So, the Jetta hybrid starts at  approximately $28,000. The Jetta TDI starts at $22,000. The 0-60 times are very close (9 seconds), the HP advantage goes to the hybrid (170 vs 140) and the torque advantage goes to the diesel (240 to 184). The combined mileage of the diesel is 37mpg (32mpg city, 42mpg highway) and the hybrid is 45mpg. I will personally tell you the mpg of the diesel is understated since I average closer to the 42mpg in combined driving and almost 50mpg on the highway at 65mph but, I'll only use the test figures here.

Let's do some math.

12,000 miles with diesel fuel at $4.14/gallon and regular gasoline at $3.81/gallon.

Diesel - 37mpg at 12,000 miles is approx. 325 gallons at a total cost of $1345.50

Hybrid - 45mpg at 12,000 miles is approx. 267 gallons at a total cost of $1017.27

Difference per 12,000 miles is $328.23 to the hybrid over the diesel.

With a $6000 cost difference between the two vehicles, it will take 219,359 miles to overtake the cost of the diesel in fuel savings. At that kind of mileage, most gasoline vehicles are tired and in need of a rebuild while most diesel passenger vehicles have another 200,000 to go before an expected rebuild.

The simple mathematics say the value lies in the diesel vehicle for the first 200,000+ miles and history says the longevity of a vehicle is diesel technologies as they frequently see 400,000+ miles in their lifetime.

Europe has about 12 manufacturing companies offering Blue Tech clean diesel, diesel makes up a large part of European auto sales. Our stupid government will not allow diesel cars in that are in fact cleaner than gas cars. some of these cars are getting 62 MPH. Why do we get all the experimental junk and every body else gets tried and proven technology that is very fuel efficient.

I would buy the Volkswagon diesel but would not touch this experiment until it has been triede and proven.

30k for an economy car.

take me back to 1968. it was a great time for great, cheap and fast american-made cars.