I own a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, and for its size it's got an amazing amount of space, a ginormous trunk and pretty good fuel economy. I figured the 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid could only be better. While I can't say that the Jetta Hybrid is markedly better, it served my family of three well and saved us a bit of money with its fuel economy.
Pumping gasoline into the tank of a diesel vehicle can be a costly mistake. To prevent that from happening, Volkswagen of America has issued a service action and will refit 209,500 diesel vehicles in the U.S., according to Automotive News. Affected models are TDI versions of the 2009-12 Jetta, the 2010-12 Golf and the 2009-12 Jetta SportWagen.
"As diesel engine passenger vehicles become more popular, auto manufacturers have seen an increase in the number of misfueling cases where diesel engine vehicles are mistakenly fueled with gasoline," VW said in the notice to dealers. "The resulting fuel system contamination can lead to costly repairs that are not covered under warranty."
Car shoppers want a long list of features in a new car, even if that car is a compact sedan that starts around $16,000. That starting price usually doesn't include what many consider "must-have" features — chief among them an automatic transmission.
We took 11 compact sedans and looked at their prices when equipped with the following features:
It may seem like a simple search, but if you're looking at a new Nissan Sentra, Dodge Dart or Volkswagen Jetta, you'll need to know the specific trim level, options and option packages to ensure you won't regret not having that one missing feature.
We took those as-equipped prices and then added five years of fuel costs to come up with the most affordable compact sedan on the market.
Having recently purchased our long-term Honda Civic that has all of these features in a base model, we thought it had a good shot of scoring well here. But the results were somewhat surprising, especially in terms of what car was No. 1.
Volkswagen has a midyear upgrade planned for its Jetta GLI and Turbo models of its Beetle coupe and convertible. The cars' 200-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is now rated at 210-hp; Volkswagen says the revised engine is quicker and more efficient thanks to reduced weight and other mechanical updates.
As equipped, the 2013 Beetle Turbo coupe goes from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds, a hair faster than the previous model. The GLI boasts similar performance figures. Volkswagen expects fuel economy to go up too; it estimates that Beetle Turbo models should see a 4% to 9% increase in efficiency.
There's also a few exterior changes to both cars. All Beetle Turbos will now get grained black R-Line-model bumpers and more exterior chrome trim. Model-year 2013 GLIs with the more powerful engine get LED taillights on all three trims.
Perhaps using its imposing makeover for 2013 to scare off competitors, the Toyota RAV4 continued its reign of terror atop our list of most-read reviews of the week. The compact crossover's nearest opponent, the 2013 Ford Fusion, generated a little more than a third of RAV4's reader interest. Maybe newcomers to the list, including the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid (No. 6) and the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid (No. 10), will gain enough confidence in coming weeks to face down the RAV4.
Until then, check out what was popular this week:
1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
Long known for its diesel powertrains, Volkswagen has ventured into alternative-fuel territory with its gas-electric 2013 Jetta Hybrid.
How did the hybrid version of the sedan handle a road trip in terms of efficiency and comfort? I put more than 300 miles on the new "green" VW during a Christmas trip from Chicago to chilly Milwaukee and returned with the gift of impressive fuel economy.
Despite Volkswagen's fidelity to diesel, the 2013 Jetta Hybrid doesn't merely humor Americans' hankering for hybrids, but makes a sincere effort to compete. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley says a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, assisted by an electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack, boasts gas mileage rivaling top competitors. More surprising is its uncommonly sporty excitement; responsive handling and taut suspension keep the driver engaged in the experience. Still, could acceleration and braking issues that that make the Jetta Hybrid feel slow and clumsy prevent its rise to success? Read Hanley’s review and decide.
The 2013 Toyota Camry sedan and Prius v hybrid (above, right) failed a new crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that simulates a frontal impact overlapping a small portion of the car — say, piling into a tree from your left headlight. IIHS announced today its test of 18 model-year 2013 family cars. It's the largest yet for the so-called "small overlap" frontal test that many luxury brands failed in August 2012.
At the other end, the Honda Accord sedan and nearly-defunct Suzuki Kizashi (above, left) earned IIHS' top score, Good; 11 other cars — including the Accord coupe — earned Acceptable ratings. The IIHS rates cars Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. Of the 18 cars tested, the Toyotas scored Poor, but the Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu and Volkswagen Jetta sedan scored Marginal.
A successful Black Friday shopping trip is all in the planning. Bargain hunters study store ads and websites as though they're cramming for a test, and now they have less time to do so as several major chains — Sears, Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us — will open their doors on Thanksgiving evening instead of 4 or 5 a.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving.
There's one thing that Black Friday shoppers can plan before the deal-laden store circulars arrive: which car to take.
Black Friday shoppers might think bigger is better — big SUVs, minivans — when it comes to picking a car for hauling all their bargains. They're not wrong, especially if they're hoping to bag a gigantic flat-screen TV at a low price. But nimble, small cars in busy parking lots shouldn't be left out of the Black Friday fun. Here are our top picks for Black Friday haulers.
By Thom Blackett for Cars.com
In recent years, the Volkswagen Jetta — and other VWs — has been recognized for, among other things, its varied selection of gas and diesel engines. There have been four-cylinders, a proven five-cylinder, turbocharged gas and diesel offerings, and even a VR6 six-cylinder tossed in for good measure. With that, the introduction of the 2013 Jetta Hybrid shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
And yet, to some, it does. Logic would suggest the new hybrid variant would directly compete with, and quite possibly siphon sales from, the impressively fuel-efficient diesel-powered Jetta TDI, which has sold well with few discounts.
Volkswagen says that won't be an issue. According to company executives, the 2013 Jetta Hybrid "will attract new customers who don't consider the TDI to be a legitimate competitor to hybrids." Those same shoppers might still have negative connotations of diesel, or maybe they don't want to hunt for gas stations carrying the fuel.
To get a firsthand look at the Toyota Prius' newest competitor, I attended a Volkswagen media event in Santa Fe, N.M., where I drove a midlevel Jetta Hybrid SEL and a top-of-the-line Jetta Hybrid Premium. Models will arrive on dealer lots by late December with a starting price of $25,790, which includes a $795 destination charge.
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