Comparison Test: 2009 Toyota Prius vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid vs. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Comparison Test

I have this vision of 3 or 4 Edmunds 'drivers' testing the Prius:

"Top Gear" guy - who floors the accelerator going up hills and tests the ABS brakes going down a hill: 39 MPG.

"Sensible" driver - who drove at reasonable speed without doing anything nuts: 54 MPG.

"Joker" driver - resentful of getting car sick with "Top Gear" guy, stacked four: 100 MPG bars ... and called over the others.
​

Schadenfreude, Edmunds never gets the same Prius mileage in their many "tests." They grab the Prius and another car and regardless of the mileage, the other car always get top recommendation. So I've decided to write a Edmunds style review:

(Edmunds) This month we are testing a Catapiler 939C Hystat, a 90 hp, 20,908 lb., track loader versus our Prius:


Our standard test is a drag race over our specially prepared track:

The Catapiler 939C made short work and within 3 minutes was off. But the Prius simply buried itself into the pile and failed to move for three days.

. . .

So Edmunds can only recommend the Catapiler 939C and once again, the Prius has come in second.
​

So what do you think, Edmunds quality?

Bob Wilson

 

.... pure Edmonds bull-c**p at its best. This doesn't surprise me in the least.

 

lol @ bwilson4web's post. Thanks bob, that made my morning.

 

Well I have to say PriusChat has not disappointed me. It seems that this group in unable to fathom that someone would like another car more than the Prius and that they may value different traits.

The Jetta TDI has fully adjustable power seats complete with adjustable lumbar and heat. The wheel tilts and telescopes. The TDI is 19% faster 0-60 and has a 14% more roadholding as measure on the skidpad. Yes it less rear legroom, gets less mpg, and has higher emissions. These might matter to you but to many people they don't. Lots of people moving from 15 mpg truck or 25 mpg car will be absolutely thrilled to get "only" 35 mpg combined.

Same thing with the Fusion review: "How could they like the Fusion better, the Prius gets better mileage"!

Different strokes for different folks people.

 

review said 6 k difference.. but is this fair to compare it to the touring? one has navi the other doesn't... etc etc

 

I think the Touring was used to give the Prius the best handling available from the factory. The Touring model has noticeably better performance numbers than the Base and Edmund's liked the Touring version better than the Base.

Yes, the Prius has Navigation, the TDI has a moonroof. The Prius has HID's, the TDI has 36K miles of free maintenance. The TDI has fully adjustable power seats, the Prius has minimally adjustable manual seats. The cars aren't identically equipped because that is impossible.

They could have compared a base TDI to a base Prius, but then the Prius would had even fewer features and even poorer handling. It would even up the difference in cost though.

Again it comes down to personal wants and needs.

• Do you want power of fuel economy?
• Do you want lowest cost A-B transport or creature comforts?
• Do you get excited about taking a set of corners perfectly or seeing the highest MPG on the trip computer?

 

Sure, different people prefer different cars. What I think gets people upset is when the automotive press allows their personal bias to clearly skew the way in which they present two vehicles. Thats pretty unprofessional in my book.

- The article claims to be a "battle of efficiency", not handling and acceleration. Yet the primary reason they prefer the TDI is its more fun to drive, despite being less efficient (despite the dismal numbers they somehow managed to get out of the Prius).

- As usual they chose to compare the most expensive / least efficient Prius to an almost base TDI. If this is about efficiency, compare base to base. If its about value, compare similarly equipped. Instead they chose to perpetuate the myth that the Prius is a $30k car.

- In almost every case, they actively downplay the Prius' advantages, while playing up the TDIs strengths. The Prius uses $3600 less gas over 5 years (at current prices), but that doesn't matter since they chose to compare a model that costs $6k more (instead of a base that would be the same or less than the TDI). The TDIs fake leather is mentioned as a plus when the Prius has real leather (which the Jetta doesn't offer). Having a vent in the back seat is apparently more important than having room for your legs. The Prius may be a lot roomier and carry more cargo, but the Jetta has a moonroof! The Prius may have a smartkey, HIDs, and touch screen normally only found on luxury cars, but the Jetta has a $20 120V inverter built in! Apparently they also don't know where the Prius Aux in jack is. From the amount of time they spend talking about them, the Prius' main features are apparently its unadjustable seat and steering wheel.

- Even though the info on the '10 Prius has been out for almost a month, there is no mention of the fact that it addresses almost every single criticism, aside from a vague postscript. Its easier to make the Jetta look good when you're comparing it to the five year old Prius I guess.

- Yet again they make sure to emphasize repeatedly that the Prius doesn't feel like a "real" car. All that complexity Stephen Hawking couldn't even understand, constant engine starting and stopping, funny little gear shift lever, and planetary gearset. Who could possibly ever live with all that weirdness?

Rob

 

As far as comfort, I'll readily admit that the driving position and seats in my FJ are light years better than my Prius. For example, the FJ seats are better shaped, and the driver seat has height adjust

A couple of days ago, I sat in a brand new 2009 Highlander Hybrid Limited. That machine has *very* nice seats, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel

I'd be almost tempted to trade my FJ for a new HiHy ... almost

 

You continue to perpetuate the myth here on PriusChat that the Jetta is new. It is not new. The A5 platform was introduced in Europe in 2003 for the 2004 model year. The A6 platform went on sale in January 2009. VW always introduces to the European market first and then the US market 1 to 2 years later.

If you want to look at the US Jetta specifically, then it was introduced in 2005 for the 2006 model year. It is scheduled to be replace in 2011 for the 2012 model year. Do you think that VW is standing still? No, they will make improvements for the next generation just like Toyota has for the 3G Prius. In fact, prototype A6 Jettas show ~ 2 inches added to the rear seating area. Though as someone that has ridden multiple hour long trips in the back of a TDI Jetta behind a 6'4" driver I don't see what all the fuss is about. (I'm 5'10 with a 32" inseam)

Edmunds compared 2009 vehicles. When the 2010 Prius comes out I expect they will review it and I also expect they will review it much better due to the projected improvements in power, feel, and handling. Edmunds is very clear about what they like and don't like. Their feelings on the 2G Prius are neatly summed up in their 2009 test:
2009 Toyota Prius Road Test and Video on Inside Line

What Works:
Feel-good fuel economy numbers; space-efficient design; outstanding fit and finish.

What Needs Work:
Awkward driving position; absence of steering feel; erratic brake pedal action; dated touchscreen interface.

Bottom Line:
Five years on, the Toyota Prius is as fuel-efficient and practical as it has ever been. And if it matters, we still don't think it drives very well.

If you read that article you will see that they included quotes from very happy owners that couldn't care less how the Prius drives.

 

Well put miscrms. You itemized exactly what the holes in that Edmunds article.

JSH, noone here is stating that the Jetta is not a good car. Noone mentioned that prius > jetta. I've driven both the jetta and the GTI, and I gotta say, those are fantastic "fun" cars. I would own a GTI myself if it wasn't for the need of some practically in the current segment of my life. The argument is that Edmunds put up an unfair comparison and they "conveniently" ommited alot of important details. As it is, the article would tend to misinform unsuspecting consumers more than help them make intelligent buying decisions. While Edmunds specifically mentions "Touring" whenever they refer to the Prius, they make no mention of why the Touring trim was selected for comparison. Nor do they ever make any mention of the Base models' features or lack of features. The article seems to focus alot on the comforts and handling of the Jetta, but those are all very subjective comments. Anywhere else that may be acceptable, but Edmunds being one of the largest most popular automotive websites out there, an article like this only serves to mislead the public.

 

Edmunds has criticized Toyotas for their poor handling for years and will continue to do so. It is no secret that Edmunds prefers cars with taunt, well controlled suspension, weighted steering, and firm brakes. For them is goes beyond only sporty fun but also involves active safety. (Active safety is the ability to avoid an collision.) This is what they had to say about the 2005 Toyota Camry when they ranked it 3rd behind a Sonata and Accord:

"So why the last-place finish? Let's start with the detached driving experience. Sure, everything is butter smooth — the steering and brakes are both light to the touch, the engine barely audible and the transmission nearly invisible in action. But it's not all good, the numb steering provides all the feel of an '80s video driving game and the brakes were not just soft, but downright mushy. "

Call it bias if you want but it is well known and consistent; Edmunds ranks better handling cars higher.

As to comfort. Yes, it is subjective. However, the adjustability to allow a wide range of people to be comfortable is not. This forum is full of threads from people that are unable to find a comfortable position due to lack of adjustability. The Prius is lacking features that are becoming universal in vehicles that cost $20K and up.

 

Well I have to say PriusChat members that focus on Priuschat members have not disappointed me. It seems that this group IS unable to fathom that Prius chat members marvel how Edmuns and the like Revel (above all else) about being able to dive into a hard turn at high speed, corner hard and not get killed by the behavior ... then call such issue a "safety issue" . . . eh, no, driving SAFE is a safety issue. Some day, that hard cornering TDI (or BMW, or {put your choice here} will be on a mountain hairpin, doing their thing, hit oil, or gravel, or ice, then FLY to the bottom of the cliff. So since that's edmunds logic, their view of safety would be to include a parachute?

 

Or that hard cornering car may end up in a ditch, having had to swerve hard to avoid a child in a road. He'd probably be comforted by the knowledge that in a Prius, he would have just plowed right into the kid, as his car wouldn't have been able to turn that sharply.

Having owned both a Prius and a Jetta, there's just no comparison. It's not just about the ability to push either car to it's limits. The Jetta just imparts a feeling of confidence that the Prius does not. My Jetta could stop quicker and straighter, didn't have nearly the same issues with the traction system, and didn't have 1/10th the squeaks and rattles that my Prius developed.

 

Edmunds is not the only organization that measures vehicle performance capabilities. Here is an explanation from the Prius Chat "Gold Standard" of review companies, Consumer Reports:

"Emergency handling: The more controllable and secure a vehicle is when pressed to its handling limits, the better able you'll be to avoid an accident by, say, steering around an obstacle without losing control. We rate emergency handling on the basis of three tests. We use a double-lane-change avoidance maneuver to evaluate a vehicle’s handling in a situation in which a driver needs to suddenly steer around an obstacle on the road. In the other tests, vehicles are pushed to their cornering limits around our handling course and skidpad."

Edmunds doesn't use CR's "double-lane-change, they use the slalom instead. Both are repeatable metrics to measure how well a vehicle is able to avoid objects without loosing control.

 

I had noticed that too and Consumer Reports is also hard on the safety rating. Apparently they want 'stability control' (traction control?) to be standard, not an option, and 5-stars in both front and back. Because of the redesign, I suspect the 2010 Prius will meet both of these requirements. Also, the 2010 body is likely to be stiff enough to meet their handling requirements and the tires are a little more than before. As for steering 'feel', well that remains something of a mystery, both rating and what it really means. But then I'm not buying a 2010 for Consumer Reports nor for Edmunds. I'm buying it for the Wilson family bank account and gasoline purchase fund.

Bob Wilson

 

Even edmunds & the like have brought up VW squeek issues (as well as poor wiring over the years) so your prius is in the minority. Sorry to hear that. More importantly, you really missed the point, which was that too often, cars that tout 'race-car' like handling/braking lull the driver's into depending on it way too often, to their unfortunate end. Driving safely (which gear heads will call slow) is a much simpler way to avoid accidents, because if your not going balls out, it's easier to see what's coming up, and easier for a driver to react ... and less circumstances will require them to have race car steering in the first place. So changing the subject to, "swerving to avoid a child" diversions don't fly. Don't drive fast around blind corners in the first place, and you won't have to swerve. But that's as far as I'll bite on the diversions.

 

Driving safely is great. Having the ability to avoid the unexpected is also great. The unexpected could be a deer running across the highway, a child running into the street, or having to stop suddenly in wet/slippery conditions. In any of those cases, the Jetta is the better car. There's just no debating that.

 

So...what do the sales numbers say about this compare? I'm curious. Is the handling characteristic out-selling other features?

 

We should not get too worked up about 1 person's view point on which car is most desirable. I have owned a 2002 Prius and 4 TDI diesel VW's. I have driven the 2009 VW Jetta and it is a very nice car. The acceleration and handling of the VW is great. It certainly won't get the fuel mileage of the 2010 Prius. All the interiors in the VW's that I have owned have been the "Leatherette" and I must say that it is a durable, good looking, and comfortable seating material. The heated VW seats are great.

All the VW's I have owned have been back to the dealer for warranty work to replace brake switches and minor problems. The 2002 Prius was at the dealer for the electric steering "death shudder" problem and alignment issues that caused premature tire wear.

I will likely buy a 2010 Prius instead of a VW Jetta. One of the reasons is that a Toyota dealer is close to home and the nearest VW dealer is 40 miles away. As time has gone by, the American commute has evolved into a trip from one stop light to another. The Prius hybrid is probably the best vehicle that you can buy for that kind of driving. Although popular in automotive advertising, the spirited drive down a lonely highway is a thing of the past.

The 2010 Prius will be breaking new ground with the heat exchanger on the engine exhaust that will heat up a cold engine quickly in the morning. Couple that with an electric engine water pump that will minimize engine "hot soak" at a stop light with the engine off (and no drive belts). An electric motor powered A/C is the most efficient and best means of climate control.

It is interesting to note that VW has a goal of becoming the #1 manufacturer of electric vehicles. VW diesels and Toyota Prius cars are more alike than they are dissimilar -- if the American public had either in their garage instead of Hummer, Silverado, Expedition, Explorer, Sequoia, Highlander, Land Cruiser, etc we would be a lot better off.

 

Hard to see how they averaged only 39 mpg after 2 weeks. I'm averaging over 50 mpg through 3k miles on the car.

I sat in a VW Rabbit and have owned an older Jetta and Scirocco's. I recall they were built with sporty interiors and very comfortable seats. No chance for the Prius to match this Jetta.

Being that Toyota put a lot of extra goodies into my package 5 car - 3 door smart key, HID headlamps, rearview camera, multi-function display, but came up far short in the seat and steering wheel area, they deservedly earned this comment -

"The differences are just as significant inside the cars. With its non-height-adjustable driver seat, non-telescoping steering wheel and center-mounted instrument panel, the Prius has one of the least ergonomically friendly driving positions of any car on sale in America today."

I appreciate Toyota's feats with the Hybrid Synergy Drive, yet they are a car company in business to make the total package, and to make driver's of many sizes feel good in the seat.

I hope the reviews for the 2010 Prius are much better against competition.