Today, I contemplated the high-FE, low emission offerings that can be bought new these days. The usuals entered my thoughts: Insight, Prius -- basically hybrids.
But what about Diesels? One of the best 5-door offerings of recent past was the Golf TDi. I consulted VW's website for exactly what was out there...
So the quintessential Diesel provider offers the clean diesel engine in the Jetta as the smallest car (along with the wagon and the Touareg SUV) and
that's it.
If you build and price the Jetta TDI Sedan, you're first started with high-level amenities as standard, with $22,500 as the asking price. Woah! OK, so it has some creature comforts -- so let's add an automatic due to situational necessity. What! DSG and another $1100? Crapola. Try EOC-ing with that mess. What happened to base-model efficiency? For that money, you're in the Gen-III Prius. Easily.
So back to the Rabbit and Beetle. I recently rented a 2009 New Beetle and researched engine options similarly. All you get is a 2.5L, 5-cylinder.
Add to that a failure to start twice, a forced limp-home mode as a result, and now I realize why I put reliability and efficiency in the same sentence. But not even the diesel option for either exists anymore. But why?
A new, diesel 5-door Golf/Rabbit at $18-19K with, CVT or traditional automatic would be seriously considered. But alas, no luck... again.
It further supports the clear intention of car manufacturers to charge the living daylights out of efficiency.
RH77