They're mostly all bland if not wilfully ugly to look at, their engines sound like old refrigerator pumps, and they tend to drive with all the excitement of a sleepy house cat. Sure, you could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new-generation hybrid sports car like the Acura NSX Type-S , but if you want really cheap thrills, there is another way. The MK6 Jetta Hybrid may not be the type of car to set your hair on fire, but compared to its battery-assisted rivals, it's practically a sports car.
Read on to find out how this forgotten fuel-saver was and could still be the eco-car for enthusiasts. The Volkswagen Jetta has been with us for decades. It's a very common car, a German Corolla, yet there's always been something endearing about watching VW's designers try to create a product for sedan-friendly North America without diminishing its European charm.
It's a recipe that worked rather well, evidenced by the fact that you can no longer get an ordinary Golf in North America it's GTI and R-only now , but your local VW dealer will be all too happy to sell you the cheapest Jetta on the lot.
Initially built as literally just a Golf with a trunk, the Jetta has evolved and separated itself from the ubiquitous hatchback, typically positioning itself as the more entry-level and affordable option to the "premium" Golf. Some generations deviated from this idea MK4 and MK5 cars come to mind , but when the MK6 Jetta launched in , it certainly was meant to undercut its stablemates on price. You could have a basic 2.
This is probably the most significant upgrade; the vast majority of Jettas sold had fairly primitive torsion-beam rear suspension, but the GLI got a multi-link independent rear end borrowed from the Golf GTI, dramatically improving its ride quality and handling characteristics. So, there was an MK6 Jetta for thrifty shoppers, Audi rally fans who couldn't afford Sport Quattros, diesel geeks, and keen drivers, but what about fuel-savers?
People who want to stretch every last drop of gasoline as far as it can take them? In the earlys you would have been limited to the Toyota Prius, or the Honda Insight that looked like a Toyota Prius, both of which are eco-cars in the traditional sense we described above. But Volkswagen saw a gap in the market and decided to fill it when, in , it launched the Jetta Hybrid. It would be unlike Volkswagen to simply follow a trend and design something similar to its rivals.
When it can't be the trendsetter itself, VW likes to get weird, and so it did with the Jetta Hybrid. First of all, remember what we said about rear suspension? The Hybrid got the same multi-link rear end as the GLI, due to the location of the battery pack under the rear floor. The Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid was powered by a 1. The combined output of this setup was horsepower and lb-ft of torque.
It was and still is, rare to see a hybrid powertrain matched up to an actual gear transmission, especially one with seven gears. This powertrain was able to get the Jetta Hybrid up to 60 mph from a standstill in 8. For reference, the Toyota Prius could get to 60 mph in about GM and EVgo expand their partnership for urban fast-charging. And could an electric Hummer join the military? This and more, here at Green Car Reports.
The original US military Humvee formed the basis for a brand—Hummer. Thousands of DC fast charging connectors will help owners in urban areas make sure their EV stays charged, even if home or work charging aren't guaranteed. The deal is on with Foxconn—but that won't speed up the arrival of the Endurance electric pickup, the company confirmed Thursday. There might be a connection once again between a civilian Hummer and a military vehicle—if the government is convinced on its worth.
Subaru reveals its electric car, and Kia teases the future of electric SUVs from the brand a bit more. Geely shows its Tesla Semi rival. And could a new method work for keeping EV charging cables cool? The first mass-production electric vehicle from Subaru A Geely brand plans to roll out the sustainability-themed, data-focused electric semi to global markets beginning in A cooling method being explored by Ford and Purdue University is considering using coolant phase changes instead of just circulating liquid; that could introduce packaging advantages and make the system more efficient.
Subaru's new electric SUV, the Solterra, makes its global debut with promising off-road capability and no yoke thank goodness. But one entry in the VW lineup was missing. Contribute: Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor. Share This Article:. Follow Us Today:.
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