2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Rebecca Antioco

Volkswagen has been selling diesel-engine cars in the United States on and off for three decades or so. For the most part, diesels get a bad rap as loud, dirty, sluggish smog-spewing monsters. Admittedly, many of those accusations used to be true.

The new Jetta TDI changes all of that. It is the first 50-state diesel vehicle, clean enough to be sold in states with even the strictest emissions standards. On a ten-point scale, the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide gives the Jetta TDI an air-pollution score of six and a greenhouse-gas score of eight. By comparison, the previous TDI received an air-pollution score of one.

But what’s it like to drive one? The new TDI is powered by a clean-burning four-cylinder, 140-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Even though the horsepower is about 30 fewer than the traditional model, the TDI produces 236 pound-feet of torque. We drove a TDI with the optional six-speed automatic transmission ($1100), and only experienced the slightest of lag when accelerating from a dead stop, and even less when accelerating heavily while the car is already in motion. Volkswagen boasts that the TDI has a top track speed of 130 mph.

Once underway, the Jetta motors along quickly and quietly, with performance characteristics typical of a German sports sedan that costs thousands more. The sound emanating from the engine is a distinctive, somewhat appealing growl, but isn’t excessive or intrusive into the cabin. I’ve always enjoyed the tight, precise steering and agile handling of the Jetta, and the TDI is no exception.

Pricewise, the TDI falls between the mid-line Jetta SE and top-of-the-line SEL gasoline-powered models, and is likewise equipped. The starting price of the TDI is about $2200 more than the SE, but when you factor in the potential income tax credit of about $1300, the price discrepancy is negligible. This is especially true when you consider that the TDI gets a transmission upgrade and a few extras like a trip computer and a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with audio controls.

Other standard features include power locks/windows/mirrors, Bluetooth compatibility, alloy wheels with all-season tires, heatable front seats, Sirius satellite radio and premium sound system. Even the base model gasoline-powered Jetta is well equipped, and VW ups the ante in the TDI.

Options include a power tilt and sliding sunroof ($1000) and various roof racks ranging in function from kayak or surfboard holders to bike or ski/snowboard racks to cargo carriers. A DVD-based navigation system is available for an additional $1790, and a media device interface (MDI) that enables you to plug your iPod or other USB device directly into the car is $199. While the MDI is a nice and, to me, worthwhile upgrade, it would be wise to consider saving your money on the nav system and buying one of the much more affordable, but equally functional, portable systems available.

The TDI is available as a sedan or a Sportwagen model. It is now in its fifth generation, having been designed midway through the 2005 model year. I’ve always liked the Jetta’s looks, although I'm of the opinion that the previous generation had more design character than the current iteration. However, the redesign gave the Jetta much-needed backseat legroom and bumped its classification up from a compact to a midsized sedan.

Inside, the cabin has a premium feel and excellent fit and finish. The ambient red-orange lighting on the gauges and audio systems gives it a cool, upscale look. I find Jetta’s interior to be the best looking and among the most well equipped in this price class. A former Jetta owner, I also loved the 3-year/36,000-mile no-charge scheduled maintenance program.

Safety-wise, the Jetta received the government’s second-highest, four-star crash test rating in front impacts and highest five stars in side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick with a highest rating of Good in all categories.

From an efficiency standpoint, in my week of combination city/highway driving, I averaged an impressive 41.7 miles per gallon, and had little trouble finding a place to refuel.

For me, the combination of fuel economy and drive experience found in the Jetta TDI is unmatched. While a hybrid will get you the efficiency, it won’t come close to the matching the road performance. Jetta is worth a drive for those looking for the right combination of performance and fuel economy.