The MSRP price VW Passat TDI starts around $26,000 and tops out just north of 32,000.  How can MSN make a $10,000 blunder like that.  They should do more research before providing misinformation to thousands of people.  To further clarify the MSN article, I believe that diesel pollutes less greenhouse gasses but more NOX and particulates.  Also, if you consider the CO2 that is released and the pollution that is caused from extracting the heavy metals from the earth to make all those Hybrid batteries, the batteries are worse than the diesel engines.  Hybrid cars may have a larger Carbon Footprint than a diesel cars.  Diesels often out perform the EPA estimates while hybrid and regular gas cars are usually far lower than EPA estimates.  The upgrade to diesel engine is comparable if not less costly than upgrading to a Hybrid. 

It is a better day today !  The diesel made it to the list, and gets some support from MSN Auto. So did they take a test ride a VW TDI or what? The Hybrid gas / battery con job is starting to fall off the band wagon as more people drive VW diesel. There are a few tricks to getting real high MPG to a diesel VW TDI car. The tricks are pretty easy to obtain from some of the members of the TDICLUB.COM.  The VW diesel cars from 1995 thru 2004 with 1.9 L, 4 cylinder  engines can get super MPG, And some of the  3 cylinders from Europe get real super MPG. I won't claim how much because I have not driven one yet. BUT with some simple things like larger exhaust from the turbo back, $500, plus a larger intercooler mounted up front with larger supply pipes, $200, plus a simple add of a 5th gear set of .658 can increase MPG from 43mpg to 53mpg. It is possible to get even better MPG with a change to the computer chip that operates the engine. That can range from $250, to as high as $1000. but the Average is like $350. If you get to agressive with to much power, you will need to upgrade to larger turbo and injector nozzels and stronger clutch to hold the power. The factory 90HP can become 180HP for less the $1000. Over that range, it starts to CO$T. A few other things that don't cost any money can increase MPG. Like a tire size larger, use 100% synthetic oils, clean air filter often, and NUMBER ONE FUEL SAVER, ( TEACH YOUR RIGHT FOOT TO GO EASY ) I have been getting over all average of city, urban/rural, and highway miles, of 58mpg. And I carry passengers, tools, and other stuff in the back. You have to stop and ask people driving VW cars about the MPG and cost of ownership. Ant a VERY HIGH resale value. 

Please don't take my word for anything I say, ask other VW diesel drives. If you don't know them, just pull up along side and ask them what kind of MPG the get. Most a;; VW TDI drivers love to tell you about it.. If you ask me what I get, I would say 48 city, 58 hiway and over all average 55 mpg. My real fun part that I like to share is, I make biodiesel and it cost me about $0.96 per gallon to make. Going down the hiway at 70mph with cruse set, two people, and some bags and tools, my engine is turning 1940rpm and it cost me 1.6 cents per mile. LA and back to SF for $12.80. HEY  HYPRID, ya want to race??? pump diesel $4 per gallon, minus $0.96 per gal biodiesel. Saved $3.04 per gallon,  you can just go figure SF to NYC under $50. BIG SMILE :-)

Diesel is more expensive at the pump but not to make. 

Its taxed higher which is BS and is marked up for more profits so gassers can get better prices.

Also since new diesel's pass  Tier2 Bin5  emmissions they are as clean as gasoline and more eff = less carbon output. 

Atleast they included diesels in the article

I drive a Buick Regal and it gets 20mpg in town and 28mpg on the highway. I drive about 12,000 miles a year. If I go out and buy a dinky little electric car made overseas, not only does my money not help our local economy but how do I ever gain anything money wise when the dinky little shoe skates cost over $20,000 ? That would buy a lot of gas. On top of that you won't find an import ever parked in my driveway. People need to stop complaining about the economy when they won't buy American made products. My Buick is a 2002 and the only thing it's ever needed is a new battery and brakes on the front. So quit complaining and start driving American made cars, their just as good if not better than a lot of the imports. Quit comparing America cars made today with the junk made in the 70s and early 80s, some of the imports made in that era were not so great either .Lets start giving American manufacturers a little credit for the great effort made in the past 20 years to improve quality control among other things and distance ourselves from some of the phony hype and selling practices of the import people. Can't we start acting like we are just as smart as they are? Lets quit acting like a bunch of suckers and start watching out for the U.S. workers and our own economy!