The Diesel Driver » Volkswagen Jetta

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

2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI – Review and Test Drive

Jonathan Spira — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:51:01 +0000

In 2010, the ratio of buyers who chose the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI versus the gasoline-powered variant was more than four to one. After spending a week with the JSW (as it’s often called), I quickly discovered why.

The Jetta SportWagen, known as the Golf Variant in its home market, Germany, and sharing only basic components with the completely redesigned Jetta, is updated for 2011, getting a new front end that includes a narrow double-bar grille, angled halogen headlamps in blacked-out housings, and a new lower front fascia. The rear remains the same, which is just fine as far as we are concerned.

The Jetta SportWagen is a five-passenger wagon and comes in S, SE, and TDI (diesel) variants. Standard equipment on the JSW TDI includes 16” alloy wheels, heated mirrors and windshield-washer nozzles, heated front seats (which have a power backrest but otherwise manual controls), 60/40 split-folding rear seat, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and a 10-speaker stereo with a very nice touchscreen interface.

Options include a panoramic sunroof, an iPod interface, and navigation. Buyers also can choose between V-Tex and cloth upholstery.

Under the hood is a 2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque. Regardless of transmission choice (manual or DSG, which stands for Direct-Shift Gearbox or Direkt-Schalt-Getriebe), the JSW uses only 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg) on the highway (in city driving, it’s 7.8 l/100 km or 30 mpg). 0-60 performance isn’t bad for its class. While it’s rated at 9.5 seconds, some tests have reported 8.7 and 8.9 seconds.

The JSW TDI attracts buyers thanks to its unusual combination of cavernous cargo space (32.8 cubic feet with rear seats up, 66.9 with them down) and unsurpassed fuel economy for its class. Pass a Prius on the road and you may very well wonder, who needs hybrids?

Indeed, the new Prius v, which has a mere 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space, has an EPA highway rating of 44 mpg but takes over 10 seconds to get from 0 to 60.

In addition, in an age of SUVs of all shapes and sizes, a traditional wagon, believe it or not, still makes sense. Indeed, one thing I noticed immediately was the excellent visibility when backing out of a spot, something most SUVs can’t begin to offer.

The JSW is roomier inside than today’s popular compact crossovers (which include the Volkswagen Tiguan as well as the Chevy Equinox and Kia Sportage). Since it’s a wagon, it is lower to the ground and lighter than these models, making it far more fuel efficient and also more fun to drive.
Click here to continue to Page 2 -Driving the 2011 Volkswagen SportWagen TDI

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

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.)

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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.

BMW and VW Diesels Among 10 Best Engines for 2010

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:12:06 +0000

Two clean-diesel engines were among the ten best engines for 2010, as selected by Ward’s, an automotive news and data provider.

BMW's Advanced Diesel Engine

Six editors from Ward’s nominated a total of 34 engines available in regular production cars in the United States priced no more than $54,000.

The two diesel winners were BMW, for its 3.0-liter six-cylinder twin-turbocharged and direct-injected Advanced Diesel engine powering the 335d sedan, and Volkswagen, for its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine powering the Jetta SportWagen TDI.

The BMW 335d is the fastest diesel-powered passenger car sold in the U.S., capable of zero-to-sixty in under six seconds. It is also the most fuel efficient car BMW has ever sold in the U.S., capable of achieving 36 mpg (6.5 l/100 km) on the highway. The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI gets 40 mpg (5.8 l/100 km).

Engines employing hybrid-electric technology from Ford and Toyota were also named winners, as were engines from Audi, Chevrolet, General Motors, Hyundai, and Subaru.

The awards will be given during the North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit.