2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Turbo-diesel gives Volkswagen’s compact sedan power and fuel economy

By Nina Russin

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen’s newest compact sedan offers budget-conscious buyers a choice of two gasoline engines or two eco-friendly options. At the end of 2010, a turbocharged clean diesel Jetta arrives in US dealerships. A hybrid rolls out for the 2012 model year. The high-performance Jetta GLI arrives the first quarter of next year.

A value-priced base model starts under $16,000. The automaker hopes to conquest customers who couldn’t afford the more expensive outgoing car. Volkswagen simplifies the buying process by reducing build combinations from 148 to 14.

Powered by a two-liter 115-horsepower engine and five-speed manual transmission, the Jetta S comes standard with electronic stability control and complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.

The volume-leading SE adds a more powerful 2.5-liter engine rated at 170-horsepower. The SE comes with 16-inch wheels as opposed to the 15-inch rims on the base model, upscale upholstery, cruise control, and a 60/40 split rear seat with a pass-through.

A fully-loaded SEL costs just under $25,000. Standard convenience features include keyless entry and start, 17-inch alloy wheels, driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, Bluetooth and iPod interface, a sunroof and navigation system.

A sport-package on SEL lowers the chassis ride height for better high-speed performance, adds sport seats, pedals and door sills.

The upscale model comes with four-wheel disc brakes as opposed to rear drums on the other two grades. Since drum brakes can fade and perform poorly in wet weather, I’d recommend the investment for those who can afford the premium.

Two green options

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

The most exciting news for environmentally-conscious drivers is the availability of both clean diesel and hybrid models. The Jetta TDI arrives a two months after the initial dealer rollout in October.

Base price is $22,995, not including a $770 destination charge. The optional navigation system brings the MSRP to $24,195. While buyers will have to fork out some extra cash for the TDI, the car’s power and performance are worth the money.

In addition to producing 42 mile-per-gallon highway fuel economy, the diesel engine has exceptional torque: up to 236 foot-pounds. The engine reaches peak torque at 1750 rpm, giving the driver exceptional low-end power for merging into traffic and climbing hills.

Test drive in the Bay area

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Recently, I had a chance to test drive the 2011 Jetta TDI on the coastal highway north of San Francisco. The drive route took us through San Francisco’s hilly neighborhoods, over the Golden Gate bridge on the 101 freeway, and up to Bodega Bay on winding two-lane roads.

The narrow roads put the diesel‘s low-end power to the test. Those familiar with this part of the country know that the coastal roads are full of blind corners and off-camber hairpin turns: a challenge for the sedan‘s steering and suspension.

Engineers lengthened the wheelbase 2.9-inches compared to the outgoing model, to increase rear legroom and trunk space. Despite its larger size, the new Jetta is every bit as maneuverable as the car it replaces.

An independent front and semi-independent rear suspension is compliant enough to absorb some bumps in the road, but firm in the corners. The power steering system offers exceptional on-center response, helping the driver feel connected to the wheels.

The turbocharged diesel engine accelerates from zero-to-sixty in 8.7 seconds as opposed to 11 for the base gasoline engine, with ten mile-per-gallon better fuel economy on the highway. Since the engine reaches peak torque after throttle tip-off, it makes quick work of steep grades as well.

Engineers did an excellent job of isolating passengers from wind, road and engine noise. Passengers in the second row should have no problems conversing with those in the first.

The diesel model comes with a six-speed direct-shift gearbox. Unlike traditional automatic transmissions that have fluid coupling, the direct-shift design utilizes friction plates to yield performance comparable to manual gearboxes.

Shifting is quick and precise, even in the fully automatic mode. The driver who wants more aggressive performance can select gears manually.

Visibility around the car is quite good. I had no problems backing out of a parking space or parallel parking on the street. Side mirrors are easy to adjust for monitoring traffic in the adjacent lanes, and are small enough so as not to obstruct the driver’s forward view.

Sixteen-inch wheels on the TDI don’t have to footprint of the 17-inch rims on the SEL, but they are big enough to keep the chassis stable under challenging driving conditions.

Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the car in a firm, linear fashion,

Upscale interior appeals to tech-savvy buyers

Volkswagen Jetta Interior

The Jetta’s spacious interior makes it ideal for buyers who commute to work with multiple office mates, as well as growing families. The amount of legroom in the second row is impressive for such as small car.

Designers carried the classic European lines on the Jetta’s exterior inside the car, with a driver-focused instrument panel, uncluttered center stack and attractive leatherette upholstery.

Both rows of passengers get 12-volt power points for recharging portable electronic devices, bottle holders in the doors and large cupholders in the center console and fold-down rear armrest.

The moonroof on the test car brings additional ambient light in back. Dual overhead reading lamps front and rear illuminate the car at night.

Graphics on the optional navigation system are easy to read. The system automatically zooms into intersections to minimize driver distraction.

Standard satellite radio gives commuters access to commercial-free programming on an audio system with above-average sound quality. A USB port in the center stack allows drivers to plug in music sticks.

The iPod interface in the glovebox keeps portable music devices concealed from prying eyes. The glovebox locks for additional security.

The Jetta’s spacious trunk can easily hold luggage or the weekly groceries. The rear seats fold flat to extend the cargo floor for long items such as skis or snowboards. Cyclists should opt for the Jetta Sportwagen with a larger, more versatile cargo area.

Standard safety

All models come with front, side and side curtain airbags, antilock braking, electronic stability and traction control. Automatic crash response unlocks the car doors, activates the hazard lights and shuts off the fuel pump if the airbags deploy.

The 2011 Jetta rolls out this October.

Likes: An affordable compact sedan with European styling, outstanding fuel economy and performance.

Dislike: S and SE grades come with rear drum brakes, which are harder to service than discs and can perform unevenly in wet weather. The SEL and TDI grades come with four-wheel disc brakes.

Quick facts:

Make: Volkswagen
Model: Jetta TDI DSG
Base price: $22,995*
As tested: N/A
Horsepower: 140 Hp @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 236 lbs.-ft. @ 1750 rpm
Zero-to-sixty: 8.7 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: No
Off-road: No
Towing: No
Fuel economy: 30/42 mpg city/highway
Comments: Base price does not include a $770 destination charge.