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2009 VW Jetta SportWagen TDI "Clean" Diesel Road Test
The appearance of a new Volkswagen diesel-powered vehicle in the U.S. shouldn't be a surprise. VW had been selling diesels in the U.S. when other auto makers didn't have them in their showrooms. The fact they were restricted in some states seemed to be a burden the German auto maker was wiling to bear. After, diesels have long had a reputation for being dirty fuel, spewing tiny particulates of soot on everything around.
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2009 VW Jetta SportWagen Interior |
That's changing for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI clean diesel, which has the meets the new federal diesel fuel standards with new clean diesel technology. The new, hotly anticipated Jetta SportWagen TDI clean diesel will comply with emissions standards in all 50 states. The front-drive SportWagen's power comes from a 2.0 liter, 140-horsepower, 4 cylinder "common rail" turbodiesel, matched with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual mode.
Mileage is where the compact SportWagen shines. Its 29 city/40 hwy rating is nothing to sneeze at. But VW wasn't satisfied taking the Environmental Protection Agency's testing results and hired an independent firm to verify its fuel economy in real world traffic. The results were 24-percent better than the EPA's findings. We're not sure if the Jetta SportWagen will quite meet the resulting 38 city/44 hwy test results for the auto, since the wagon is slightly larger and heavier. But we're betting it isn't far behind.
VW's just-announced entry price for the well-appointed wagon version is $23,590. Among the few options are cold weather package, 115-volt power outlet, premium sound, touch screen nav system, and panoramic sunroof.
VW's lure for German auto fans (some say fanatics) isn't just limited to great mileage. Company goals were to provide a great driving car that excelled in performance and convenience as well, according to company officials.
VW expects the new Jetta pair to be snapped up quickly, with clean diesel technology, greet performance and impressive mileage as the frosting on the traditional German chocolate cake. |
