The Volkswagen Jetta TDI's smooth, torquey turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine gets fuel economy on par with hybrid vehicles. See pictures of the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta.
We all know that engines move the car, but how many also move the driver?
Those who look at cars as merely transportation appliances may not think about it much, but those of us who count ourselves as connoisseurs notice--and appreciate--a good powerplant. While ads often tout horsepower ratings and mpg figures, numbers don’t really tell the whole story. Refinement--what’s commonly referred to in the industry as “Noise, Vibration, and Harshness” (NVH)--plays a commanding role, as does throttle response, power delivery, and the “music” emitted from the exhaust pipe.
In order to get a broad spectrum of opinions, a poll was taken of our local Consumer Guide test drivers. Since high-dollar cars almost universally have fine engines, we concentrated on those found in vehicles starting at less than $40,000.
Volkswagen/Audi 2.0T
Garnering the most votes--and making nearly everyone’s “short list”--was the VW/Audi 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder. On paper, its 200 horsepower makes it the 98-pound weakling of 2.0-liter turbos (those in theMitsubishi Lancer Evo and upcoming Hyundai Sonata 2.0T produce upwards of 270 hp), but its smooth, prompt power delivery and impressive fuel economy make it a beneficial feature of several VW and Audi models, from the sporty Volkswagen GTI, stylish CC, and Tiquan compact SUV to the elegant Audi A3, A4, and A5 coupe.
Volkswagen/Audi 2.0 Turbodiesel
Also making the list of staff favorites was VW/Audi’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel four--and for many of the same reasons. Anyone who still harbors negative connotations of diesels would likely find them changed by this engine’s quietness and smoothness, and fall in love with its abundant low-end torque and exceptional fuel mileage. Furthermore, it’s one of the few diesels that can meet today’s strict emissions standards without an after-treatment system requiring the addition of urea (commonly known as “AdBlue”) at periodic intervals. Yes, there’s some dreaded turbo lag when dipping into the throttle at very low engine speeds, but aside from that--and the somewhat smelly, oily diesel fuel itself--this is a fairly inexpensive and painless way to get 40 mpg.
GM EcoTech
When first introduced a few years back, GM’s EcoTech 4-cylinder stood out among competing fours for all the wrong reasons. It was coarse and noisy, and it seemed a step backward from previous GM designs that were none too refined themselves. But some recent upgrades worked wonders, and today it stands as a benchmark for smoothness in the low-priced field.