We had the fortune or misfortune to be part of the group of people who bought a VW TDI (diesel) that were the subject of the massive Dieselgate. VW is being assessed huge financial penalties for deceiving governments with emission results that were falsified through software. They will either buyback your car, or repair it. We chose to sell it back to VW. Inconvenient to have to look for a new car so soon, but maybe a blessing in the sense we have an opportunity to evaluate a new type of vehicle for us.

While it took months to get through the process and paperwork requured, it took an hour or less to sell the car back. We had a choice of two days between returning from RootsTech 2017 and departing for Hong Kong/Tokyo  to transact the deal, or wait weeks until after returning. After relying on an aging truck as our only vehicle for a month after we returned, we finally got serious and narrowed down the choices.

I looked at a number of hybrids and their standard gasoline versions, but decided to go for a hybrid. There are quite a number of options, but found the selection at some dealers to range from none to four. I wanted the fuel economy of a hybrid. While I evaluated Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Honda and Ford, we only ended up looking at the Honda and Ford hybrids. I was very impressed with the technology​ of the Honda and non-plussed with Ford. One thing which may be unique to Honda’s engineering is that each wheel has an electric motor. As a hybrid (vs. a pure electric auto), the car has a highly efficient gasoline engine. One compromise of hybrids is the space required for those batteries, which takes a portion of the trunk. The trunk is usable, but not nearly as large as the Jetta it replaced.

Turning the car on (it’s electric) rather than ‘starting’ the engine and hearing the starter and engine turnover, is different. Press the Start (actually called ‘Power’) button and the gauges turn on and you can barely hear anything running, but the car is ‘on’. Never having ridden in or driven an electric vehicle, I wasn’t really prepared for how quiet it is. Aside from mastering all the settings and displays, the real test will be how the mileage is in city and highway. I may have to RTFM.

The range when we picked up the vehicle with a full tank of gas was a remaining 655 miles. We’ve made some short in-town trips and ‘instant’ mpg ranges from 40-50+ mpg. Soon, we’ll be making the first highway trip and expect we should be able to travel down and back without refueling. I’ll keep a mileage log to track mileage, fuel cost, mpg.

The car gives you an ‘Eco score’ after each trip. So far, all green leaves for me, but after reading a bit, there’s more to this Eco Score than was apparent from the display. 

For me, fully equipped with adaptive cruise control, remote start, mutiple camera views (including passenger side lane change camera), both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (no need for a navigation package), power sunroof, Lane Watch, collision mitigation braking, power everything, heated seats, leather seating. But without a huge price tag.

0-60 time? No idea. Not why we bought this. Opposite end of the spectrum from that Porsche Turbo someone I know bought. It would be a mile down the road as I get up to 30. Of course, I’m at 43 mpg on my first tank of gas so far, not 43 gallons per mile. 😉

P.S. 1st tank of gas yielded 46 mpg!