Telltale signs remind you that you’re doing diesel. There is some engine chatter and mild vibration at idle, both of which largely disappear as you accelerate. Emissions standards are a moving target, and at this point, the Passat TDI is available in 45 states. It is not for sale in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and California.

While we as Americans are mostly new to diesel, Volkswagen is not. The company makes more diesel engines than any other passenger car manufacturer. VW estimates than some 10-15% of Passat sales will be TDI’s (about 32,000 of 300,000 total). Getting people to consider diesel will require a shift in thinking by U.S. consumers. At this point in its evolution, the practical differences between gas and diesel engines have less to do with performance than they do refinement. The 2.0 TDI for example is not in the same league with Volkswagen’s 1.8 turbo (gas) engine in terms of smoothness. That’s a tough comparison, though, as the 1.8T is a smooth operator and for my money, VW’s best all ‘round engine. As diesel and hybrids become more like conventional gas engines in terms of drivability, more and more Americans become willing to try alternatives. At the end of the day, prolonged exposure to big gas prices might do here as its done in Europe - provide the incentive to appreciate diesel. Jerry Lewis? That’s another story.