2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Chevrolet Sonic vs Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,453/ year to fuel
32 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,347/ year to fuel
44 MPG

FWD · 1.4L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed dual-clutch · 44 MPG

The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,347 a year to fuel (44 MPG), versus $1,453 for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic (32 MPG). That's roughly $107 a year, or about $533 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Chevrolet Sonic
  • Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

Side by side

Chevrolet SonicVolkswagen Jetta Hybrid
$1,453 Your annual fuel cost $1,347
32 MPG Combined efficiency 44 MPG
28 MPG City 42 MPG
38 MPG Highway 48 MPG
91 cu ft Passenger volume 94 cu ft
12 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
276 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 200 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 9/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 9/10
Gas Powertrain Hybrid
Regular gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
1.4L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.4L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed manual Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Chevrolet Sonic vs Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid across model years

  • Chevrolet Sonic
  • Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid has more passenger space (94 vs. 91 cu ft); the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid has more cargo space (16 vs. 12 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Chevrolet Sonic ranks 15th and the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 9th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Chevrolet Sonic is a conventional gas model, while the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is a full hybrid.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic or the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. The Chevrolet Sonic is rated 32 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 44 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic vs. the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,453 for the Chevrolet Sonic and $1,347 for the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Sonic vs Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid in other years

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