Diesels are great, but from a monetary standpoint, I don't see them as superior.

I have a friend with an '06 Jetta TDI. She gets about 33-38 MPG mixed driving. I have a '07 TCH and get about 35-40 MPG mixed driving. Her car cost about the same as mine did.

Now fuel for my car is running about $0.15 less per gallon, so in short she is not getting better mileage and is paying more for the fuel. Also, the VW diesels are known for needing the timing belt changed every 75,000 miles. That is not an insignificant cost, but the battery in the hybrid might need replacement between 100,000 to 150,000 miles (unknow as there have been very few battery failures reported) which is also a not insignificant amount.

The VW Tdi does have good power, and can be tuned to have ungodly amounts of power, but on the other hand the TCH has plenty of power more most drivers.

Either way they are both good, but I don't think the current diesels are a financial benifit.

BTW, I own a diesel truck for the excess power it gives me when I need to tow, so I do believe in the diesel engine.