Autoblog

Eric Biran @ Mar 6th 2008 11:12PM

@Bryan:
What?! The two mode was developed by GM with BMW and Daimler-Chrysler (before they parted ways) as a transmission driven hybrid. This was based off of GM's earlier work on hybrid buses which have been running around for quite some time now, and actually saving quite a bit of gas. Do you have any kind of actual evidence to back up your Toyota fanboy claims?


@zamafir:
Don't compare pre 2008 EPA ratings to post 2008 (or just get your facts straight). There are certain benefits to your Jetta over an Aura , I'll give you that, but mileage isn't one of them. Here are the 2008 EPA city/hwy figures for your Jetta in automatic and manual form and the links for each one:

Jetta 2.0T, Automatic 6 speed
22/29
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24028.shtml

Jetta 2.0T, Manual 6 speed
21/29
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24323.shtml

The Aura Hybrid soundly beats those numbers by a solid 2-3mpg city AND 3mpg highway! Not to mention, your car requires premium fuel over the regular the Aura runs on.

Aura Hybrid (4 speed auto)
24/32
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24400.shtml

In fact, even the base non-hybrid Aura beats the numbers of your 2.0T by about 1mpg city and highway:

Aura (4 speed auto, base 2.4L i4)
22/30
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24397.shtml

Now you may be saying, "Hey, that's not a fair comparison. You should be comparing the base Aura to a base Jetta, not the 2.0T." But the base Aura beats those numbers by 1mpg as well.

Jetta auto or manual (2.5L i5 base)
21/29
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/24324.shtml

Not only that, but the base Aura just about matches the power output of the base Jetta. If you look at the above and consider that the Aura is a larger car than the Jetta (about a foot longer) is larger in every interior dimension including more than 2 inches more rear legroom (!) I think the Aura is clearly the superior car when it comes to mileage. Price is close, but you can probably get the Aura Green Line for less and the Malibu Hybrid is priced about the same as the Wolfsburg Edition. The performance is a trade off as far as how much car you really need.