Hi Feilsun:

___And my real world take … Lets compare a popular but similar VW Jetta TDI vs. the HCH-I and/or II for comparisons sake.

Price (MSRP) incl. dest.

05 HCH-I MT/CVT: $20,450/$21,450
06 HCH-II CVT: $22,400
06 VW Jetta TDI MT/Auto: $21,905/$22,980

Size (Passenger/Cargo in Cu.-Ft.):

HCH-I: 91/10
HCH-II: 91/10
VW Jetta TDI: 91/16

Smog based Emissions Score and ratings on HS/LS Fuel/Fed rating/CARB rating/CO2 emissions from EPA:

HCH-I: 9/9/Tier II-Bin2/PZEV/4.1 Tons
HCH-II: Should be the same once it is finally rated/3.9 Tons
VW Jetta TDI: 1/Not available for sale in the clean states/Tier II-Bin10/Not available for sale in the clean states/5.6 Tons

FE from EPA:

HCH-I w/ Stick and CVT: 45/51 and 47/48
HCH-II w/ CVT: 49/51
VW Jetta TDI w/ Stick and Auto: 36/41 and 35/42

Performance

Acceleration from 0 - 60 mph:

HCH-I w/ Stick and CVT: ~ 11 and ~ 13 seconds from CR/MT/C&D/PM
HCH-II w/ CVT: ~ 11.0 seconds from CD
VW Jetta TDI w/ Stick and Auto: ~ 11 and ~ 12.5 seconds from PM

Braking from 60 to 0 mph:

HCH-I w/ Stick and CVT: 133’ from CR/MT
HCH-II w/ CVT: ? but probably in between.
VW Jetta TDI w/ Stick and Auto: 122’ from PM

Reliability

HCH-I: Excellent
HCH-II: Unknown?
VW Jetta TDI: Average to Poor

___The Performance and size are very similar when looking at an 05 HCH-I w/ a stick vs. 06 HCH-II w/ a CVT vs. Jetta TDI w/ a stick. The Emissions of the TDI even on LS fuel is absolute atrocious by comparison. In the FE comparison, the 06 HCH-II gets the nod followed by the HCH-I in second with the TDI using either a stick or MT in a relatively distant third. Reliability? Not much sense in speaking about that one

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes