In the United States, Volkswagen has earned a reputation for sustaining its diesel technology program as other automakers have casually flirted with oil burners. With the introduction of the Touareg Hybrid SUV, and the forthcoming 2011 Jetta hybrid, is Volkswagen ultimately pushing potential buyers away from diesels?
Several days ago, we asked you whether it was right for Honda to abandon diesel technology to focus exclusively on hybrids. While commenter loasdrums wrote that “diesels are a hard sell for Americans,” Volkswagen has been a diesel pioneer in America since the first TDI-equipped models nearly 30 years ago. During our year in a Volkswagen Jetta TDI, we had no complaints, and seeing an average of 37 mpg wasn’t so bad, either.
Will a VW Jetta hybrid ultimately steal the thunder from a comparably equipped TDI model? Or will a hybrid just add another flavor to the menu of Jettas?
Today’s Snap Judgment:
Jetta Hybrid or Jetta TDI?
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.
