09 Jetta TDI 6-speed MT vs. 09 Prius-II Touring

[xcel]

VW talks smack while Toyota talks flowers???

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 20, 2009

2009 VW Jetta TDI - $22,270 to start and 34 mpgUS combined on the 08 EPA.

The 2009 Jetta TDI turbo-diesel was awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year® by Green Car Journal at the LA Autoshow back in Nov. of 2008. Additionally the 09 Jetta TDI has been praised by the automotive press the world over as being both green and quick. Quick being relative of course but reasonably powerful would possibly be a better description.

According to VW, there’s a myth that you cannot be both green and fast. With the 2009 VW TDI and its 140 HP, 236 lbs-ft of torque engine plus Autobahn-tuned suspension, VW promises more than just great fuel efficiency and low emissions. To prove it, VW invited 2008 Jetta TDI Cup Champion Josh Hurley to drive a 2009 VW Jetta TDI sedan with a MT against the 2009 Toyota Prius hybrid for a one on one Smackdown at the track.

In Toyota’s corner, VW fortunately and probably “accidentally ” chose the Prius-II Touring edition with the 16’s, tighter suspension and higher lateral grip.

Although a little bias was bled into the video, the facts were there and in VW's corner, it is tough to beat the facts...

Possible conclusions?

The VW Jetta TDI is certainly faster than the 2009 Prius-II and even the 2010 Toyota Prius-III. Where that would be used however is definitely up for interpretation.

FE -- Until we take the Jetta TDI Sportwagen with a stick out for its maiden voyage under CleanMPG tutelage (09 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen with a stick – Review Blog 05-27 to 06-03), who knows? From what we know so far, the 09 Jetta TDI cannot take down the 09 Prius in the city or on the highway below 60 mph. Above that and things turnaround in the TDI’s favor possibly? The 2010? The VW Jetta TDI might have trouble at any speed with that one?

Emissions -- Here both the 2009 Toyota Prius-II and 2010 Toyota Prius-III have the edge as they meet SULEV-II specs vs. the 2009 VW Jetta TDI's ULEV-II rating.

During VW’s burnout stunt, I saw the Jetta TDI’s rear wheels locked up while the fronts were spinning and carrying the vehicle forward... It appears that the 09 Jetta TDI was using the parking brake since the regular brakes would hold the TDI at 0 MPH and the front wheels at 0 RPM no matter how much accelerator pedal was applied?

With the 2010 Toyota Prius-III almost here, I suspect the Jetta is in for a closer race...

09 VW Jetta TDI vs. 09 Toyota Prius-II Results

¼ Mile Drag Race	Time (seconds)
2009 VW Jetta TDI	16.5
2009 Toyota Prius-II	17.8
Slalom Course	mph
2009 VW Jetta TDI	60.1
2009 Toyota Prius-II	58.4
300’ Skid Pad	G-Force (g’s)
2009 VW Jetta TDI	.83g’s
2009 Toyota Prius-II	.81g’s

Car and Driver 09 VW Jetta TDI vs. 2010 Toyota Prius-II Results

¼ Mile Drag Race	Time @ mph (seconds @ mph)
2009 VW Jetta TDI	16.4 @ 84 mph
2010 Toyota Prius-II	17.3 @ 81 mph
300’ Skid Pad	G-Force (g’s)
2009 VW Jetta TDI	.81g’s
2010 Toyota Prius-II	TBD
C/D Observed FE	mpg
2009 VW Jetta TDI	33 mpg
2010 Toyota Prius-III	A lot higher

If you had the choice, would you choose the 2009 VW Jetta TDI or the 2010 Toyota Prius-III? Let the games begin

[Taliesin]

I'll go with the FE in this one.

[ma and pa]

When I first sat in a Prius was shocked to see no hand brake so with my disability this is a show stopper. The seats in the Jetta were superior too. Jonathan.

[PaleMelanesian]

Prius for reliability.
Prius for emissions.
TDI for manual transmission
TDI for available wagon, though the Prius gets halfway there.
TDI for the stealth factor. Nobody looks twice at a VW like they do a Prius.

I'd generally tip towards the VW TDI, except for that first point. If it was a Honda or Toyota TDI I'd be all over it.

[Harold]

Prius for reliability and better FE. TDI fuel stinks. Hal

[msantos]

I don't know if I would put both cars in the same category let alone having them compared.

At the core of it all, we find BIG differences in the driving and ownership experiences which are clearly worlds apart not only in terms of purpose and design, but also in their respective accomplishments.

But, given the visible bias I am quite positive this "test" accomplished its intended goal.

Cheers;

MSantos

[Earthling]

I didn't see any hypermiling in that so-called test. In fact, everything I saw was the reverse of hypermiling.

Of course, that point will be lost on the masses.

The real question I have is, what mpg did those two vehicles get while being flogged?

Harry

[Harold]

If I remember correctly the TDI came out ahead? Hal

[antrey]

I'll take the 2010 Prius over any current VW product. I look the futuristic (Star Trekkie) nature of the Prius not to mention it is the FE king in the U.S.

[voodoo22]

The VW would be more fun, but I'd take the Prius because it's more flexible, reliable and lower TCO.