It really comes down to your driving routine. From a fuel perspective, if you never drive more than 60 miles a day, then plug-in electric ideal. If the vast majority of driving is urban/suburban, then hybrid ideal. When you read of TDIs averaging 47+ MPGs, they are primarily highway or rural driven -- or someone's hyper-miling it, which under-utilizes the fun factor of a TDI.
As Tom stated, Passat TDIs offer much more than top tier fuel economy. Peeps who only think of cars as transport appliances typically don't buy TDIs in the US.
My take on this. It comes down to more than your driving routine. There are a number of factors that affect fuel economy....though driving habits/methods have a large affect on it.
Plug in Electrics aren't worth the cost IMO. 10-15 miles or less maybe....but you have to have an alternate vehicle for longer excursions. Those back by a gas generator are okay....but will do not so good on long trips.
Urban a hybrid makes sense....suburban it think it would vary.
I disagree with your statement on the 47+ MPG club. I regularly get above 50 MPG and most of the time its 70/30 highway/city. I have plenty of fun too when accelerating....I avoid the brakes as much as possible and I do not go over 60 except when merging and such.
Driving this way makes more sense all around. You have more reaction time, higher MPG, and lower tailpipe emissions when you employ these tactics.
I have done it with an alh, two PDs, and now my new baby.
