2016 Jetta Hybrid Spare Tire
 

Does anyone here have a VW Jetta Hybrid? Did you receive a spare tire?

I picked up my new hybrid last night--real nice car, so far. I wanted a different color than what was on the lot, so the dealer located what I wanted and had it transported to the dealership. When I got it, there's no spare, just a refill kit with compressor where the tire would/should be. The salesman explained that the Jett Hybrid doesn't come with a spare for weight reduction.

The strange thing is, the other VW hybrid I test drove I thought I saw a full-sized spare in the rear. The salesman said I'm mistaken. When I saw it, I remember thinking "Wow... A full sized spare. That's great!" But I've been looking at a lot of new cars lately and perhaps crossed memories with another car I checked out.

I'm curious if others here received their Jetta Hybrid with a spare.

-Paul

Hello and welcome, congrats on the new car. It's been a long time since I ever had a spare tyre, punctures are very rare and manufactures are more interested in saving weight and space these days. I can't help RE the Jetta, but I'd say it's most probably normal across the range if your car is fitted with a inflation kit.

So how does the hybrid compare with the popular TDI?

Yeah, can't remember the last time I changed a wheel. Maybe around 2007. Used to be semi regular, as while delivering pizzas I'd pick up part worn tyres for about £6 a corner at the scrapyard...can remember having to change a wheel while someones tea got cold...! Funny, since switching to new tyres, no more problems...

Thanks for the reply, guys. Nice to know the tire didn't get swapped out on me.

I also haven't changed a tire in a long, long time! I know I've done it, but it's been so long, I forget when.

How do I see the hybrid compared to my previous 2011 TDI? I've only had it a day, so time will tell. But I can tell you this: I take the same 18-mile route to work that I've done for the last ~10 years. The TDI would get between 46 and 53 MPG (53.4 was it's record) on the way there and 42 to 46 MPG on the way home. The variability is partially due to the time of year. In New York, it can get wicked cold in the winter.

With the hybrid, today, I got 46.9 MPG on the way to work and 37.9 MPG on the way home. Roads are rural and weave through two little towns, so there are a few stop signs, lights, and a traffic circle (roundabout) along the way. We have hills and "rollers" here, so there is some climbing and dropping of terrain.

I like the way the hybrid rides, and I really enjoy the driving experience. She's smooth, responsive, and this model handles a bit better than the TDI. I get off on concentrating on the most efficient driving style and experimenting with different things. This car definitely allows me to do that, and it requires I learn a new use of the driving techniques I used in the TDI. I'm still learning the car.

The TDI is missed. She was a great car, and I loved her look (toffee brown with cornsilk interior). But I think, as long as it holds up, I'll bond with this car as well. As I said, it's a fun drive! :) I'm skeptical I'll get the same or better mileage than that TDI. The TDI onboard computer was pretty accurate, within 1 to 2 MPG compared to manually figuring my mileage. The TDI gets excellent mileage.

With the TDI, the mileage VW projects was understated--at least with the car I had. I typically did better than the EPA-reported mileage. With this car, I don't think that'll be the case.

Glad to meet other hybrid owners. There aren't a lot of us out there. I was reading a government website the other day that showed the US sales for hybrid Jettas. June 2016 VW sold only 44. Man... That's not many. Locally, the dealers here only have two for sale.

So the car is a little bit of a head turner for those who notice it's uniqueness. Pretty cool.

Good review, thanks. You have much to learn about the hybrid, as you say, you'll need to learn what works best to maximise the economy as they are quite different to conventional cars. You should see a big benefit in city traffic in NYC as hybrids tend to be more efficient in stop/start low speed conditions.

I think some people are still being little cry babies about the emission scandal, and that has affected sales somewhat sadly, the market seems very sensitive over there, but at the end of the day, VW build good solid cars.

I do like a brown car - shame the missus doesn't...!
Having switched from diesel to hybrid myself, I have seen an improvement in economy and power.
I've been able to gain this while also getting a car one or two classes bigger, comfier and packed with equipment!
I have shaved 5 seconds off my 0-60 time and added 50 more horses (not that I ever practiced my 0-60...) by ditching a Hyundai i20 1.1 3 cylinder diesel and replacing it with a new Prius.
The hybrid seems to be most efficient going faster than normal or much slower than normal - where a diesel seemed more efficient cruising at an average speed.
Just checked - all I have is an odd looking puncture repair kit hidden in the boot.
As for VW, my most reliable old banger was a £375 1998 Polo 1.9 diesel, mechanically sound but looked like a shed. Returned mid '50s.

A Polo 1.9 diesel... That's fantastic! Love those old cars, especially if they give the miles you reported. :) Thanks for checking the spare area, benlpovesgodess.

Draigflag: I'm actually in upstate New York, about 360 miles from NYC. Still, as you said, it seems this car is more sculpted towards my driving than the TDI. The TDI is the king of the highway. I do very little highway driving, mostly rural and town driving, which this seems well suited.

So what driving style do you guys prefer? When I drive this car, I tend to baby it. I go slower than I did with the TDI and concentrate in keeping the battery operational more often than the gas engine. I've been reading the user's manual quite a bit, and it's dense with information--well written (and I'm a technical writer by trade). :)

The manual talks to some extent on driving efficiency and the importance of a consistent driving speed. It also says that the car knows when to flip between the battery and gas engine, and that using the gas engine is sometimes more efficient. I haven't figured out when to use the Eco mode as opposed to regular driving without it.

How do you guys use these modes, and what way do you find is the most efficient way to drive?

This article is a couple of years old, and I am sure things are not improving. Just do an internet search on some variation of "cars without spare tires" and you will find plenty.
Your Next Car May Not Have a Spare Tire - Consumer Reports News

The Prius has eco, regular and power modes. They basically just alter the responsiveness of the throttle. In eco (which it rarely leaves!) it has more range, more control at the low end, nice and gentle. In power, instant surge of acceleration, almost impossible to keep within the eco bar (instead of a rev counter, an eco bar takes its place).
I have just driven around 20 miles, an indicated 74 mpg, having used the EV for 63% of our journey.
We're just pottering around country lanes mainly, but keeping pace with traffic on main roads too.
Its a shame there isnt an ICE override - sometimes you are using battery when the petrol engine could be achieving 70 mpg and recharging the battery.
If the battery is healthy though, it will automatically take over.

In general i'm quite a gentle driver, accelerating from a standstill uses a lot of fuel/energy. But I stick to the limits, or cruise just above. I'm a realist, I don't believe in driving slower than normal, adding extra time to a journey and annoying other drivers on the road just to save a bit of fuel, the cost benefits just aren't worth it for me. I'm pleased cars are now efficient enough to drive normally without too much effort, and still get good figures, diesels are famous for this.

Thanks for posting the article, Charon. Interesting read. I had no idea car manufacturers were moving towards inflator kits, although it doesn't surprise me. Serves a dual purpose: reduces weight (good for us) and cuts cost (good for them).

My driving style is generally about the speed limit. I'm older, so I don't have any interest in speeding like I did in my youth. This car tends to make me want to go slower, which I need to fight. I'm usually more like you are, Draigflag.

As I said, I'm learning this vehicle. So yesterday the drive to work yielded 46.9 MPG. Today it was exactly 57 MPG. The difference is, I used the Eco button while driving through the towns with stop signs/red lights. Speed limit is 35 MPH. Once the Jetta Hybrid hits 45 MPH, it turns the Eco mode off. Just doing that bought me 10 MPG on the way in.

I've noticed, short rides get horrible mileage. At lunch I drove to a mall up the road. Traffic, a few lights, and it's all uphill on the way there. The ride is only a few miles. There and back, I got about 20 MPG. Terrible! The TDI didn't do as well with this run either, but it did a lot better than 20 MPG.

Curious to see what the onboard computer reports compared to a real-world calculation at the pump when it's time to add my second tank of gas/petro. So far, the estimate is only about 36 MPG overall. I'd like to think a hybrid like this would do better than that.

There are a lot of conflicting articles out there on the hybrid V's diesel debate. I've posted a few on here to help people make a better decision. The majority of people will be better off, both financially and fuel economy wise, with a diesel, but it can vary depending on where you live and what kind of journeys you do. In many ways, hybrids shoot themselves in the foot, the extra weight and drag caused by the regenerative brakes can actually harm fuel economy ironically. My Honda hybrid is yielding better figures now I've disconnected the hybrid system, which is kind of stupid!

As a diesel owner, i used to fight for diesel over petrol. As a hybrid owner, i now fight for hybrid over diesel!
On a fuel economy website, the prime reason is a hybrid delivers better mpg.
A big comfy diesel gave me 46 mpg, a big comfy hybrid 65 mpg.
The hybrid is also a more powerful and pleasant drive.
I especially love the CVT compared to a badly geared 6 speed manual.
I appreciate the hybrid may cost a little more than the diesel, but better economy and free road tax will more than pay that back.
I think there is a big gap between hybrids that are assist only, and hybrids that offer full EV and assist.
If you look at the difference between Honda and Toyota on here - jazz v yaris or insight v prius, i seem to find better economy from Toyota.
Are the VW hybrids full hybrid with assist and pure EV, or just assist type?

The VW hybrids are full hybrids. They have a 150 HP, turbocharged 1.4L paralleled to a 27 V, 1.1Kw electric motor. It has a dual-clutch tranny. The clutch pack disengage at stop and runs one or both at startup, depending whether you're in Sports mode or general driving mode. In Sports mode, it runs both motors and can generate up to 170 HP with 184 ft. lbs. of torque.

I guess it's a muscle hybrid, considering the turbocharge, which probably accounts for some mileage loss.

For me, I don't generally use the extra power, but do like knowing it's there if I need it.

I considered an EV, but the range is too poor these days. Couldn't take it on a long trip without first figuring out how to get power to it, which would be difficult. Not all states here in the US are EV friendly, and even those that are (like NY), there aren't a lot of "filling" areas to recharge. I think this'll change in time. California is the most progressive, with recharging stations all over the place.

If you look at the US sales trends, the hybrid market is shrinking and the EV market is growing. It makes sense, I suppose, to focus on the EV market and build up that base in a way that pleases consumers with better mileage and a more reasonable price point.

VW has said it'll be coming out with 25 EVs by 2025, with some being released starting in 2020. They're projecting a range of around 180 miles per charge. I've read they're in contact with some battery manufacturers in Silicon Valley. I've also heard that the cars for the US will be manufactured in the States. It'll be interesting to see what they do.

Hybrids will tend to do better on city routes, and diesels will match and can beat them on the highway. Many of the high MPG diesel runs in the US were in cheating VWs though. Even when not a cheater diesel, hybrids will be cleaner on emissions.

Regenerative braking is great for efficiency and brake life; the Prius can easily go over 100k miles on the original pads. It is dumb that manufacturers have it programed to simulate transmission drag, but I understand the safety and consumer familiarity reasons. Feathering the accelerator should turn it off.

Many manufacturers are going with turbo charging to get better fuel economy on the official tests, which are mostly gentle enough to keep the car out of boost.

Better fuel economy is basically the only selling point hybrids have. So their sales fluctuate with gas prices. EVs other more than fuel economy. There is performance and ride quality increases, along with switching from a mostly imported to a nearly all domestic fuel.

VW has officially cancelled the Jetta hybrid in the US. They cite low sales, but they also only offered it in a top of the line trim, so was the most expensive Jetta.

The technique of small engine plus turbocharger has been around for decades. Internal combustion engines operate most efficiently at high power settings, usually best around 90% rated power. Use a small engine which can be operated at a fairly high power setting for efficiency, then add a turbocharger to make up for the low power available from a small displacement engine when needed. A small drawback is that the turbo acts as an intake restriction when not spun up, and it always acts as an exhaust restriction.

While I do like the turbocharged design, it does seem somewhat counterproductive to the entire goal of fuel economy. Along with the VW dieselgate fiasco, perhaps this is part of the reason VW is backing out of the hybrid market. I'm not sure what other hybrid sedans are sold in the US that offer turbocharged engines. I would guess not many, if any, other than VW. While I like the power, I don't plan to use it, unless (as I said) I need it, like during passing or some other situation where I need sudden power.


For me, I get a hybrid for fuel economy. My decision to get the Jetta is due to just loving the car. After my other one was totaled, I want a Jetta again. No TDIs in the States at the moment, so hybrid it is!

Seems strange having the hybrid assist and a turbo, usually one of them is enough to boost performance. Is it the TSI? If so, that will be turbocharged and supercharged. On a non hybrid setup, a turbocharged engine will be more efficient, you can change gear early, leave it in higher gears at lower speeds and take advantage of the extra torque. But in a hybrid, I'm not sure what affect it will have!

Yeah, I'd agree, Draigflag. And, yes, it's a turbocharged TSI, but not supercharged. The extra power does provide more options for gearing, which helps with using the DSG tranny in manual mode. I'm avoiding that, for now. I want to get a feel for driving it without thinking about manual shifting.

For decades I've preferred manual, so moving to Tiptronic is a bit of a switch. The Mrs. doesn't know nor does she want to know how to drive a manual, so I went with the DSG Hybrid.

You gotsta' listen to the Mrs! :) I'd like her to feel she can drive it, if she needs to.

Well a DSG keeps everyone happy then, it's probably the closest thing to an auto I'd consider, I'd miss the clutch, but at least you still have some control over the gearing if you want it.

No other hybrid has a turbo in the US. The Pathfinder hybrid did have a supercharger. I'm guessing VW modified the existing TSI engine instead of designing one for a hybrid to cut costs.

Toyota does have a turbo charged engine in the lab with a thermal efficiency over 40%. And turbos can get good fuel economy. The secret is to keep out of boost, but the typical driver likely can't do that.

For hybrids, an electric supercharger might allow for more efficiency gains.

The Passat GTE goes on sale here tomorrow, similar set up to your Jetta except it's a plug in. Joins the golf GTE. Do you guys get them there too?

Order books open for VW Passat GTE | Next Green Car

I saw a golf GTE parked on the weekend. Hadnt heard of it before, but the badge being in blue and assuming the E stood for electric, guessed it was a plug in.
Sign of the times there are way more hybrids and full EV than we can keep track of!

Yep. Maybe you should have looked at one Ben? Cheaper, faster and this seller on Autotrader has averaged 139 MPG for the last 1600 miles, more than double that in the Prius no? ;)

No, I don't think the US has that Passat. In the US, I've seen the R-Line, S, SE, and SEL Passat. Unless our local dealer doesn't have one it at the moment. Perhaps someone else knows if it's offered or will be offered in the US.

Not really interested in a Golf. A lad at work has an R32. Though I can appreciate that this is a tidy performance car, it has nowt about it for me.
I was happy to get a bigger car after the i20.
The only other new cars that do it for me are the Prius Prime and the Tesla. Both too expensive and i doubt i could have waited for a Prime, even if i could have budgeted for it.
Despite feeling the pinch for buying the Prius, no regrets at all.
I still think its a great car to look at and drive.

We have the e-Golf in some states, and an Audi PHEV. The A3 I think.
Don't know VW's what other plug ins plans to offer here.

Hi Paul. I have a 2014 Jetta hybrid and it came with a spare tire in the trunk. It's not a full tire but it's not your typical donut either. I think the official term is "full-size temporary spare." Either way, it came with the car. Perhaps checking specs on VW's corporate site or somewhere else on the Internet will confirm whether or not your car should've had a spare in it.

The Audi A3 e-tron has a turbocharged 1.4L engine, plus the 8.8kWh battery.