Which are better, diesel or hybrid cars?

Diesels and hybrids have drastically different powertrains, but they both help commuters improve their fuel economy compared with a traditional gas-powered car. The 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI with a six-speed manual and the 2012

Honda Insight hybrid achieve optimal mileage at highway speeds, but how do they stack up during miles of stop-and-go commuting?

The Passat's 31 miles per gallon city rating is far off from the Insight's 41 mpg estimate. Game over, right? Not necessarily. During two nearly identical commutes, my observed results were much closer than the ratings suggest.

Manual transmissions are the enemy of gridlock commuters. That is, unless you're in the Passat TDI. The silky smooth clutch pedal, easy shifter and engine torque that lets you chug along in any gear make driving the Passat in traffic a breeze. Returning 39.5 mpg on my commute is the reward, along with its quiet, comfortable and overall enjoyable ride. Bonus: This commuter car doubles as a people hauler, thanks to its massive back seat. This commute came at the end of a 1,500-mile road trip where, without hesitation, I was ready to get back in the comfy sedan and head to work.

The 2012 Insight is a better commuter than previous versions, with more sound insulation that notably quiets the interior from wind and road noise. The Insight squeaked out a Passat-beating 44.5 mpg, but the start/stop feature that shuts the engine off to save gas at idle is intrusive and annoying. The noticeable shimmy every time the engine fires up or shuts down gets old quick. This routine happens frequently in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Insight may be more efficient and less expensive, but the fuel economy of the Passat TDI combined with its absurdly good feel is impressive.