When you scanned our list of the Best and Worst Gas Mileage Cars, you might have noticed that diesel-powered cars weren't included. A lot of you did notice and wrote to tell us about it. Well, in our own defense, we did say we were considering only "gasoline-powered vehicles." We stuck to cars you can drive into any filling station anywhere and find fuel (which includes the gasoline/electric hybrids topping the list.) Diesel fuel can be scarce at times, especially in rural and center-city areas. Truck stops have it, of course. Along main suburban highways, something like one in four big stations have diesel pumps, estimates Darren Wight, editor-in-chief of the trade paper National Petroleum News. He adds: "You may have to look a little harder for fuel, but you're getting great mileage while you're looking."

The diesel versions of the Volkswagen Golf, Jetta and New Beetle, all using the same engine, get an estimated 49 mpg on the highway with manual transmission. And, at today's prices, diesel fuel costs about 25 percent less than regular gasoline. These are great cars, too, with punchy acceleration and not nearly the amount of noise or fumes as the diesels of the past.

You may have a hard time getting one, though. Calls to Volkswagen dealers from customers looking for diesel-powered have surged right along with gas prices. VW is the only company selling diesel passenger cars in the U.S. today (Detroit produces just a few big diesel pickups) and they're already selling all that Volkswagen has allocated for the U.S. market. Volkswagen's production limitations and worldwide demand keep it from bringing in more diesels. In Europe, with chronically high gas prices, nearly one-third of all cars sold are diesels. But in the US, diesels suffer from an environmental Catch-22. While they produce only small amounts of the global-warming gases like carbon dioxide, diesels do spew soot and smog-forming nitrogen oxide. Environmental regulations thus limit how many diesels a car company may sell. Even tougher regulations are ahead, proposed by the EPA and defended by environmental groups. But advancing technology and lower-sulfur diesel fuel may let more diesels on American highways. "We see a very promising future for a high-tech, high-mileage diesel engine with lower emissions," says Volkswagen spokesman Tony Fouladpour.

Here's a look at VW's 2001 diesel darlings:

Volkswagen Golf TDI
The $16,195 GL diesel Golf adds $1,245 and 18 mpg on the highway over its sibling gasoline-powered Golf. (There also is a more expensive $17,400 GLS diesel version). And forget about those draggy, no-acceleration diesels of the 1970s. This 1.9-liter, 90-horsepower turbocharged diesel gives you plenty of torque for quick starts. Sportier to drive than much of the compact competition, the hatchback Golf also has its practical side. A fold-down rear seat lets you fit in luggage or sports gear. The Golf boasts five-star government crash tests and gives you standard anti-lock brakes and side air bags.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI
The Jetta's got the trademark Volkswagen agility on twisting back roads combined with a comfortable highway ride. With the same four-cylinder diesel engine as the Golf, list price for the manual-transmission GL version is $17,995. The GLS, with more standard features like cruise control, is $18,700. The Jetta has a side-curtain protection system, a thin but strong airbag that covers the side windows in the event of a crash, for both front and rear passengers. In government crash tests, it got five stars for frontal crashes and four stars for side impact. Like all Volkswagens, it has a 10-year powertrain warranty.

Volkswagen New Beetle TDI
Even if you're not old enough to remember the old Beetle, this blast from the past with a turbo-diesel engine is still pretty cool. The diesel comes only with the GLS version of the Beetle, listing at $17,900 with manual transmission. You get lots of standard features too, like an anti-theft alarm and remote locking system. The Beetle was one of the first small cars to get strong crash test ratings. It gets four stars in frontal crashes from the government, but an even higher "best pick" rating in an independent insurance industry test.

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