When VW redesigned the Jetta in 2005, the TDI trim level boasted excellent fuel economy, but its tiny 100 horsepower diesel engine felt anemic in the Jetta's larger and heavier shell. This engine also could have used some improvements in the refinement department. For example, the clatter of a diesel engine was still fairly noticeable and my 2005 tester idled erratically while sitting for long periods at stoplights. With this being the case, the TDI was a compromise that I wasn't willing to live with for the sake of good fuel economy. After a 2-year absence in the USA (2007 and 2008), the TDI version of the Jetta is back. For '09 VW has ditched the anemic 1.9 turbocharged diesel engine in favor of a much more powerful and cleaner running 2.0 turbocharged diesel: the TDI now runs clean enough to be sold in all 50 states- rejoice Californians. Has the Jetta TDI improved enough to get onto my shopping list?

For the 2009 model year the Jetta TDI is available in 2 body styles: a 5-door sport wagon and a 4-door sedan. As mentioned, a new diesel engine makes it under the hood of the Jetta TDI this year: a larger and cleaner running 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 140 horsepower (40 more HP than the previous TDI) and a whopping 236-lbft of torque (over 50 more lb.-ft. of torque than the 1.9 TDI). Available transmissions include a standard 6-speed manual gearbox (replaces the old 5-speed) and a 6-speed DSG automatic, which can still be optioned for $1,100 (as tested).

Driving Impressions: Jetta Sedan - 6 speed DSG automatic

While the previous 1.9-liter TDI engine may have provided enough oomph for some folks, I found it to be horribly underpowered for situations when quick acceleration was needed. It also wasn't the most refined engine in the world: erratic idling and the audible clickity-clack sound of the exhaust were annoyances that I found with most Jetta TDI's. Because of these issues, I always favored the Toyota Prius or even the Honda Civic Hybrid over anything VW had to offer to combat crazy fuel prices.

Acceleration: 9/10

The new 2.0-liter diesel 4-cylinder under the hood of the Jetta finally puts my grips regarding power, or lack thereof, of the TDI trim to rest. While VW claims that the new Jetta TDI can spring from 0-60 in just 8.2 seconds (about 5 seconds quicker to 60 MPH than the 2005 TDI), it feels even quicker than this in the real world. Stab the TDI's throttle and it provides very strong punch right from idle: there is no need to wait for revs to build before you can feel some serious power. It certainly doesn't feel like a tiny 2.0-liter diesel engine is under the hood of this 3,200-lb. behemoth. While the new Jetta is no sports car by any stretch of the imagination, the extra 40 horsepower and extra 50 + lb-ft of torque over the old 1.9 engine makes the 2009 Jetta feel just as quick from stop-light to stop light as the larger 2.5-liter 5-cylinder gas engine in the regular Jetta and aeons faster around town than other gas savers on the market, i.e. the Prius or Civic Hybrid. With this being said, if you are not a fan of small economy cars due to their oftentimes-gutless nature, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much oomph the new TDI offers. From the moment you step on the throttle the Jetta TDI provides excellent power delivery with no noticeable turbo lag. Also, despite boasting a whopping 236 lbs.-ft of torque at just 1,750 RPM, wheel spin is not an issue on full throttle take-off: a common problem with FWD vehicles boasting this much torque.

Refinement: 9/10

The new 2.0 diesel engine isn't simply more powerful than the 1.9 that it replaces, it's also smoother. At idle and at speed the new TDI sounds much like a refined gasser: it certainly doesn't sound like your typical diesel engine. Though I did occasionally experience some mild vibration transmitted through the steering wheel of the 2009 TDI while waiting at stoplights, it was no more than what I felt with the 2008 automatic equipped Honda Accord, so this is not a major gripe by any means. Overall, the new 2.0 TDI engine is the most refined diesel engine that has ever made it under the hood of a Jetta.

Transmission: 10/10

Although I would have liked to have tested a Jetta TDI with its new 6-speed manual gearbox, the TDI's optional 6-speed DSG automatic (DSG stands for direct shift gearbox) with triptronic is about good as automatic transmissions get. The Jetta's automatic holds gears well, it shifts seamlessly, and it always seems to be in the best gear for the task at hand. The only slight gripe I have with this transmission is its tendency to up-shift before engine revs reach redline with the pedal to the metal (even with the selector in "S"). Normally this is a huge gripe that I have with automatics coupled to small 4-cylinder engines, but since the Jetta TDI receives most of its power in a short powerband from about 1,500-4,000 RPM, banging the rev limited to get the most out of this engine is highly unnecessary. The DSG triptronic transmission also allows you to shift through the gears like a manual via the shift lever, but sadly there are no paddle shifters. There is also an "S" mode on the gearshift that acts like D, but the shift points are slightly modified for better acceleration with the cost of a few MPG.

Handling: 8/10

The TDI gets the base model suspension, so while it's not as sporty as the high performance GLI trim, the TDI is still an excellent handling car that is surefooted and fun to drive on twisty roads. Similar to the gas version of the Jetta, the TDI exhibits only a minimal amount of body roll through sharp turns and unlike some high mileage cars in this price range, i.e. the Toyota Prius, the Jetta offers perfectly weighted electric steering that provides excellent feedback. The standard all-season tires on the TDI do an adequate job keeping the Jetta glued to the road, however performance junkies will most likely want to choose a higher performance tire, as the stock tires do tend to squeal, albeit mildly, when provoked. The Jetta TDI also gets safety features like ASR (anti slip regulation), ESP (electronic stability control), standard ABS, and standard 4-wheel disc brakes: so there is no shortage of safety features for times when quick braking or steering maneuvers are needed.

On the highway: 10/10

On the highway the TDI rides a lot like any refined gas powered vehicle. Save for some slight wind noise, the Jetta TDI's cabin is virtually silent on the highway. Even at 80 MPH, the sound of the Jetta's diesel engine is kept devoid from the cabin and roadgrain noise is always kept in check: even on nasty pavement. Compared to its more expensive high mileage competitors, i.e. the Prius or the Civic Hybrid, the TDI is just as quiet on the highway: those who still think diesel cars are all loud and obnoxious at high speeds will be in for a pleasant surprise with the 2009 TDI.

Though the TDI has a taught suspension, it's not so firm as to compromise ride quality. Unlike the Civic Hybrid, which suffers from a somewhat jarring ride in favor of good handling, there is no compromise in ride quality with the TDI. The TDI absorbs bumps and road imperfections without being jarring and nothing in the cabin rattles over rough road surfaces.

While the old 1.9-liter engine in the TDI offered entirely adequate passing power and hill climbing power, it lacked serious oomph when compared to most gas powered vehicles in this class. The new Jetta TDI's extra power and torque make light work of passing big semi trucks and tackling steep inclines on the highway. Though the DSG automatic transmission is geared fairly tall for fuel economy (it cruises around 2,300 RPM at 70 MPH), there is still plenty of low-end torque in top gear to propel the TDI up any steep grade without the need for the transmission to downshift. If you put your foot into the throttle on a hill, the Jetta TDI is happy to comply by instantly providing the power needed and does so without any fuss from either the engine or the DSG transmission.

Fuel economy: 10/10

Even though the new Jetta offers loads more power than the 2005-2006 Jetta TDI, it receives even better MPG. According to the EPA the new Jetta TDI should receive 30-MPG in town and 41-MPG on the highway with the manual gearbox and 29-MPG in town and 40 -PG on the highway with the DSG automatic transmission. According to the MPG display on the center console of my automatic equipped TDI, I received close to 40 MPG in 40 miles of mixed city and highway driving: refreshingly higher than the EPA estimates. VW also gives the Jetta TDI a large 14.5-gallon fuel tank, so fill-ups should be every 500-600+ miles or more during freeway travel: great for those of us who don't particularly enjoy pumping fuel.

Interior:

Style & Ergonomics: 10/10

The TDI's cabin is styled much like the regular Jetta, so while its interior won't win any awards for innovative styling, it's a clean design without the distracting overdose of chrome accents found in many of its Japanese competitors. While the TDI does come with some metal accents, it's just enough to break up the monotony of the stark gray landscape of the dash.
The Jetta's interior offers a functional and simple layout. However, I do have some slight rants with the Jetta's interior layout. The HVAC controls, for example, desperately need to be moved up higher on the center stack and the tachometer is numbered by 10s instead of 1's, so it reads more like a speedometer than a tach: it can be confusing at first. Volkswagen oftentimes will try a little too hard to be original, and the wonky tachometer is an unfortunate consequence of VW's pursuit for uniqueness.

Interior Quality: 10/10

Like the Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius, many will argue that the TDI's fuel savings simply will never pay for its premium price tag versus going with, say, a base model Corolla or base Civic. While this may be true, the TDI feels classes higher than either car. Get behind the thick leather wrapped steering wheel and the 2009 TDI feels much like an entry-level luxury sedan: everything in the TDI feels solid and upscale, much like the base Audi A3.

Seats: 9/10

The Jetta's front bucket seats offer high levels of comfort and provide good upper and lower body support for keeping front occupants planted in their seats during aggressive driving maneuvers. The TDI comes standard with "V-Tex" leatherette seating surfaces, and though it's not real leather it feels about as close to the real thing as faux leather gets. The rear seats (also covered in V-Tex leatherette) also offer good comfort and modest bolsters so your passengers don't get tossed around too much on twisty roads.

Amenities: 9/10

Unlike some gas savers on the market, amenities in the Jetta TDI are not scarified. On the contrary, even with no options the TDI comes very well equipped. The base TDI gets loaded with amenities like AC, a tilt and telescoping leather wrapped steering wheel with audio mounted controls, heated seats, cruise control, power windows/locks, a 115 volt AC power outlet for items like lap tops, 12 volt outlets, heated windshield washer nozzles, and a host of other amenities. The Jetta TDI gets VW's 10-speaker sound system with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capabilities and a 1-year subscription to serious satellite radio. Though a 10 speaker sound system may sound pretty impressive, sadly this system sounds comparable in quality to, say, the measly 6-speaker sound system in my Civic. In other words, if you are an audiophile you most likely will want to upgrade with performance speakers or a different sound system altogether. The Jetta also gets plenty of standard safety features including front/side/curtain air bags, rear head restraints, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Room: 9/10

When VW redesigned the current generation of the Jetta back in 2005 it grew substantially, making it dangerously close to being classified by the EPA as a midsize sedan. While the Jetta is still ranked as a compact car, its interior offers plenty of room for up to 5 occupants. Front occupants get a generous amount of head, shoulder, and leg room and the backseat offers a good amount of leg and head room for average sized adults (6-footers will probably be a bit cramped in the back, however). At 5'6" I had no problems getting cozy in the Jetta, even the rear seats offered a generous amount of room.

The Jetta provides a good amount of interior storage. Inside the TDI you'll find cubbies throughout the cabin, including a wide center console, front map pockets, a large lockable glove box, and a rear fold down console with slide-out cup holders and front seatback map storage. Where the Jetta shines most in the storage department, however, is how huge its trunk is. The Jetta's trunk will easily swallow 2 weeks of groceries for a family of 3, and thanks to non-intrusive strut hinges, you won't have to worry about your groceries being squashed. If larger items need to be hauled, the Jetta features 60/40 split rear folding seats that fold almost completely flat, which reveals a huge passthrough into the cabin: shame most sedans don't offer this big of a passthrough. If more storage is desired, VW does offer the TDI wagon this year, so that variant of the TDI is definitely worth a look if you can find one.

Price and Warranty: 7/10

The 2009 VW Jetta TDI has a starting MSRP just south of $22,000 for the manual and just north of $23,000 for the automatic (prices for the Sportwagon start about $1,500 higher). The TDI can be had with tons of options, so if you are not careful the final price can easily rise to well over $26,000. Luckily the government is offering a $1,300 federal income tax credit for all 2009 TDI diesel models, making the price a little easier to swallow. It should also be noted that the TDI has consistently had excellent resale value. As for the standard warranty, if anything goes haywire with your new Jetta VW gives the 2009 TDI a measly 3-year/36,000-mile full coverage warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Overall: 9/10

The 2009 Jetta TDI is, by far, the best Jetta TDI VW has ever built. The 2009 TDI is refined, surprisingly quick, roomy, and provides hybrid-like fuel economy for less money and less compromise. If you are on the market for a compact or mid-size sedan that gives excellent fuel economy without sacrificing power or amenities, you have to check out the new Jetta TDI. Recommended 100%.


Thanks for reading!
Amount Paid (US$): 23,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2009
Model and Options: TDI 6-speed DSG automatic