Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid & Toyota Prius Plug-in

If you're eyeing a hybrid as a way to stretch your fuel dollars, your choice has gotten a lot more complicated in recent years. Roughly 25 conventional hybrids are now on the market, with more showing up regularly. They include the new 2013 Jetta Hybrid, one of the most engaging hybrids we've driven.

In addition, a new wave of plug-in hybrids can further cut your driving costs if they fit your driving habits. But even these models vary significantly. For example, the Chevrolet Volt, the first plug-in hybrid, runs entirely on electricity until the battery becomes depleted and a small gas engine kicks in. We averaged about 35 miles in electric mode, which would let many people commute gas-free by charging every night.

The Toyota Prius Plug-in operates differently. With a full charge it runs on electric power for a limited number of miles under most driving conditions, but it isn't gas-free. Heavier acceleration, hills, and hot or cold ambient temperatures typically cause the gas engine to kick in even when the car is in electric mode. We got about 12 miles in the electric mode, during which we measured the equivalent of 67 mpg. But in normal hybrid mode, fuel economy dropped to 43 mpg, one less than the regular Prius.

The Plug-In starts around $32,000, about $5,000 more than a similarly equipped Prius, before a $2,500 federal tax rebate. The Advanced trim we bought was $40,510, prompting one tester to sum it up as "too little, too late, and for too much money."

Still, the Prius Plug-in is practical and efficient, and with its excellent relia­bil­ity, we recommend it. Although the Jetta Hybrid's test score was higher, it's too new for us to have reliability data, so we can't recommend it.

The Jetta Hybrid may not be the most efficient gas/electric car we've tested, but it is one of the most enjoyable and engaging to drive. Its thrifty 37 mpg overall is the same as we measured in the Ford C-Max Hybrid, but it's not quite up to the Toyota Prius' 44 or the Honda Civic Hybrid's 40. Still, it's a nicer all-around car to drive than the Prius or Civic, with responsive handling, a comfortable ride, a quiet interior, and a spacious rear seat with generous leg room.

But the Jetta has drawbacks. Its regenerative braking system results in a touchy brake pedal. The battery pack eats into the trunk space. Premium fuel is required, which cuts into the cost savings. And our $28,055 Jetta Hybrid SE lacks some features we expect for that price, such as a full-power driver's seat and heated front seats.

If you're comparing this model with the diesel-powered Jetta TDI, here's the scoop. The Hybrid gets 3 mpg more than the TDI's 34 overall and is nicer to drive. The TDI costs about $3,000 less and has a roomier trunk.

For about the same price as the Jetta Hybrid, you could get a roomier midsized car, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid (39 mpg overall), Toyota Camry Hybrid (38), or the diesel-powered Volkswagen Passat TDI (37).

High-tech showcase. The Jetta Hybrid sports a lot of cutting-edge technology. Its electric motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery, and it's coupled with a 1.4-liter turbocharged, direct-injected engine and a smooth seven-speed, dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

To save fuel, the Jetta easily runs on electric power alone up to about 35 mph and shuts off the gas engine when coasting. The start/stop system turns off the engine when the car comes to a stop, but it restarts with a slight shudder.

The transmission's operation feels more "natural" than that of the continuously variable transmissions used in other hybrids. But when starting on an incline, it may let the car roll back a bit, which is disconcerting.

The Hybrid rides very comfortably and handles better than any Jetta sedan we've tested, except for the GLI sporty version. When pushed to its handling limits, the Hybrid was well balanced and posted a commendable speed through our avoidance maneuver.

Noise is kept to a minimum in the hushed, well-isolated cabin.

The interior is fairly basic, with leatherette seats that are cold in the winter and sticky in the summer; real leather isn't available. But the cabin offers generous head, leg, and foot room. The wide front seats provide good support and include a manual lumbar adjustment. Some drivers felt that the telescoping steering wheel took more fiddling than usual to get the correct position.

Gauges are big and legible, and controls are simple. SE and higher trims use a touch-screen radio with a large display, big onscreen buttons, and easy-to-read letters. It also includes a colorful energy-flow diagram. There are separate knobs for volume and tuning.

Pairing a phone via Bluetooth is overly complicated, and voice commands weren't always recognized.  "Aux" and  "media in" jacks let you connect a smart phone or music player. You can also play media through an SD card slot. We think it's worth the $1,995 upgrade to get an SE version for the touch-screen radio and USB interface, among other upgrades.

The Toyota Prius, at 44 mpg overall, has been our Top Pick in green cars for 10 straight years because it combines excellent gas mileage with a roomy, versatile interior and excellent reliability. The new Plug-in model, with a larger battery, is intended to crank up the efficiency another notch by letting the car run on electric power more of the time. It does that for a short distance, but unlike the Chevrolet Volt, it doesn't operate as a pure-electric car. Even in its  "electric" mode, the gasoline engine can kick in if you apply more than a light touch on the accelerator or if you're climbing a moderate grade.

With a full charge, which takes about 3.5 hours through a common household outlet or  1.5 hours on a 240-volt connector, we've been able to drive the Prius Plug-in only about 12 miles before it reverts to normal hybrid operation. In the EV mode, we got the equivalent of 67 mpg, counting both the electric energy and gasoline. But when the car reverts to normal hybrid operation, gas mileage dropped to 43 mpg overall, still excellent but slightly less than the regular Prius because of the extra battery weight.

That extra weight, along with the use of different tires, may have also accounted for differences in handling performance, which helped drag down the Plug-in's test score from a 79 to a 71.

Overall, the token increase in efficiency isn't worth the higher price. If you want a car that truly benefits from plug-in capability, consider a Chevrolet Volt or Ford C-Max Energi, which are nicer cars that let you drive gas-free for longer distances.

Not much flash. Overall, the Prius Plug-in is very similar to the regular Prius. It rides well enough, but underlying firmness is notable. It handles soundly but isn't particularly agile. The steering is responsive but devoid of feedback, and some testers likened it to a video game.

At the mid-$20,000 price of a regular Prius, we're willing to put up with the car's fairly basic interior. But when you hit the $40,000 tag of our Plug-in Advanced, the interior quality is unbecoming. On the plus side, interior components are well assembled and most panels fit together nicely.

Drivers will find ample room. A power seat is welcome, but the steering wheel didn't telescope far enough out for most people. The rear seat is very accommodating.

Digital displays mounted high on the dash are fairly large and easy to read. And an optional heads-up display can show speed and other info on the windshield.Most controls are straightforward. But some onscreen buttons are small and crammed together. The electronic shifter takes some getting used to. The touch screen shows a colorful power-flow diagram.

Pairing a phone via Bluetooth is simple, and you can operate an iPhone or iPod with buttons on the steering wheel. When Toyota's Entune infotainment system is connected with a compatible smart phone, it lets you use apps such as iHeartRadio, Open Table, Pandora, and others; some features are locked out when the car is moving to reduce distraction.

Voice commands are convenient for using navigation, phone functions, and SiriusXM Travel Link, which lets you check gas prices, weather, traffic information, and more. The navigation system can also guide you to charging stations.