2009 VW Jetta TDI Road Test

Inspired by three days of honing our clean diesel fuel economy skills on the Audi Mileage Marathon, we were anxious to see just how efficiently the new 50 state emission legal Volkswagen Jetta could be driven. The larger, heavier, all-wheel-drive Audi A4 ‘green car’ we competed in was powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel, and on a route from Washington D.C. to Cleveland, Ohio we netted a combined average of 44.2 mpg. Would the VW clean diesel do better?

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is the latest evolution of VW’s 30-plus years of diesel investment in the North American automotive market. This car is clean enough to meet the most stringent current emissions standards, allowing sale in all 50 U.S. states, including those adopting California clean air standards. And modern clean diesel engines like the one in the Jetta TDI are easy to operate and live with, quiet, and smooth. This car is so impressive, in fact, that it was tapped as Green Car Journal's 2009 Green Car of the Year®.

Fuel economy is the primary motivation for buying a Jetta TDI. EPA estimates are 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway with the manual transmission. Independent third party testing by AMCI found real world economy to be 24 percent higher, delivering 38 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway. Green Car editors have done even better. Employing the most basic fuel saving driving practices, we have easily pushed highway mileage above 50 mpg. If you work at it, mid-50 mpg is possible. Using advanced efficiency techniques, a 2009 recently set a Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption on a route across the 48 contiguous United States, achieving a fuel economy average of 58.82 mpg.

The 2.0 liter TDI produces 140 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and more importantly, 236 lbs-ft of torque that’s available from just 1,750 rpm. That abundant torque makes the Jetta fun to drive and even sporty. TDI drivers never feel like they are being penalized for the decision to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. With the five-speed manual, the Jetta posts a 0-60 mph time of 8.2 seconds. The six-speed DSG automatic transmission with Tipronic and Sport mode will hit 60 mph in 8.5 seconds.

It’s important to note that the Jetta TDI is able to meet 50 states emissions without the added complexity of AdBlue urea injection in the exhaust system to neutralize NOx emissions. Advanced catalytic converter technology, a NOx catalyst that temporarily stores NOx emissions and then burns them off , and a diesel particulate filter allow the Jetta TDI to meet the most stringent Tier 2 – Bin 5 emissions standard. The 2.0 liter can operate on B5 biodiesel without complaint.

Volkswagen is offering the 2.0 liter TDI in both the Jetta Sedan and SportWagen. Both are roomy five passenger vehicles with considerable utility. Ride and handling are very refined, with the European road feel we’ve come to expect from a German engineered car. Illustrating the sporty potential of this car, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race series recently completed a very successful first season of competition on road courses all across America. The fit, finish, and overall build quality are top notch.

With a suggested retail price of just $21,990, the Jetta TDI is a wise investment in a model that has historically offered high resale value. Volkswagen Jettas and SportWagens equipped with the TDI engine are eligible for a $1,300 Federal Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit. Once you experience clean diesel performance, that’s just icing on the cake.

The Good: Hybrid busting fuel economy, torque rich performance
The Bad: 30,000 U.S. units for 2009
The Rating: 9.5 (out of 10)