rjstractor wrote:
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Direct injected gasoline engines are now getting the same or better mileage. My Passat TSI (1.8 turbocharged direct injected) gets low 30s city and low 40s highway and it's a lot more fun to drive than a hybrid. The TDI gets about 10 mpg better with similar performance although in my situation the dollars didn't pencil out for the diesel.
This.
We ended up with the Cruze Eco (a turbo DI) and are getting greater than 40mpgUS with mostly highway driving. A lot cheaper than the Diesels and Hybrids.
But VW also sells a turbo DI 1.4L gas/electric hybrid Jetta that gets up to 48mpgUS on the EPA highway. That's better than the Jetta diesel, and you get much better city mileage to boot. But it's an expensive car and requires premium gas. Probably the best handling hybrid out there though.
But in the truck market, when tow/hauling a load, diesels still seem to give better mileage than DI Turbo gassers. I'm sure a 3.5L Turbo Diesel would get better mileage than my EcoB. And I think even the bigger diesels in the heavier superduties do better than my measly 10mpgUS towing.
