“It’s 2 p.m. I’m getting 45 miles per gallon and I can’t smell a damn thing.” That was taken directly out of my driving log as I parked at the tourist’s information center in Trinidad, Colorado. The mpg was after driving faster than posted the entire way from Denver and not smelling any diesel exhaust.
Indeed, this little bugger gets great mileage which is on par with the best performing hybrids in the business. The thing is, this little Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a lot of fun to drive – something I find lacking in many hybrids.
The more I flogged the Jetta TDI, the more I realized how great this car is. Imagine this; a car that gets fantastic mileage, has GOBS of torque (236 lbs feet), good horsepower (140) and returns spunky performance. I’ve driven other diesels and usually find them great power-sources for SUVs and pickups. Volkswagen’s 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder diesel is a fantastic, GREEN diesel that runs and smells much the same as a regular gas engine does. 
0 to 60 times were more than competitive at a tick under 8 ½ seconds and cornering maneuvers are just as surefooted as the gas-powered Jetta. My Volkswagen Jetta tester came in just under 25K with nearly every major option except for the navigation system.
At a smidgen under 3,300 lbs the Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a bit on the heavy side and if you push too hard on a corner, that weight will pull you off line. Still, for regular performance, highway ride and in-town maneuvers, the Jetta TDI is a superb machine.
Forget the annoying commercials from VW – this car IS worth a look.
Once you get to know the clean-burning, common rail, direct injection, turbocharged diesel engine – you can have some real fun. It’s different from a gas engine as you can bog down from a standstill if you neglect to let the turbocharger spool up. Once underway, the turbo assists in pulling the Jetta TDI along with authority. If you don’t pay attention, you can easily squeal the tires (even in the automatic) if your right foot is too heavy.
As with the regular Volkswagen Jetta, the TDI is roomy with excellent seats. I’m not thrilled with the steering feel, although it is easy to master in practice. Interior quality is spot on (Volkswagen’s strong suit) and rear seat comfort is quite good for a small car. I would like a little more headroom front and rear. Oddly, this is something that is not as much of an issue in either of the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagons.
If you are a Volkswagen fan, you will most likely thrill at the design of the Jetta. Other than labels, there are no discernable differences between the regular Jetta and the Jetta TDI. The look is clean, tight, balanced and well rounded. This is a car that looks and FEELS like rolling quality.
Well done Volkswagen.
I hope this new spirit in green diesels continues. I know those Europeans love their fast diesels and it’s only a matter of time before more come to our shores. As it stands, I am imminently impressed with Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI.
http://www.vw.com/jetta/en/us/?tab=tdi
Comments