VW TDI gas mileage

[veeman]

Very surprising to me that the different VW cars with basically the same TDI engine have very similar gas mileage with the Passat, the largest of the cars, having the best highway mileage.

Even more surprised at how similar in weight the cars are.  I thought the Passat would be much heavier considering how much larger it is, but it's less than 300 lbs heavier than the beetle which is a pretty small car.


Passat TDI:  2 Liter inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, 150hp at 4000rpm.  Curb Weight:  3393 lbs.  Gas Mileage:  44 Hwy, 30 City

Jetta TDI:  2 Liter inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, 140hp at 4000rpm. Curb Weight: 3161 lbs.  Gas Mileage:42 Hwy, 30 City

Beetle TDI:  2 Liter inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, 140hp at 4000rpm. Curb Weight:3115 lbs.  Gas Mileage:  41 Hwy, 28 City

[AutobahnSHO]

Aerodynamics probably makes a lot of difference.


1989 Taurus SHO=220hp
vs. 225hp in the 'Stang

"Compared with the potent Ford Mustang V-8, the SHO is a mere 0.3 second slower in the quarter-mile. And all of that lost time occurs at the start; once rolling, the SHO keeps pace with the Mustang and finishes the run at the same 95-mph trap speed. Above 100 mph, the aerodynamically superior SHO steadily pulls away from the Mustang."

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/1989-ford-taurus-sho-road-test-review-keeping-pace-with-the-mustang-page-2

[12,000 RPM]

Yea its the gas mileage. 335i weighs more than the 135i for example, but kills it on gas mileage because the 135i is a brick.

[2o6]

I'm pretty sure gearing isn't the same between the three cars



And I don't think the 135 is a "brick"

[MX793]

I'm pretty sure gearing isn't the same between the three cars



And I don't think the 135 is a "brick"

The 1er is pretty stubby, which lends to brick-like aerodynamics.

[veeman]

You would think if you stuck very similar engines in a Camry and a Corolla, that the Corolla would get better gas mileage.  Same with Accord and Civic.  But the Passat gets better mileage than the Jetta.   It made me rethink the mantra that big cars get worse gas mileage than small cars.  Europe should pay attention 

It also shows that you can get a significantly bigger car for only a small increase in weight.  A Beetle with two normal sized adult passengers in addition to the driver weighs more than a Passat with just a driver. 

[2o6]

To be fair, the Jetta and Old Beetle are old platforms, and IIRC the diesel in the Passat is revised and newer.


For the record, the MQB Golf VII is rated for 45MPG freeway. I wouldn't be surprised if a booted version of the new Golf (next Jetta) would edge out the Golf's MPG.

[Soup DeVille]

Dude, diesels don't get "gas" mileage of any sort.

[hotrodalex]

It also shows that you can get a significantly bigger car for only a small increase in weight.  A Beetle with two normal sized adult passengers in addition to the driver weighs more than a Passat with just a driver. 

Depends on the platforms. In a lot of cases these days, the smaller car is still based on the same platform or a related platform, so it weighs more than it would with its own specialized small-car platform. It's part of the reason the Camaro and Challenger are pretty heavy.

[68_427]

The PAssat also uses urea injection.

[AutobahnSHO]

Dude, diesels don't get "gas" mileage of any sort.

wet blanket   :-)

[MX793]

The PAssat also uses urea injection.

That's to clean up emissions, it does nothing for fuel economy.  The urea is actually injected into the exhaust, so it isn't burned in the motor.

[Soup DeVille]

wet blanket   :-)

Betcha he thinks it has a gas pedal too...

[FoMoJo]

Betcha he thinks it has a gas pedal too...

Question...does a throttle modulate the flow of air or the flow of fluid?

[Tave]

The Urea-injected models require urea refills, and will be standard on all TDI-models starting this Fall. The 150-hp engine purportedly improves both throttle response and mileage in the Jetta, so this comparison would be a little more timely at that point. In any event, I'm glad I don't have to pour cans of piss into my car to keep it roadworthy.

[Soup DeVille]

Question...does a throttle modulate the flow of air or the flow of fluid?

Typically, its air; although technically it could be either, but in the case of modern Diesel engines its neither.

It's a fuel pedal.

[2o6]

Typically, its air; although technically it could be either, but in the case of modern Diesel engines its neither.

It's a fuel pedal.

Oh STFU

[MexicoCityM3]

I am getting 9.6 MPG in the M5 in city driving. So good for you. 4X +

[AutobahnSHO]

The Urea-injected models require urea refills, and will be standard on all TDI-models starting this Fall. The 150-hp engine purportedly improves both throttle response and mileage in the Jetta, so this comparison would be a little more timely at that point. In any event, I'm glad I don't have to pour cans of piss into my car to keep it roadworthy.

You can just go to the truck stop and pump it, instead of pouring a bottle...

[Soup DeVille]

Oh STFU

No.

It may sound petty, but its a pet peeve, and you're going to have to either deal with it or ignore it like a grown up.

[AutobahnSHO]

accelerator

[68_427]

throttle pedal

[Soup DeVille]

throttle pedal

Diesels with throttles? Do tell.

[68_427]

Thought we were just saying generic names for the thing you mash to the floor with your foot.

[Soup DeVille]

Thought we were just saying generic names for the thing you mash to the floor with your foot.

Fair enuff.

[veeman]

According to numerous dictionaries a correct definition for the word "gas" which is not slang = any combustible fluid used as a fuel.  If I had said, "gasoline" mileage then that would be incongruous with a diesel "fueled" vehicle.  "Gas" does not exclusively imply "gasoline" as opposed to the word "petrol".  While the term "fuel" is more commonly used to describe the mileage obtained per whatever unit, even NASA occasionally uses the term gas mileage when describing various spacecraft.  Correct definitions for the word "gas" also include verbs as in the example: I really want to "gas" my TDI Beetle from a stop light because it is so slow from a standstill.  The US govt. sponsored website www.fueleconomy.gov uses the terms fuel economy and gas mileage to describe the mileage obtained by all passenger vehicles outside of pure electrics.  The former is used more often but the latter is also used.

Fuel economy is a better term but gas mileage is not inaccurate when describing the miles per gallon consumed of a diesel fueled vehicle.

[12,000 RPM]

They should have made the 2 series a hatchback like the old Z4 coupe. Then it would get like 40 MPG on the highway. Then again my car is lucky to break 27 MPG

[r0tor]

Our Focus gets 40-42mpg highway... Why again are people burdening themselves with diesels?

[ifcar]

Our Focus gets 40-42mpg highway... Why again are people burdening themselves with diesels?

Performance plus fuel economy, though I agree that a lot of loyalists don't necessarily realize how far ordinary economy cars have come.

[r0tor]

Performance plus fuel economy, though I agree that a lot of loyalists don't necessarily realize how far ordinary economy cars have come.

Jetta TDI is slower then the Focus as well