Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Review
The Jetta SportWagen TDI is a clean, green money-saving machine, with plenty of cargo space, all in a sporty, stylish package. 
Featuring the award-winning 2.0 –liter clean diesel TDI engine—the same engine that snagged Volkswagen a Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption—the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen runs on ultra low-sulfur diesel, offers excellent fuel economy, lots of room for cargo and looks a great deal pricier than it is.
For 2010, the front of the Jetta SportWagen (known as the Golf Variant in other parts of the globe) was fitted with the new design language which replaces the older headlights and somewhat glitzy, vertical chrome grill with a sleek, cleaner front end and horizontal lines. With V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel, brake handle, and shift knob, the interior (which comes straight from the Golf VI) gives the Sportwagen the appearance, and to a degree, the feel of a much more expensive car.
These luxurious accents were complemented by the following, all standard: Sirius satellite radio (including six months of service), a ten-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo which can read MP3 CDs, a Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity with voice control, a 115V power outlet, an integrated roof rack, and a power sunroof. The 2010 Jetta models also come standard with a three-year/36,000 mile warranty which includes all scheduled maintenance as well as 24-hour roadside assistance for the warranty period.
My SportWagen came with the six-speed DSG transmission with Tiptronic, a dual-clutch transmission that uses direct shifting , automatically engaging and disengaging gears without the need for a clutch pedal. The DSG transmission’s default mode is fully-automatic operation, but manual (and clutchless) shifting is also an option for drivers.
When it came to acceleration, however, the SportWagen’s pickup was a bit sluggish, which did not inspire confidence, for example, when attempting to enter highway on-ramps at speed. 
Volkswagen publishes a 0-60 mph figure of 9.5 seconds (the Jetta sedan, which is a different car altogether, does the same run a full second faster). At times acceleration felt delayed and abrupt when it did kick in, but once the car picked up speed, the ride and handling were smooth, whether on highways or suburban streets.
Fuel economy was superb: After a very busy week, including two roundtrips between Atlanta airport and my parents’ home 45 miles away, as well as numerous daily, shorter trips around Atlanta’s sprawling suburbs, I still had more than half a tank of fuel left when I dropped the car off at the airport. [While EPA estimates put city/highway fuel economy at 30/42 mpg (7.8 l/100 km/5.6 l/100 km), third-party certifier AMCI achieved 38/44 mpg (6.2 l/100 km/5.3 l/100 km) when testing the Jetta TDI in real-world conditions.]
The SportWagen offered plenty of storage space at 32.8 cubic feet in normal seating conditions and 66.9 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down, but upon closing the trunk after stowing my luggage, the cargo-area flap did not flip back down automatically—it had a habit of staying up and blocking the rear window. At first, I didn’t realize this until after I was back in the driver’s seat and looked in the rear-view mirror. 
After getting back out of the car and pushing it down manually a few times, I finally got into the habit of putting the flap back down before I returned to the driver’s seat.
The Jetta SportWagen TDI comes with over 40 active and passive safety features including front, thorax, and side curtain airbags for both the driver and front passenger, as well as side curtain airbags for rear passengers, as well as anti-lock braking (ABS), anti-slip regulation (ASR), electronic differential lock (EDL), and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).. Blinkers are built right into side mirrors, and nighttime visibility was enhanced by dual reflector headlamps. It’s saying a lot that my mother, who is accustomed to the greater height, space and girth of family vans, felt completely safe and comfortable in the SportWagen.
Despite the slow acceleration, the VW Jetta SportWagen TDI offers great value in an attractive, fuel-efficient package. Best of all, it’s eligible for a $650 U.S. federal income tax credit in 2010.
| 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI | |
| Base price/price-as-tested | $24,615 |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.0-liter/140 hp/I-8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed DSG automatic |
| Curb weight (lbs) | 3,228 |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 101.5 |
| Length x width x height (inches) | 179.4 x 70.1 x 59.2 |
| 0-60 mph (seconds) | 9.5 |
| City/highway fuel economy (mpg) | 30/42 (with DSG) |
Eva Leonard is a contributor to The Diesel Driver and editor-in-chief of Business Traveler magazine.-
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[...] saw several diesel-powered cars consistently outsell their gasoline equivalents, including the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (82% diesel), Volkswagen Golf TDI (56%), and the Audi A3 TDI (54%). Strikingly, BMW 335d sales [...]
I’ve got a 2010 VW JSW TDI. Absolutely love it. Best car I’ve ever owned. I’m currently averaging 40.2 mpg overall. Best tank has been 48mpg.
I’d highly recommend the available 6spd manual transmission.
I’m now officially hooked on driving a diesel!
Why won’t Ford, and GM build diesel cars and 1/2 ton trucks for the US market?
They would sell them!
Have a 2011 jetta sportwagen tdi with dsg. Took awhile to get used to, but now mastered the quirks. It is a great transmission, and tried manual but the uptake was so soft my wife and I both stalled the vehicle twice on test drives (I had presently a manual audi which was great). Only downside for me is that living in Seattle will not produce the gas mileage others are getting. We go up and down hills, no flat land here! Expect to get average in city 28-30mpg, and normal hwy driving 37mph. Still everything is relevant, and other vehs including hybrids will not get advertised gas mileage either. I wanted the Audi A3 TDI, but with the same options was $7,000 more, and I could not justify the difference (yes, I understand Audi has paddleshifters and real leather seats). I have seen the option already to get paddleshift steering wheel conversion, and along with an ECU mapping upgrade from RocketChip (when they come out to NW again), this will be a true sportwagen! Great job, VW.
Mark,
If you want paddle shifters all you have to do is add a Passat or GTI steering wheel with paddle shifters and have your ECU recoded. $350 thereabouts.
I just bought the 2011 JSW TDI
and I have to say I disagree with the article a bit.
I have always owned faster vehicles, and the acceleration in the 6 speed manual is fantastic. The torque in the diesel is great.
I am hooked for sure. Especially going from a 6000 pound Chevy truck that only got 15 mpg!!
I just bought the 2011 JSW TDI and I love it. I drive 60 miles a day to work and I can almost go 2 weeks before stopping at the pump. Tons of cargo space in this car. Any other car I looked at that got this kind of mileage was small and uncomfortable. This car is an amazing combination of style, space, and efficiency.
recently pur. jetta tdi sport wagon 6 spd.dsg. transmission .This car is awesome.With fuel prices over 4.00 a gal.and mileage now hittng 40 plus 44 best so far and Im told will get better with more miles on it have just hit 3000 miles on it .This has been all round driving mostly town and country driving.This is 2nd diesel I had a 81 rabbit but this car has improved so much that everyone that has been it didn’t even believe it was a diesel till I told them.Truely a great car.as well as practical.
I have a 2010 JSW TDI. It’s my first VW although I had driven a couple of rentals over the years and have to say, I will not be going back to a gasoline powered car. The reliabilty and fuel economy of the diesel are second to none. Ask the Europeans, they been using diesel powered cars for the last 40+ years.
I am looking to purchase one of these vehicles, and like a previous commenter I stalled on my test drive once in the manual (even though I currently drive 30k mi/yr on my manual Accord). Driving the car more than 2 miles and getting it into first gear wouldn’t be an issue at all anymore.
What most people seem to understand (the author included) is that you have to expect the low-end lack of power. The car makes up for a lack of power by incorporating a turbo, but turbos work off exhaust so you won’t have that power until/unless you are giving it ample “gas”.
I am more than willing to lose a bit of power for the better gas mileage and an engine that won’t die before I do.
I have been putting my new TDI through its paces…what a great car. No complaints so far. I bought this this with the intention of having it a long time and I expect this bullet proof drive trail is going to do just that for us. The performance is really surprising for a diesel. You give it gas and it GOOOOES. Between this and a hybrid, there is no comparison in performance. They may still be a little better of fuel economy, but the balance between performance and economy is not even close.
Mine is a 2011 with a manual trans.
Drivers may stall this car on a test drive – it just takes some exposure to the nature of the drivetrain. Especially, if there is a load on the car (Full A/C) and load in the car (you, your sweetie, and the sales person). Slow turns in 2nd (once again, with a load) with an incline in front of you will reveal much turbo lag.
Beyond that, everything about this combo is a plus. Great power to merge and pass, plus a suspension that allows you to maintain momentum.
Picked up my folks from the airport in 100 degree weather – all the bags fit in the back and I think I still got 35mpg in mixed driving.