Here’s the good part about driving a diesel-powered car: you can drive it like a normal vehicle and the fuel economy doesn’t suffer. With a 40 mpg highway rating, the Passat TDI is actually rated with worse fuel economy than the other cars listed here, but you stand a better chance of achieving the slightly poorer rating.
Besides, the diesel engine’s torque matched with quick shifts from the dual-clutch gearbox will deliver a powerful feeling of acceleration. The Passat cabin is also probably the nicest of this bunch, too. Equipped with the dual-clutch transmission, it starts around $29,000.
