We are facing the two most efficient saloons. Toyota Prius, the hybrid par excellence turned-pragmatic car, Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion against the most extreme Diesel. What wins?

February this year marked our previous contact with the Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, model points to beat the BMW 316d a whole in a comparative where the main raison d’être was the fuel economy. Until today, I have lived with several Porsche, other VW Passat, Audi occasional an SUV vortices of all sizes, brands and power levels. And also, for a full week, a new generation Toyota Prius, that perhaps you recognize by its air of Toyota Mirai, the Toyota’s hydrogen car; that you come back no longer see a chapel on its roof Taxi; or the same as, now makes you feel stale many other traditional cars that just a few days ago you seem the most versatile -mecánicamente speaking- or refined.

BlueMotion, and I quote the second name and not the name of the car has evolved a lot over the years and has greatly streamlined touch, driveability and especially the mechanical compromise between usability and actual consumption characterized by the program focused on minimizing emissions cars. I believe this is the best development of all pure BlueMotion that have existed and currently exist not to be confused with the names BlueMotion Technology, used in virtually all cars today already Volkswagen-, and I assure you this is VW Passat but the best, certainly one of the best options for those who need or want to move to lower cost per kilometer without implying any side effect .

I could list many other models, but this Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion It is also the best example debunks the efficiency of the Toyota Prius as the main reason for purchase, with the usual exception of the professional whose only range is the city. If you worth, in my case I took four generations to assimilate the Prius as a user experience rather than ultra efficient and useful tool transport, greatly improved in this new edition whose performance and actual consumption, precisely, they have a great little step back. So, If you look at Toyota Prius for its figures, you’re lost… because it’s not the best of this new car; he moves simply at their own pace, and although you probably would fall also surrendered to his other benefits, I bet you will not fall into this nondescript driving the previous generation.

Volkswagen Passat, a locomotive

Even taking into account the aforementioned "normal" from This Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Volkswagen, diving in traffic with it involves taking certain rules. One measure maneuvers well in time and meters and get involved in driving devoting one hand to shift and one eye to engine speed, and that VW has taken this oil small engine 1.6 TDI 120 hp. Aided by the most constant and low speed at which we have been moving lately on the road, andste Passat not only does not clash at all in real traffic, but even it will seem agile enough response.

I take my hat off to this specialized Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion 120 hp, with a family in tow she is able to move equivalent consumption figures a good utility. All also involved in a high quality environment and isolation, as corroborated by figures of sound that would comparatively loud to already very stealthy Toyota Prius, much slower than his opponent in full throttle, this exercise seldom lend upon usury to Prius. Because their condition automatic, overtaking ability itself is more than worthy and safe.

In this exchange of cars, now between Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, your brain now begins to focus on small and large interferences that should miss when I confronted him with the aforementioned BMW 316d. These slight movements or 1.6 TDI engine cabeceos on appropriate stand when you accelerate or stop doing are just a small example of how it changes the concept of quality of life through the lens of the Prius. Suma mechanical vibrations while recognizing the good work that is under the body of the Volkswagen Passat, the slight tingling that transmits turbodiesel feet through the pedals; or hands from the steering wheel or gear shift that requires fairly participation by the driver; noise…. Whether in stationary or from the moment that you throw shooting: the Toyota Prius seems simply another galaxy.

Improved unresolved the effect of slippage e-CVT transmission Toyota Prius: It is actually superior insulation which dilutes the effect. Its acceleration is acoustically more natural. And change itself, with its tiny lever, it is a real treat when maneuvering. Also its tread, quality or effectiveness patching … Nothing does this new generation Toyota Prius with its predecessors. although very "al dente" and for my taste a little dry on the rear axle, cushioning works more efficiently and natural shaping of this specific Volkswagen Passat, in which damping effect has too much influence a huge wheel of high profile addition dampers combined with short trips that originate small, fast and intense body movements.

Yet, despite this fact, not cross out the Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion uncomfortable and yes I keep stressing the impeccable quality of its chassis in terms of dynamic behavior, putting a still unattainable bar for Toyota Prius greatly improved, which I still find address slow, and whose brake pedal is still impossible to accurately modular in its first quarter tour. Plus "electric", In addition to these numerous stages in town that can cover in electric mode, provided that the route is favorable or very gently modulate the accelerator, Toyota Prius Now the future transports you promptly disconnecting the internal combustion engine on the road, even at speeds of 100/110 km / h, although records achieved by the Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion locomotive will no longer return to the present but the past: the Toyota Prius now spends half liter more than before, although their consumption remain very low in absolute terms.

In short, our data

consumptionsThe most important in these saloons section. The more city, more congested is better efficiency demonstrates the Toyota Prius, the average consumer is penalized by a good road record in absolute value, but not in relation to the technology behind it. He Volkswagen Passat simply a champion: 4.6 l / 100 km of final average, compared 5,2 l / 100 km Toyota Prius.

AccelerationWhat provision are looking for? One is reasonably slow (Passat), the other is very slow to dry (the Prius). The difference is that, compared with the nonchalance of Toyota Prius in this exercise, the Volkswagen Passat’ve had to step on the clutch three times before reaching 100 km / h; or five, before passing through the first 1,000 meters. 0 to 100 km / h in 10.29 seconds in the VW Passat BlueMotion… and in 12.22 seconds in the Toyota Prius.

Frenada: Critical at short distances. This exercise does not reflect, in meters, modulation and pedal feel, still weak point of a Toyota Prius that at short distances, it remains difficult to modulate precisely to avoid sudden braking in the last meters. In Prius 73.7 meter stops from 140 km / h…. and in Volkswagen Passat TDI’s 76.3.

Sonority: two Toyota Prius in one. Toyota asserts that better quality and higher level of isolation from the outgoing generation, and I bear witness that, except at full throttle, is a super quiet car, but enough to know our figures to understand the good work that VW has done around your car. Always one to two decibels below at any speed.

overtaking: Worth the automatic effect of the double contribution of strength of the two engines is the Toyota Prius. Not very fast, but more effective than a rival whose mechanical system must not lose sight if you need maximum agility that you can provide.

Power and torque. In the 1.6 TDI Volkswagen Passat we measured 90 percent of peak torque between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm, but its elasticity is in diluted by the effect of its long and open transmission. The Toyota Prius, meanwhile, loses official power, but his electrics gains prominence: 122 hp has the Prius for the Passat 126.7. Dimensions and weights. the Toyota Prius is progressing well. Larger in all dimensions than its predecessor, the Japanese already offers a very good relationship between exterior size and interior dimensions, but it is impossible to compete with the giant Volkswagen Passat: 87 cm front leg 77; 91 cm face 90; Y 610 liters of luggage space compared to 440 Toyota Prius.

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