2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI Review
HEELS ON WHEELS: 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI REVIEW
HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel
INTRO TO THE 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLE
It would take a mighty wagon to rethink my addiction to the Subaru –
and that wagon is the Jetta SportWagen TDI.
I drove a five-door (including liftgate), five-passenger 2009 Jetta SportWagen TDI (Turbo Diesel Injection) with a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission. Extras included the panoramic sunroof, a navigation screen, and the 5-speed tiptronics transmission for a total price of $29,410.
I spent a lot of time with the Jetta SportsWagen, rallying from San Francisco up to Eureka (a 500-mile roundtrip journey) and am immensely impressed on a multitude of accounts, from its soundless diesel engine to being a Cash for Clunkers trade-in gem. I'm calling the 2009 Jetta SportsWagen my Heels on Wheels Car of the Year. If I was in the market to buy, this is what I would get.
HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA
Stylish But Comfortable Results: The panoramic sunroof gives the SportWagen an absolute edge for drivers in both the sedan and CUV market segment: 54 inches long and 34 inches wide with various stages of opening and closing (like the advertising states, it blurs the line between sunroof and convertible top). You've got more cargo space than the Subaru Outback. The Multi-function Indicator located in dash doesn't just beep when something is wrong; a digital picture and words tell you the trouble (ie. a second-row left car door is open; E-brake has been left on). There are no steering wheel audio controls, but it comes as an acceptable tradeoff. Love the 3-D navigation screen. The seat's leatherette material is a fine comprise with easier upkeep in the long run. The overall look is more "urban versatile" than the Subaru (whereas the Outback translates "outdoorsy" all the time). The Jetta wagon can mesh into city life easier: its shape is more aerodynamic and slick (the slanted window design achieves such a look).
Reliability & Safety Factor: While it's true VWs do not get the same press endorsement as Toyotas, Hondas or even Subarus get, the 2009 is receiving rave reviews – even by those unimpressed with the vehicle in the past. However, if you take J.D. Powers advice, which bases vehicles on a three-year vehicle history, it predicts the vehicle to have mediocre reliability. Moving on, the NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program does give it 4 stars in frontal crash testing for both driver and front passenger and 5-stars (the Agency’s highest rating) for side-impact on both the front and rear seat occupants. Like most cars, the SportWagen is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty; but all new for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program, which includes a no-charge scheduled maintenance under the life of the above warranty.
Cost Issues: There isn’t a cost issue upfront. I paid $30 bucks to fill up the tank and it took me close to 500 miles, which I found completely refreshing. You do need to get the sunroof ($1,300) and the automatic transmission with Tiptronics ($1,100); but if you have a your own GPS, a $4,500 Cash for Clunkers, you're looking at getting the SportWagen for $25k easily.
Activity & Performance Ability: In a nutshell, the SportWagen TDI is great on gas, has lots of nice turbo power, and is a very quite diesel. It offered consistently smooth driving. Journeying through northern California requires jockeying single-lane winding mountain roads that climb or descend at high speeds with little warning alongside logging trucks. The 140-horsepower engine felt like it delivered about double of that (the turbo response)
The Green Concern: The SportWagen is a clean-burning diesel delivering 35-mpg. It's one of the top recommended cars in the Cash for Clunkers program.
FINAL PARTING WORDS
A spacious clean diesel with turbo power garnering an average of 35-mpg
– what's more to love than that? Okay, the panoramic sunroof and a
price under $30k.VW impressed even the toughest critics with the Jetta
Sportwagen TDI.
Katrina's Car Tips For Women Drivers
- Katrina's 2009 Crossover Watch List
- Katrina's 2009 3-Row SUVs and SUVs
- Katrina's 2008 Top 10 Vehicles For Female Drivers
- Katrina's Basic Car Insurance Coverage For Women
- Katrina's Money Saving Car Tips For Women
Katrina's 2010 and 2009 Model Reviews For Women Drivers
- 2009 Acura RDX Review
- 2009 Acura TL Review
- 2009 Acura TSX Tech Review
- 2009 BMW X3 xDRIVE 30i Review
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse Review
- 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Review
- 2009 Dodge Journey Review
- 2009 Ford Flex Review
- 2009 Honda Pilot EX-L Review
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe Review
- 2009 Kia Borrego Review
- 2010 Lexus HS250h Review
- 2009 Mazda5 Grand Touring Review
- 2009 Mazda6 Grand Touring Review
- 2009 Mazda CX-9 Review
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 BLUETEC Review
- 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Review
- 2009 Nissan Murano Review
- 2009 Suzuki Equator Review
- 2009 Subaru Forester Review
- 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Review
- 2009 Toyota Yaris Review
- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review
- 2009 Toyota RAV4 Review
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion Review
- 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport Review
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI Review
Katrina's 2008 Model Reviews For Women Drivers
- 2008 Buick Enclave Review
- 2008 Ford Escape
- 2008 Ford Escape Limited 4x4 Review
- 2008 Honda CR-V Review
- 2008 Honda Reidgeline Review
- 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Review
- 2008 Kia Sportage 4x4 Review
- 2008 Lexus RX400h Hybrid Review
- 2008 Lexus GX470 Review
- 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD Review
- 2008 Nissan Pathfinder Review
- 2008 Nissan Armada Review
- 2008 Suzuki SX4 Review
- 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Review
- 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid Review
- 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
- 2008 Volkswagen Touareg Review
- 2008 Volkswagen Touareg Review
- 2008 Volvo C30 Review
©2009 Katrina Ramser