I get about 40 mpg in my 2011
I get about 40 mpg in my 2011 VW Golf TDI in town. And my city is fairly hilly. Last year I went on a cross country trip and got 60 mpg over the whole trip. I will say I do know how to drive to get the best mileage.
The next generation Golf - due out very soon - will get perhaps 10% better mpg than the model I drive.
A few thoughts...If the Golf was built as lightweight as the Prius models it would be substantially lighter than it is now. The next-gen Golf is lighter weight but will likely be less tin-cannish than the Prius models. The Golf is a substantial feeling car.
There are many that suggest hybrids do not get the mileage that is claimed. In contrast, diesel models tend to get get better mpg than government figures show.
Another thought is in regard to torque. We all know the word but, personally, I learned what it was when I bought this Golf TDI.
As time goes by more aluminum and carbon fiber will be used allowing cars to be lighter. But the problem for hybrids is although the body and some components can be made lighter the heavy batteries, and motors will remain major weight impediments - and increasingly becoming a higher percentage of the overall vehicle weight. Conversely, diesel engines and transmissions will become smaller and smaller - greatly increasing the already excellent mpg.
And if desired diesel cars could be tuned to be as slow as Prius vehicles which would give them even better mpg.