The Diesel Driver » Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Your Favorite Articles in The Diesel Driver in 2011

Paul Riegler — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:08:53 +0000

As the year draws to a close, here’s a look at the ten most popular articles in The Diesel Driver in 2011. The rankings are based on reader popularity, shares via Facebook and other social media, and e-mail forwards.

The stories range from the first in-depth review of the new 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI to ongoing reports on our BMW 335d long-term test car, to a preview of the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec.

Enjoy the retrospective.

1.) 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI – Review and First Drive/Road Test
Our review of two days with the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI at its June launch in Chattanooga

2.) 2011 Volkswagen Jetta – First Review
Join us at the launch of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta TDI in San Francisco and spend two days driving in Northern California with us.

3.) BMW 335d Three-Month Test Report and Review
Our first three months with our BMW 335d long-term test car, starting with delivery at the BMW Welt and an in-depth look at its great fuel economy, superb handling, and road manners.

4.) 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review and Road Test
We spend a week with the new Touareg, learn to pronounce the name (it’s “twah-reg”), and begin to understand why so many Touareg buyers opt for the diesel version.

5.) 2012 Diesel Car Lineup in the U.S. – What’s New
A look at what’s new in 2012, including the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec and the Volkswagen Passat TDI.

6.) BMW 335d 12-Month Report and Review
Like a good novel, readers flocked to see how the BMW 335d fared after 12 months and 10,000 km.

7.) 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI – Review and Test Drive
A week with Volkswagen’s Jetta SportWagen TDI – 80% of JSW buyers go diesel!

8.) 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Review and First Look
A week with the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec prior to its launch – and a drive from New York City to Boston and back using only half a tank – helped firm up our decision to add the E-Klasse to our long-term test fleet

9.) 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec First Look and Review
Our review of the new ML Class diesel at its launch in Montana’s rugged outback

10.) 2011 BMW X3 Review and Road Test – The Road to Berchtesgaden
We drive the new BMW X3 xDrive20d to Berchtesgaden to take in the views.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Nine Month Review and Report

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:57:50 +0000

While we only picked up our long-term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI back in February of this year, our relationship with the new built-for-America Jetta started in the summer of 2010, when The Diesel Driver was the only U.S. publication invited to drive the diesel Jetta at the press launch.

Designed specifically for the American market, the new Jetta is bigger and less expensive than its predecessor. It’s longer, which translates into a more spacious interior both in the front and rear. It has more shoulder room, leg-room in the rear (2.7” to be exact). The trunk, with 15.5 cubic feet of space, is larger than one of VW’s targeted competitors, the Toyota Corolla, but it’s a drop smaller than the previous Jetta’s.

The diesel is at the top of the Jetta line-up along with Jetta SEL so it comes very well equipped. Standard equipment includes a sunroof, heated mirrors, heated front seats, excellent Bluetooth connectivity, and Sirius satellite radio with 3 month complimentary service. The only options are a navigation system that we didn’t get, which comes with different trim and enhanced Bluetooth display, fog lamps, the DSG transmission (more on that in a moment), and keyless start/stop and access.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

Our 2011 Jetta TDI came with the same 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that was in the previous-generation Jetta TDI – which is also the same engine that gave Volkswagen a Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption.

The engine is capable of 140 hp and 236 pound-feet (320 Newton-meters) of torque. Given that the TDI starts at $22,525 and comes with all of the features of the SE with the convenience package and the sunroof, the additional cost of the diesel engine is only $1,340, a figure that will be recouped rather quickly thanks to the TDI’s 27% better fuel economy.

It’s interesting to note that the Jetta TDI can go faster than other 2011 Jettas (209 km/h or 130 mph versus 204 km/h or 127 mph for the petrol SE/L and 193 km/h or 120 mph for the Jetta S). It can make it from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, a figure that is a tad slower than the last Jetta we tested back in 2009. On the plus side, fuel economy for the 2011, however, is improved by roughly 5%.

We specified our Jetta TDI to come with Volkswagen’s DSG transmission, something worth looking at for a moment. Despite our preference for manual transmissions, the DSG, which stands for Direkt-Schalt-Getribe or Direct-Shift Gearbox in English, is exceptionally well matched to the engine. It’s an electronically-controlled manual gearbox without a clutch pedal and it can be operated in full automatic or semi-manual mode.

I’ve found that the DSG provides a responsive yet frugal drive. In manual mode, it was great for fast shifting in the Shoreline Highway’s twisties although I would much preferred to have had paddle shifters.

The EPA figures tell us that the 2011 Jetta TDI uses only 7.8 l/100 km (30 mpg) in the city and a mere 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg) on the highway – and this figure doesn’t change if you opt for the DSG.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Driving the Jetta TDI and Jetta TDI Interior

2012 Diesel Car Lineup in the U.S. – What’s New

Paul Riegler — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:18:28 +0000

More and more buyers picked a diesel in the first half of 2011 and the reasons behind this are clear. Not only do diesels have better fuel economy but they are typically cleaner than the gasoline-powered equivalents and one doesn’t have those pesky (and expensive) batteries to worry about a few years down the road.

Most automakers build diesels although you wouldn’t know it by walking into a U.S. showroom. A total of 14 models from four automakers, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, will be available for the 2012 model year. This includes the brand new Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec and the Volkswagen Passat TDI as well as recent entries such as the Mer cedes-Benz E350 BlueTec.

With diesel sales on the uptick, why are there still so few on the market? The answer is that building a diesel engine that meets stringent U.S. emissions standards is expensive and most car makers simply don’t bother because they aren’t convinced that diesels will sell in the U.S.

With diesel sales up 39%, the editors of The Diesel Driver are pleased to present the diesel passenger car lineup for 2012.

AUDI

A brand new Audi A3 is just over a year away so Audi is not making any major changes in the current A3 TDI. The 2011 Audi A3 TDI gets 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) in the city and 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) on the highway.

The Audi Q7, which gets 17 mpg (13.83 l/100 km) in the city and 25 mpg (9.4 l/100 km) on the highway, remains unchanged for 2012 as well.

BMW

BMW has been leading the marketing charge in the U.S. for diesels (witness the company’s brilliant “Changes” Super Bowl commercial). Unfortunately, with the launch of the new F30 3er Series planned for next spring, production of the 335d, the car that The Diesel Driver’s readers picked as the 2011 Diesel Car of the Year, is ending and BMW of North America is not offering a diesel 3er with the launch of the next generation 3er.

This leaves the X5 xDrive35d, which gets 19 mpg (12.38 l/100 km) in town and 26 mpg (9.0 l/100 km) on the highway, as the automaker’s sole diesel offering in the U.S. for 2012 and it continues largely unchanged going into the 2012 model year.

Click here to continue to Page 2 -2012 Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Lineups

What Will The Diesel Driver’s New Long-Term Test Car Be?

Paul Riegler — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:24:03 +0000

The Diesel Driver’s two long-term test cars are the BMW 335d and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI

In August, The Diesel Driver will add a third long-term car to its diesel-powered test fleet.   Currently, four car manufacturers, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, offer a total of 14 cars and SUVs in the U.S. These include the new Volkswagen Passat TDI and the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec, among others.

The vehicle we’ll be getting is one that we’ve reported on in the past year and it is a currently available model. We’ll reveal the car after we take delivery but first, we invite you to guess what manufacturer it will be from.

(Note to the reader: The actual car under the tarp is not the vehicle in question.)

The poll is over and the results have been published here.

Diesel Economics: U.S. Sales Double in 2010

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:00:30 +0000

An in-depth analysis of new car sales data by The Diesel Driver shows that monthly diesel sales doubled in 2010 and that buyers showed increasingly strong preference for diesel-powered cars compared to the gasoline-powered equivalent models.

The Diesel Driver analyzed 2010 new-car sales data provided by Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, the four car makers that offer diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. (see the detailed chart at the bottom of page two). The data cover January through December. Monthly sales of diesel-powered automobiles essentially doubled: 3855 diesels were sold in January and this increased to 7604 in December.   Total sales for the year were 77,877.

The fourth quarter saw several diesel-powered cars outsell their gasoline equivalents including the Audi A3 TDI, the Volkswagen Golf TDI, the Jetta Sportwagen TDI, and the 2010 Touareg TDI. In the case of the Jetta Sportwagen, buyers chose diesel over gasoline in a ratio of almost five to one.

For the fourth quarter, Audi once again led in the percentage of buyers who chose diesel (48%) versus the comparable gasoline-powered model. In total sales, Volkswagen, with 13,966 diesels sold, remained the market leader. Indeed, Volkswagen sold almost twice as many diesels as all of the other car makers combined. BMW was second in overall sales volume with 3375 diesels although it was third in comparable model sales with 31%. Mercedes-Benz moved into third place in sales volume with 2873 units although it remained in fourth place for comparable model sales with 16%.

For 2010, Audi closed out the year with comparable model sales of 48%, the top position. Volkswagen, with diesel sales of 51,769, maintained its position as market leader. With 11,727 sales, BMW remained number two although the Bavarian automaker came in third in comparable model sales with 31%. Mercedes-Benz, with 7440 diesels for the year, took over third place from Audi, which moved into the fourth position with 6941 units sold.

Several completely redesigned models were introduced in 2010 including the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the Touareg TDI. BMW started selling a redesigned X5 xDrive35d in 2010 as well.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the only entirely new diesel model offered for sale in 2010, the E-Class BlueTec sedan. The E-Class has the distinction of being the only mid-sized diesel luxury sedan currently available in the U.S. (there were no 2010 or 2009 E-Class BlueTec models). Sales of the E-Class diesel were off to a strong start. First available in Q4, one out of five buyers of the Mercedes chose the diesel compared to the equivalent gasoline model.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Manufacturer-Specific Trends and Data

Introducing The Diesel Driver’s New Long-Term Auto: The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:36:56 +0000

A 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is now part of The Diesel Driver’s long-term test fleet. Diesel Driver readers correctly guessed that the new auto would be a Volkswagen (30% said VW, 28% Audi, 25% Mercedes-Benz, and 17% BMW).

There are a lot of things we like about the new Jetta. For starters, it has a new, sleek, elegant look that differentiates it from the pack. It’s 2.9 inches longer than the previous Jetta and that translates to more room for the rear occupants as well as a more substantial appearance. It’s an upscale look (think Audi) and one that should resonate with VW purists and German car fans alike.

It also comes with built-in Fahrvergnügen, a word coined by Volkswagen specifically for use in several U.S. advertising campaigns. (It joins “Fahr” (from fahren, “to drive,” with Vergnügen, “pleasure,” to convey “driving pleasure.”)

Our Jetta TDI is powered by the same 140-hp, 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as the previous-generation Jetta TDI – and it’s the same engine that gave Volkswagen a Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption. It’s also the fastest Jetta on the market with a top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h).

The Jetta goes from 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds and develops 236 pound-feet (320 Newton-meters) of torque. It is rated at 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) in city driving and 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) on the highway.

The Jetta arrived with a sunroof, split-rear folding seat, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, iPod connectivity, heated seats and windshield washer nozzles, a leather multi-function steering wheel, 16” aluminum wheels, and a touch-screen stereo with an SD card reader and built-in six-disc CD changer. Also included are three years of free maintenance and V-Tex leatherette upholstery.

The Jetta TDI is an excellent value with a list price of $22.995. When you compare this with a similarly-equipped Jetta SE, the additional cost of the diesel is only $2,200. the car was just delivered to us by Evelyn Lasky and Jim Maloney at Bayside Volkswagen and we can’t wait to take it on its maiden voyage. A full report will follow.

THE 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA LONG-TERM TEST CAR

SEE MORE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI COVERAGE IN THE DIESEL DRIVER

The Diesel Driver 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Calendar Released

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and SEL – First Road Test and Review

2011 Volkswagen Jetta – First Review

Why Did You Purchase a Diesel?

Greg Spira — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:16:03 +0000

There are many good reasons for purchasing a diesel-powered automobile. Our readers tell us these include the incredible fuel economy, the power that comes from the diesel engine’s torque, and greater reliability compared to gasoline engines. In addition, diesel engines are known to last far longer and have a reputation for being more reliable and, as a result, diesels have commanded higher resale values.

Opting for a diesel opens up multiple new avenues and possibilities not available to buyers of gasoline and hybrid-electric vehicles. Only by purchasing a diesel could a driver end up with a car with the torque of the previous BMW M3 that is at the same time the most fuel-efficient vehicle ever offered by BMW of North America.

What were your reasons?

Our poll ended on 21 May 2011 – you can see the results here.

The Diesel Driver 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Calendar Released

David Goldes — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:33:06 +0000

The Diesel Driver’s 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI calendar is now available online for immediate delivery.

The Diesel Driver’s 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI calendar captures the elegant design of VW’s sleek new Jetta sedan. The Jetta has been completely redesigned and reengineered and

Volkswagen has done an excellent job in engineering in more than sufficient Fahrvergnügen and typical Teutonic driving dynamics into the Jetta.

This beautiful calendar includes 13 photographs of the Jetta taken in places ranging from San Francisco to Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay, taken by Jonathan Spira.

Save 10% if you order your copy today.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and SEL – First Road Test and Review

Jonathan Spira — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:05:50 +0000

Highway 1 runs along much of California’s Pacific coast and some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Portions of it are known as the Pacific Coast Highway, the Cabrillo Highway, and the Shoreline Highway.

I spent two days driving the new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta (see last month’s First Review for a detailed report on what’s new for the 2011 Jetta). First I drove the petrol-powered SEL version and, on the following day, the diesel-powered TDI. For both drives I started in San Francisco and headed north (join us on the drive: our slide show is on page 2 of this article).

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VOTE NOW FOR THE 2011 DIESEL CAR OF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY THE DIESEL DRIVER MAGAZINE
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The Shoreline Highway is a winding two-lane road north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It passes through the Marin Hills and then intersects with Muir Beach, continuing past the Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay.

It was the perfect road to experience the Jetta’s version of Fahrvergnügen (a word coined by Volkswagen for use in several past U.S. advertising campaigns, joining “Fahr” (from fahren, “to drive,” with Vergnügen, “pleasure,” to convey “driving pleasure.”)

On the first day of my drive, upon leaving San Francisco, I noticed that the five-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine in the SEL was smooth and happy to provide power on demand and the five-speed manual’s light clutch and precise shifting made it clear that I was in a driver’s car.

The ergonomics of the new Jetta’s interior are excellent. Controls are where they should be; radio, climate control, and navigation controls in the center stack are intuitive and the console is oriented towards the driver for a better view and ease of access. The instrument cluster, with the multi-function display between the speedometer and tachometer, has been redesigned for optimal viewing.

I did notice what some in the industry call “decontenting.” The nice, soft-touch dash of the old Jetta has been replaced by hard plastic (although most of the other trim is similar in quality from old to new). The hood no longer stays up on its own and the trunk uses more intrusive hinges.

The faux leather V-Tex seats were firm and comfortable. Several hours into my drive on day 1, I noticed that I was just about as comfortable and free of back pain as I had been when I got into the vehicle.

I didn’t have much reason to sit in the back sit – but, out of curiosity, I decided to try it out. The Jetta’s back seat was quite comfortable; indeed I would say it had as much leg and knee room as one might find in many larger sedans today.

Once in Sonoma County, the Shoreline Highway became the Coast Highway as I passed the Sonoma Coast State Beaches.and started to head inland for the drive down 101 to return to San Francisco. Click here to continue to Page 2.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta – First Review

Jonathan Spira — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:52:06 +0000

For decades, American car makers have been trying – with varying degrees of success – to design and build cars that are European. Now a German car maker, Volkswagen, has designed a German car, the 2011 Jetta, with a U.S. audience in mind.

In this case, the U.S. audience is one that might be considering a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, but let’s not get caught up in details.

If recent sales figures are any indication, 27% of the 2011 Jettas sold will be diesels. Indeed, Volkswagen announced plans to quadruple its overall sales in the U.S. over the next eight years to 800,000. Currently 37% of Volkswagens sold in the U.S. are diesel and, if this figure holds, that would translate to ca. 296,000 diesel-powered VWs for 2018. (See Diesel Economics 200 for a complete discussion of diesel sales in the U.S.)

________________

VOTE NOW FOR THE 2011 DIESEL CAR OF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY THE DIESEL DRIVER MAGAZINE
________________

We spent several days driving the new Jetta (both in diesel and petrol variants) in the Bay Area and we’ll report on that shortly. (The Diesel Driver was the only U.S.-based publication invited to drive the Jetta TDI at the launch.) Suffice it to say for now that Volkswagen has done an excellent job in engineering in more than sufficient Fahrvergnügen and typical Teutonic driving dynamics into the Jetta.

(Fahrvergnügen is a word coined by Volkswagen for use in several past U.S. advertising campaigns. It joins “Fahr” (from fahren, “to drive,” with Vergnügen, “pleasure,” to convey “driving pleasure.”)

For 2011, the Jetta has a new, sleek, elegant look that further differentiates it from the pack. It’s 2.9 inches longer and that translates to more room for the rear occupants as well as a more substantial appearance. It’s an upscale look (think Audi) and one that should resonate with VW purists and German car fans alike.

It’s the price, however, not the design, that’s intended to attract Civic and Corolla buyers. For 2011, the base Jetta S starts at $15,995 (the 2010 Jetta S started at $17,605) and comes with a 115-hp, 2.0-liter petrol engine that once powered the third-generation Jetta back in 1993. It’s nicely equipped for that price, with a five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, anti-lock brakes, cloth upholstery, stability control, split folding rear seat, remote keyless entry, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input, and free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.

The Jetta S goes from 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds (the automatic needs 11 seconds to get there) and uses 9.8 l/100 km (24 mpg) in the city and 6.9 l/100 km (34 mpg) on the highway.

The Jetta SE gets the current Golf and Jetta’s 170-hp, 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Fuel economy isn’t really impacted despite an improved 0-60 time of 8.2 seconds (8.5 for the automatic) and 177 pound-feet of torque: the Jetta SE uses 10.2 l/100 km (23 mpg) in the city and 7.1 l/100 km (33 mpg) on the highway (all figures cited thus far are for the manual gearbox). The SE also gets 16-inch wheels, cruise control, Volkswagen’s V-Tex leatherette upholstery, floor mats, body-colored outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, cruise control, illuminated vanity mirrors, a front center console with cupholders, a rear center armrest (also with two cupholders), interior lighting (glove box, vanity mirrors, reading lights), and chrome interior trim.

The SE will be priced at $18,955. The $1350 convenience package adds 16-inch aluminum wheels, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, two more speakers for the stereo, iPod connectivity, heated seats and windshield washer nozzles, and a leather multi-function steering wheel. You can also add a sunroof and a touch-screen stereo with an SD card reader and built-in six-disc CD changer.

The SEL, starting at $21,395, gets all of the features of the SE plus 17-inch aluminum wheels, a touch-screen navigation system, chrome exterior trim, all-wheel disc brakes (the S and SE have drum brakes in the rear), and keyless access and push-button start. There’s a sport package with a stiffer suspension and sport seats for $23,755. You can also add a sunroof.

We’ve saved the best for last – as has Volkswagen, apparently: the Jetta TDI won’t be arriving until the end of the year.   Click here to continue to page 2.