I am in car buying purgatory. Why is that you might ask? I am a VW TDI owner. Ah yes, the TDI scandal. In the wake of the diesel-emissions settlement I now sit in limbo, deciding which path to take at this automotive junction.
Why I Bought My VW TDI
Here's the thing, I bought the TDI for a good reason, three reasons, in fact:
- Performance is important to me, and Volkswagen knows how to get their moneys worth out of an engine.
- High MPG is essential (I work from home and still average 350 miles a week on my car).
- Price point. I don't want to be enslaved to a car payment.
Insert my dilemma: there are not a whole lot of current car buying options that offer performance, high MPGs, and aren't terrible to look at (I am a teeny bit vein) under 23K. I've narrowed it down to four options.
Vehicles That Compare (Not Really) to the VW TDI
Three cars have caught my eye: the Mazda 6, VW Golf, and the Volvo S-60 (4 cylinder, used). All three cars offer performance and reasonable gas mileage (after owning a TDI where I averaged 45 MPG a tank, I'm a bit of a snob) at a similar price point. Let's take a closer look.
Mazda 6
Honestly, I would've never thought myself to be a Mazda driver. I can't even explain why. It just feels like a bunch of cash for, well, a Mazda. Then I started reading reviews. Car and Driver, Edmunds, US News, they like it. Car and Driver says: "If you think all family sedans are created equal, you’re in for a surprise with the nimble and curvaceous Mazda 6," and for good reason.
The Mazda 6 boasts 184 HP, 38 MPG, and a manual transmission option (a huge selling point for me). Seriously, a mid-sized car with those specs are hard to beat. Unless, of course, you own a TDI.
VW Golf
Admittedly, this feels safe to me. We've owned three VWs and loved every single one of them. There's just something about a VW: they're like a little eager puppy waiting to charge down the road. They're nimble, fun, reasonably priced, and generally easy on the eyes. I'm a VW girl at heart.
So, why am I not interested in another Jetta? Simple. I've had mine for five years and the current body style hasn't changed a bit. We run our cars into the ground so I don;t necessarily want to drive the exact "same" car for 15+ years. Insert the Golf: fuel efficient, turbocharged, and it gets great reviews. Car and Driver claims it as one of their "favorite cars" and the Golf has won countless awards for performance, mpg, and safety features.
The base Golf offers 170 HP (turbocharged engine), 37 MPG, a manual transmission, and is the lowest priced option (starting at $20,175) we're considering. All good things.
Volvo S-60 (4 Cylinder)
Why, oh why, would I even consider a second-hand Volvo (with around 25K miles) for the same price as a new Mazda or VW? Have you looked at? Seriously, show me a better looking car on the road. Sleek, sexy, and powerful - this car has everything needed to encourage poor buying decisions.
It's not just easy on the eyes, though, the four cylinder engine features 270 HP and still manages to get 37 MPG (yes, you read that right). As a car loving girl who binges on Top Gear those specs are hard to beat: power meets fuel economy in an eye-candy design. Admittedly there are some concerns, Car and Driver didn't love it, and being a luxury car it will likely cost us more to maintain. But dang, look at it.
Of course, the fourth option is to keep our TDI that we love so much. VW offered us a proposed settlement of around 15K for our 2012 model, with 90K miles on it. But to be honest, that feels a little foolish, too. The car has cost me nothing to date other than a set of tires and repairs are bound to be looming around the corner. A low monthly payment on a brand new car is hard to beat, but so is no monthly payment and a bunch of settlement cash in the bank.
Gah. See what I mean? Car buying purgatory.
There's more to see and do...
What an awesome review. A true aficionado.
Have you test driven any of these? I personally love the Mazda out of these three, but it's also the only one I've driven. I would suggest you test drive each of these first and get a true sense for what they feel like on the road and what you think of the experience with all its gadgets. I think it truly takes a good 4-5 separate rides to get a good feeling and wish more dealerships offered a short rental period for just this reason. Good luck!!!
Have you test driven any of these? I personally love the Mazda out of these three, but it's also the only one I've driven. I would suggest you test drive each of these first and get a true sense for what they feel like on the road and what you think of the experience with all its gadgets. I think it truly takes a good 4-5 separate rides to get a good feeling and wish more dealerships offered a short rental period for just this reason. Good luck!!!
@sondra We're test driving all of them starting next month. I'm afraid to test drive before I get the actual cash in hand from VW. I can see myself falling in love with a car, the salesman convincing me if I don't "act now" the deal will be gone, and then VW giving me less than I'm expecting.
I personally like Chevrolet vehicles because they offer great warranty packages and if there is a recall you can get it fixed right away at a dealership. They also have high mpg as well.
Great review thank you for stating what you were looking for in a car. Thank you also for doing a run down for all three cars. I can see why its car buying purgatory. I hope you are able to find the one that fits your needs.
interesting
First off great job on the comparison. Secondly, you are in quite a pickle for sure that is a tough decision. After you've test driven all three vehicles, try renting the one you like the most for a few days to truly get a feel for the car. I had the privilege of driving the Mazda 6 while my car was in the shop and I absolutely loved it, but I also realized that I loved the Nissan Altima the same. Shiny and new can be overwhelming but you are on a good path to make the best decision for your family's needs. Good luck!
Tina, lawrence ulrich here, chief auto critic @thedrive, formerly same at The NY Times. I'm looking to speak with TDI owners, and you are perfect! (I'm a longtime VW junkie myself) Can you please write me at [email protected], or feel free to call 646 642 1544. Danke!
We own a Jetta TDI wagon that we are looking to replace after the buyout, so I know the feeling. The car I'd strongly recommend to you is the new Honda Civic EX-T or EX-L. It's bigger inside than previous Civics and the Jetta. Consumer Reports got 45 mpg in their real world highway mileage test. Various car magazines have gotten 0-60 times in the 6.7 to 6.8 second range. It's turbocharged but uses regular gas. To me, it rides and handles very much like the Jetta. It has excellent safety features available on all models. A turbocharged hatchback version is due out this fall. It's also in your price range.