Vehicle Tested
| 2010 Volkswagen TDI Cup Edition
Base Price: $24,990
At-Tested Price: $30,013
Built in Mexico.
Options
TDI Cup Edition Body Kit
Sunroof
Rear Spoiler
Floor Mat Kit
iPod interface
Engine: turbodiesel 2.0-Liter I4
Transmission: 6-Speed manual
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive
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Volkswagen's best selling car is the Jetta. It's a four-door sedan or wagon that competes in the hotly contested compact sedan segment against vehicles like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, Kia Spectra, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, and Toyota Corolla.
Jetta was last redesigned in late 2005. For 2010 it gets a freshened interior and exterior and a model re-organization. It shares chassis and engines with the hatchback Rabbit and, to some extent, the midsize Passat. Jetta seats five on twin front buckets and a split-folding rear bench seat.
The crowded model lineup includes S, Limited, SE, SEL, Wolfsburg Edition, TDI, and TDI Cup Street Edition trims. S, Limited, SE, and SEL are powered by a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine. Wolfsburg Edition gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four that makes 200 horsepower. TDI and TDI Cup Street Edition get a 140-hosrepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel four.
All models are front-wheel drive. Models with the 2.5-liter five-cylinder get either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Turbo engines get a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The automatic transmission has a separate gate for manual operation.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, front-seat active head restraints, emergency inside trunklid release, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Rear-side airbags are optional. Rear-view camera and park assist are not offered.
The S sedan lists for $17,605 and includes air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt-telescope steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, heated front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, center console, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, outside-temperature indicator, variable-intermittent wipers with heated washer nozzles, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, theft-deterrent system, roof rails on the wagon and 205/55HR16 tires.
The Limited sedan starts at $18,295 and adds to the S leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, vinyl upholstery, Bluetooth cell-phone link and alloy wheels. The SE starts at $20,395 and adds to the Limited rear-seat trunk pass-through, sunroof, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer and satellite radio.
The SEL comes only with automatic and lists for $23,280. It adds to the SE upgraded sound system with iPod adapter, steering wheel radio controls, trip computer, 115-volt power outlet and 225/45HR17 tires.
The Wolfsberg Edition effectively replaces the GTI in the lineup and lists for $22,165. It deletes the iPod adapter and steering wheel radio controls from the SEL but adds a sport suspension.
The $22,830 TDI includes everything from the SEL but deletes the sunroof and adds 205/55HR16 tires. The line-topping TDI Cup Street Edition starts at $24,990 and adds to the TDI cloth/vinyl upholstery, exterior and interior trim upgrades, sport seats, sport suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Options include navigation system with hard drive and real-time traffic information, panoramic sunroof on wagons, and various body kits including a rear wing spoiler. Jetta is built in Mexico and carries a $750 destination charge.
Get Up and Go The base engine provides adequate and class competitive acceleration for around-town driving and highway commuting. It doesn't rev all that willingly, so highway passing response suffers a bit.
Stepping up to the gasoline-powered turbo four in the Wolfsberg Edition will give drivers a big boost in the back side. The engine has ample torque for stoplight racing and great passing punch. Unlike some turbo motors, it doesn't have much turbo lag and produces steady and strong power from about 2500 rpm to redline.
That leaves the diesel in the TDI and TDI Cup Street Edition. If you drove a diesel five or six years ago, forget everything you remember about that experience. Volkswagen's turbodiesel is as refined and smooth running as any gasoline competitor in the segment. There's no foul smell and only a hint of diesel clatter at startup on cold mornings. The rest of the time, you'll need to look at the badge on the back of the car to be sure it's a diesel.
The diesel provides appropriate-for-the-class acceleration and decent passing response. While it's no fireball, few vehicles in this class offer outstanding acceleration and no one, except the hybrids, can match the diesel's fuel economy.
The manual transmission is a joy to shift. Throws are short and the lever has a very positive feel. The clutch is easy to modulate and engages with a positive feel. The gearing offers relaxed highway cruising. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly most of the time, though it sometimes hiccups in 1-2 shifts at slower speeds.
TDI EPA numbers with the manual transmission come in at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. In routine driving it's easy to average more than 35 mpg and in relaxed highway driving you might top 43 mpg--a remarkable average for any class of vehicle. Even more impressive is the Jetta TDI's range, you can conservatively drive more than 500 miles on each 14.5-gallon tank.
On the Road Regardless of trim level, Jetta is a small car that rides like a big one. The suspension is tuned for an athletic feel, when compared to traditional compact cars, but it's never harsh or overly bouncy. On smooth roads Jetta rides with composure, and when the roads grow bumpy the suspension does an excellent job of being absorbent without allowing too much rebound.
When the road grows twisty Jetta comes alive. Body lean is modest and steering is sharp. Brakes have plenty of stopping power as well. S models are the least athletic, but even that model feels sportier than a traditional compact.
Wolfsberg and Cup Street have a performance-minded suspension and aggressive 18-inch tires. Thankfully, the ride is neither too hard nor too abrasive. It is considerably firmer than other models, but well in keeping with the sporty nature Volkswagen is trying to impart.
Jetta is more refined than many lower-priced compacts, but isn't as quiet as the Audi A4 or Volvo S40. There's some wind rush from the front pillars and tire roar is a problem on concrete pavement. The turbodiesel is refined and cruises quietly.
Behind the Wheel True to its European roots, Jetta's interior is understated and refined. The predominant color is black, but there are subtle touches of bright work that keep things from getting too somber. Materials are a step above what traditional compact buyers would expect and easily on par with luxury compacts.
Clearly marked gauges sit dead center in front of the driver. They feature violet illumination at night that is designed to reduce eye strain. Audio and climate controls are clearly marked and placed within easy reach of both driver and passenger. Though nicely integrated, the Bluetooth cell-phone connection doesn't seem to always work as advertised and occasionally drops calls for no apparent reason.
Though Jetta is a compact car, it offers great front-seat leg and head room. Even the tallest driver will have plenty of room. Seats are firm and somewhat narrow. Standard tilt-telescope steering wheel and adjustable center armrest are a boon to driver comfort. Visibility is great.
Rear-seat room is a disappointment. Though the seat is comfortable, leg and head room are tight. If the front seats are well forward, leg room is adequate for adults. Move the seats back past halfway and leg room disappears. Also, the rear door openings are small at the bottom, which complicates entry and exit.
Cargo room is generous by compact-car standards. In addition the opening is large and the trunk lid features slick hinges that don't eat into cargo space. Rear seat folds to increate room further. Interior storage is nice, highlighted by a generous glove box.
Bottom Line If you are any sort of enthusiast, it is hard not to like Jetta. Though the car isn't cheap, Volkswagen has done an excellent job of staying true to the cars original mission--affordable European driving fun in an efficient package. Perhaps that is why this car is so popular.
Still, the back seat could use a few more inches of leg room and stability control should be standard on all models. Prices are on the high side, but you do get a lot for your dollar when it comes to standard equipment. The TDI makes a lot of sense if you have a long highway commute or if you plan to keep the vehicle for 10 years.
Specifications, 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition
| Dimensions
| 4-door sedan
| Engine
| Turbodiesel DOHC I4
| Wheelbase, in.
| 101.5
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 2.0 / 122
| Length, in.
| 179.3
| Horsepower @ rpm
| 140 @ 4000
| Width, in.
| 70.1
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 236 @ 1750
| Height, in.
| 57.4
| Transmission
| 6-Speed Manual
| Weight, lbs.
| 3230
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 30 city / 41 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 16.0
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 14.5
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 38.5
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 41.2
| Corrosion
| 12 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 37.2 | Free Roadside Assistance
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 35.4
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None |
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