2010 Honda Insight & 2009 VW Jetta TDI: Fuel Sipper Smackdown 2

"this provides some evidence for our theory that these next-generation hybrids have been tuned specifically to thrive in the EPA test"

It could, or it could be mostly coincidence. The EPA establishes mileage ratings for more than 1000 vehicle configurations annually along with testing emissions and other regulatory requirements. Of necessity, the multiple EPA test cycles run on each car are relatively short in distance and duration. Thus the batteries of a hybrid car are unlikely to fully discharge if they start the test fully charged, and even the highway test cycles have a significant portion where the Fusion, at least, can run on batteries alone.

Is that gaming the system, or does the EPA need to develop a different test procedure for hybrids, or simply increase the length of the tests (which is going to increase costs)? For Ford to increase the speed at which the Fusion can run on battery alone vs. the Escape Hybrid is probably a bit of the former, but it still makes the car more useful and efficient for the purchaser.

The EPA provides a consistent testing system for roughly ranking cars against each other, but the way the driver uses the car is definitely going to affect the fuel economy, and the EPA sticker reflects this by citing a RANGE of mileage that can be expected by "most" drivers. Whilst you and a lot of others frequently imply that, if you get different numbers than the EPA AVERAGE, the test is rigged, or gamed, or just incorrect.

how's the range on these cars?

Good idea carguy622. But I think IL will wait for another BMW to come out.

My pick would be the MINI if I didn't have a family (kids) or the Fusion if I did. The added enjoyment is worth it over the Prius, the Insight doesn't seem well thought through (or well engineered, even), and the Jetta just... lacks character, period.

I hope you guys held on to the Fusion and the Prius for your LT fleet. Esp. the Fusion.

In the article (and video), it says that all of the cars fail to achieve their EPA estimates on the highway portion... but it looks like the TDI (EPA est 40 mpg hwy on the auto-tragic model) very slightly exceeded it (returning 40.6).

Good point, DLu, mileage without range is not as good.

Given the specifics of each test, was anyone surprised by any of the results? Not me.

The mileage discrepancies could be in part explainable by differences in driving behavior. Shifting lanes frequently or taking curvier, inefficient driving lines on the backroads could add up to more miles travelled. 770 vs 790 miles is only like a 2% difference.

One thing I don't understand, though, is how the Mini gets significantly better fuel economy on the back roads (38.5) than on the highway (33.3). Is this because of a short final gear and high RPMs at highway speeds?

@mopho

Yeah, the MINI's final gear could be a little longer. At highway speeds around 1120 km/h, it's turning over about 3000 RPM.

The sweet spot is around 100-110 km/h, really.

Excellent hwy speed!

1120 km/hr is really booting for a Mini!

Too bad you have slow down to 100-110 km/h to find the sweet spot.

:)

I too agree that you guys should add a Fusion Hybrid (or a Fusion something to your fleet). You guys have overlooked this car for going on 4 years now, and it's about time you acquired one.

This serves two fold:

1. Substantiate Ford's claims that they build an above average product

2. Will give us a bette idea of the fuel economy that the hybrid really nets, and how easy it is to live with on a day-to-day vs. the Insight.

On a side note I'm impressed with the Jetta. I drove one recently and it is a very solid effort. It will be on my shopping list (along with the Fusion) in the future.

@firstwagon

...what I would do for an edit function...

What fun would that be? :)

The jury's still out, but I think the DSG transmission disqualifies the statement "fewer costly technologies to fix or replace in the long term" in regard to the Jetta.

That is to say, IF the DSG requires repair or replacement, then it would probably be more expensive than any single component of a hybrid drivetrain.

That said, I think it's a pretty impressive bit of gadgetry.

I'll take the Cooper or the TDI- in either with a true manual.
I can't ever imagine wanting to own any iteration of the Fusion, but I would like to see how the Hybrid version performed over the long haul.

While the results look about right for the Insight, you'll get better mileage after it passes the 5000 mile mark and the engine breaks in.

That said, the Honda IMA system is very sensitive to high temperatures (above 95 degrees), and the Insight's mileage will drop off if the interior isn't kept cool, since interior air is used to cool the batteries. This issue is compounded by the lack of tinted windows on the car, including EX levels.

During a recent heat wave in Seattle, I shut off ECON mode and ran the air full blast for a week during my regular commutes. My 2010 Insight's fuel economy dropped to 36-38 mpg (after averaging 44+ in cooler temperatures.) Now that the temperatures have dropped into the high 60s and low 70s, I'm at 51 mpg overall, with the air off....

The 2010 Insight wouldn't be my choice if I lived in Las Vegas, AZ, or "east of the 5" in SoCal....