feels like a typical heavy German car. Unfortunately during my week with the Jetta Hybrid, I averaged 6.6 L/100 kms. That’s not great for this type of vehicle but in the Jetta’s defense, it went through some pretty cold temperatures and a fair amount of snow.
But if you really want to make sure that you use as little gas as possible, why not push a little button next to the gear shift which ensures you use no gas at all? E-Mode basically means you can drive in electric mode only at lower speeds. You can smile and wave past all the gas stations as you silently roll by. This feature is great for traffic jams and parking lots as well.
So should you take one over a TDI? I suppose it depends on what sort of driving you’ll be doing most of the time. If you do lots on long-distance highway driving then the TDI is your best bet – diesels shine on longer trips in terms of efficiency. If you’ll be trotting around town most of the time, then the electric mode and electric motor assist will be more efficient. The good news is that it’s really that black and white now. Before, when someone asked my opinion on diesels vs. hybrids I would say “Well, if you like performance matched with efficiency then go diesel. If your main concern is getting from point A to point B using the least amount of fuel, then go hybrid”. But with the new Jetta Hybrid, it’s now safe to say that it’s possible to make a hybrid fun to drive.
Price As Tested: $34,025
Pros:
- Typical VW subtly in exterior styling
- Typical VW quality and attention to detail inside
- Turbocharged fun while remaining efficient
- Excellent handling abilities
- DSG transmission shifts are superb
Cons:
- Brakes are both grabby and mushy feeling at the same time; very hard to get used to
- Trunk space impeded by battery
- DSG transmission shifts too early which hinders spirited driving a bit
- Can get pricey
Immediate Competition
- Honda Civic Hybrid
- Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Overall: 8/10
