Depending on the amount of city driving...yes, if a high ratio, maybe the hybrid. The Touareg also had a hybrid In which the mpg’s did not crater in winter city driving.

Please don’t misunderstand. “Poor choices” is a very strong way to rephrase my comment. But yes, some research into the ideal use cases of diesel would have been helpful in making a decision. And, the main fault lies with Audi for cheating and misrepresentation of their product.

Right, well, I love the 3.0 liter TDI and dont think there is any comparison to the other engines. Since I drive long haul trips, it was an easy decision, but with a lot of short city trips my most economical choice overall would have been the base engine. I still can’t get away from the fact that they could have played fair and still be selling it, and we’d still be singing its praises, which was my intended main point.

I understand your thought process in buying, and mine was similar. I was more than willing to pay a premium for a better engine than base. I considered the same two engines as you, but am too committed to diesel, and I have the ideal use case. Depending on the mpg difference realized with diesel, you chip away at the difference in original expenditure by saving money at the pump. This is harder to do in the city, since the Diesel engine really likes to run warm. That’s what I have been trying to say, however awkwardly.

I appreciate all the responses, and as a former teacher, I enjoy being challenged on what I have said. It is a fact that the Diesel engine does not perform anywhere near its capability running cold. Many of the other things we have been discussing are opinions. I was taught when I was a boy, by my own teachers, that when you write an opinion, the words “in my opinion” are superfluous and redundant and detract from your writing, lol.