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2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Review

Efficiency Connoisseur

A three-quarter front view of a white 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

In short: A fuel-efficient and value-packed compact sedan.

True, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a diesel-run car, but it won’t be belching a plume of sooty, smelly exhaust. This elegantly designed compact sedan contains an efficient (and turbocharged) 2.0-liter diesel engine that is clean enough to comply with environmental regulations in all 50 states, and it may even qualify buyers for a $1,300 Federal income tax credit. Along with its good environmental hygiene, this non-hybrid vehicle is also frugal with fuel, so much so that it is able to achieve up to 41 mpg on the highway.

The fun-to-drive TDI is geared towards value, offering impressive fuel economy, a durable engine, a comfortable interior and quality standard features all for a relatively inexpensive starting price. Standard to this five-passenger automobile are heatable front seats; an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel; a trip computer; and a six-disc in-dash CD changer with ten speakers, MP3 capability, an auxiliary input jack and Sirius satellite radio. A powered glass sunroof is optional.

Read a review of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Warranty/Service: Three-year/36,000-mile new vehicle warranty; five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty; twelve-year/unlimited-mile anti-corrosion warranty; three-year/36,000-mile 24/7 roadside assistance and no-charge scheduled maintenance program.

QUICK SHEET

Base Price: $21,990

Technical Specifications

Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

Engine: 2.0-liter, SOHC inline 4-cylinder turbocharged direct injection diesel
Horsepower: 140 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1,750-2,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual

Curb weight: 3,230 lbs
Wheelbase: 101.5 in
Length/Width/Height: 179.3/70.1/57.4 in
Turning circle: 35.8 ft

Brakes: all-wheel power-assisted disc with ABS, electronic brake-pressure distribution and hydraulic brake assistant
Suspension: independent MacPherson struts and telescopic shock absorbers in front; multilink in rear; coil springs in front and rear
Traction: anti-slip regulation and electronic stabilization program

0-60 mph: 8.2 seconds
Top Speed: 127 mph (electronically governed)

EPA City: 30 mpg
EPA Highway: 41 mpg

Safety: driver and front passenger front and side thorax airbags; side curtain protection; anti-intrusion side-door beams; daytime running lights; tire pressure monitoring system

Likes: trunk space; quiet; fuel economy

Dislikes: diesel fuel still costs more than regular gasoline

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Photography: AlphaMedia

PSV022609

(Updated 07/16/10 NW)

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