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2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in Top 10 for Gas Mileage

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in Top 10 for Gas Mileage

By Colin Mathews's avatar Colin MathewsColin Mathews October 27th, 2008

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

Enlarge Photo

Last week, the EPA released its list of the 2009 most fuel-efficient vehicles. Both the 2009 Volksagen Jetta TDI sedan and the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI made the top 10, a realm in which they were the only diesel vehicles present.

The Jetta diesels were surrounded mainly by gasoline/electric hybrids in the top 10 grouping. Mark Barnes, COO of Volkswagen of America, Inc. praised his company’s clean diesel models, saying they offer “a true no compromise deal for consumers – comfort, economy, and performance.”

While we haven’t done a full test of the new Jetta TDI, we did a brief drive and came away quite impressed. From a wall of torque available just off idle, the remarkable operation of VW/Audi’s optional six-speed DSG transmission, and a four-cylinder that’s arguably as smooth and refined as its gasoline competitors, THE VW Jetta TDI did, indeed, seem to offer all of the benefits of a frugal with none of the detriments of a diesel. Today’s modern diesels are thoroughly competitive powerplants that just happen to burn a fuel that’s packed with some 30 percent more energy than gasoline.

Volkswagen has been doing lots of publicity to raise awareness about the economy and drivability of its new diesel models. It recently enlisted the help of the Taylors, an Australian mileage-setting couple, who netted a remarkable 58.85 mpg on an 8,000-mile cross-country trip in a Jetta TDI. In part, this helps mitigate the EPA’s rating for the vehicle of 29/40 mpg; Volkswagen and others have found this rating to be lower than the vehicle gets in real-world conditions. Volkswagen also hired independent testing agency AMCI to conduct its own fuel mileage tests with the Jetta TDI, and they rated the vehicle at 38/44 mpg.

If all of the above don’t convince you that the Jetta TDI is a good buy, then consider the $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit you’re eligible for after purchasing one. Both Jetta TDIs qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Federal income tax, and even without urea injection like its Mercedes, BMW, and Audi diesel competition. Further proof that diesels are no longer the smoky, smelly, slow beasts of yore.--Colin Mathews
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Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportwagenEnlarge PhotoLast week, the EPA released its list of the 2009 most fuel-efficient vehicles. Both the 2009 Volksagen Jetta TDI sedan and the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI made the top 10, a realm in which they were the only diesel vehicles present. The Jetta diesels were surrounded mainly by gasoline/electric hybrids in the top 10 grouping. Mark Barnes, COO of Volkswagen of America, Inc. praised his company’s clean diesel models, saying they offer “a true no compromise deal for consumers – comfort, economy, and performance.” While we haven’t done a full test of the new Jetta TDI, we did a brief drive and came away quite impressed. From a wall of torque available just off idle, the remarkable operation of VW/Audi’s optional six-speed DSG transmission, and a four-cylinder that’s arguably as smooth and refined as its gasoline competitors, THE VW Jetta TDI did, indeed, seem to offer all of the benefits of a frugal with none of the detriments of a diesel. Today’s modern diesels are thoroughly competitive powerplants that just happen to burn a fuel that’s packed with some 30 percent more energy than gasoline. Volkswagen has been doing lots of publicity to raise awareness about the economy and drivability of its new diesel models. It recently enlisted the help of the Taylors, an Australian mileage-setting couple, who netted a remarkable 58.85 mpg on an 8,000-mile cross-country trip in a Jetta TDI. In part, this helps mitigate the EPA’s rating for the vehicle of 29/40 mpg; Volkswagen and others have found this rating to be lower than the vehicle gets in real-world conditions. Volkswagen also hired independent testing agency AMCI to conduct its own fuel mileage tests with the Jetta TDI, and they rated the vehicle at 38/44 mpg. If all of the above don’t convince you that the Jetta TDI is a good buy, then consider the $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit you’re eligible for after purchasing one. Both Jetta TDIs qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Federal income tax, and even without urea injection like its Mercedes, BMW, and Audi diesel competition. Further proof that diesels are no longer the smoky, smelly, slow beasts of yore.--Colin Mathews --- Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius.

Tags: Industry, Cars We Love

Posted in: 2001, 2009, Volkswagen, Sedans, Wagons, Green, Diesel, Jetta



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Responses (2 total)

  1. By Ed #1, Posted: 10/28/2008

    This is a FANTASTIC car for a SERIOUS DRIVER that needs to do a lot of miles (mostly hgihway) every year.
    On the highway, Popular mechanics tested one of this against a very inferior (handling and driving pleasure-wise ugly Prius and the jetta was 1 MPG BETTER!
    Which proves that EPA mpgs are not good even for COMPARISON purposes. Because the jetts is listed by the clueless EPA at 40 or 41 HWY and does ACTUAL 46, and the Prius is listed 45 and also does 45 Highway. (in the city, the prius is much better than the jetta.)
    The only Q I have is will the car (apart from the excellent diesel engine) be RELIABLE?

  2. By  Arly #2, Posted: 12/27/2008

    I been driving a Jetta 2.5 for four years and I LOVE the performance of the mileage in this car. I believe that EPA rating in vw cars is very undestimated because they don´t want american people to buy high performance imports like vw cars. I go fast in the highway about 60 to 90 mph and the fuel indicator still move sligtly a bit after riding it for about 40 minutes on the higway. I do alot of higway driving and couldn´t believe it at first that my jetta mileage was incredible. Despite of critics and I use a radar because my jetta flies on the higway is what really drivers want. Tip if you have a jetta with both transmissions: to avoid a cop just switch automatic to manual back and forth several times to eliminated cop´s radar to get your speed. EPA should be more objective on rating these cars despite of the lack of effiency of american cars. We should demand american companies to create high effiency cars in mileage due that our tax money is bailing out the american companies. And the goverment should offer equal tax benefits when you buying green cars regardless of where they come from.. Stop the ignorance and be objective when buying a car that would make a difference in our world...

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