Volkswagen's '09 Jetta brings diesel back to U.S. mainstream

— -- After a three-year break that seemed interminable to fans, Volkswagen's back in the U.S. diesel-car market with a clean-burning diesel in its popular Jetta compact sedan.

It's the lowest-price diesel car in the U.S., with a starting price of about $23,000, or half the price tag of the German luxury brands. Outside Detroit work trucks, those are the only other diesels on sale in the U.S.

Strict anti-pollution rules have limited the number of diesels available in the U.S. Mercedes-Benz has soldiered through, and the diesel Touareg SUV has kept a toehold for VW.

Now, automakers have developed exhaust-treatment systems that clean diesel emissions and make the fuel-efficient power plants legal to sell anywhere in the U.S.

So VW diesels are back with Jetta now and Rabbit next fall.

The '09 Jetta lineup is the same outside as the '08, but got useful hardware changes, such as standard stability control, floor mats, cold-weather package and a better optional navigation system.

A wagon version, called SportWagen (not tested) also is available with the diesel engine.

Gripes about the diesel Jetta:

•Too much vibration at idle. Shifting into neutral, the usual cure, made no difference.

•Too little response at very low speed, mainly when cold. Once warm, lag seemed to vanish.

But Jetta's drivetrain generally was a delight. Amazing power at suburban traffic speed, almost unnoticeable shifts from the six-speed automatic, barely audible grumble from the engine, once warm (and typically diesel-noisy when cold).

The test vehicle had a generally premium feel, so exceptions stood out as if spotlighted. Evidence of cheapness that was the most disturbing:

•Hard plastic inside door pulls and armrests were woefully out of character with, and inferior to, the rest of the rich, tactilely pleasing interior trim.

•Climate controls felt about two generations old. The airflow knob was too stiff, the temperature knob not stiff enough.

•Road racket was startlingly high on rough and patched asphalt.

•Gas gauge had no tiny arrow reminding you on which side the filler flap sits. If you have more than one car, it's easy to forget.

More than offsetting those irritants, the TDI — typical of Jettas — provides a plethora of safety gadgets and electronic hardware. And plenty of standard attributes and features that let a car remain appealing when the new wears off. For instance:

•The sure-feeling brakes, well-controlled handling and nicely tuned steering that make Jetta, like most VWs, enjoyable to drive.

•Leather-covered steering wheel, gearshift knob and parking-brake handle. Automakers usually make you buy an expensive leather-upholstery package to get the sensuality of leather on the most-handled controls.

•All four power windows are one-touch up and down, as on high-priced machines. You're lucky to get a one-touch down driver's window in this size and price class.

•Big, nicely trimmed trunk makes you wonder how other cars this size squander so much cargo space and make it so ugly.

•115-volt power outlet to run your video game without a 12-volt adapter, or plug in your computer.

•Nice stereo refreshingly lacks a highfalutin (almost always disappointing) brand name, and simply provides solid, crisp, well-dimensioned sound favored by mature listeners (those who hate car-shaking, neighbor-annoying, sound-muddying, mega-size subwoofers).

•Free maintenance while the warranty lasts, though VW cut the length of the warranty as a trade-off to three years from five.

•Comfortable seats front and rear, including adult-size knee and legroom in back, even though it doesn't look like it.

Too good to be true? Possibly.

Recession-battered dealers, having found a hot item, are marking up TDI sticker prices. Surfing the online car-shopping sites confirms that.

Diesel fuel is averaging about 50% more expensive than gasoline, while the Jetta diesel is, according to government ratings, about 40% more fuel-efficient than the five-cylinder gasoline model. The car itself is about $2,000 more than the similar gasoline model.

Perhaps the biggest barrier is reputation. VWs are widely, and correctly, known as fun to drive. Has the brand shaken off its reliability problems?

Consumer Reports magazine ranks gasoline Jettas "worst of the worst" because of "much worse than average reliability among 1998 to 2007 models." On the other hand, the '08 gasoline Jetta gets a "recommended" rating, suggesting big improvements.

If your bet is that gasoline prices will rise again (faster than diesel prices) and that VW has solved quality problems (which the latest CR rating suggests) then it's tough to argue against the TDI.

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan

•What? Diesel-powered Jetta small four-door, front-drive sedan; legal to sell in all 50 states, because of clean-burn technology that passes the toughest emissions regulations.

•When? On sale since mid-August.

•Where? Built at Puebla, Mexico, using German-made drivetrain.

•Why? Diesel's a strong seller for VW, but (except for a few Touareg SUVs) '06 Jetta was the last diesel sold in the U.S.

•How much? TDI sedan with manual transmission starts at $22,640 including $650 shipping; with automatic, $23,740. SportWagen starts at $24,240 (manual) or $25,340 (automatic).

Diesel models are about $2,000 more than the most-similar gas models.

VW says the diesels qualify for a $1,300 federal tax credit; buyers in higher tax brackets might not get that.

•How potent? 2-liter, four-cylinder diesel is rated 140 horsepower at 4,000 rpm, 236 pounds-feet at 1,750 rpm; six-speed manual transmission is standard, six-speed automatic is optional.

•How lavish? Generous safety gear: front, side and head-curtain air bags; side-impact bags for rear seat optional, a rare feature. Electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes standard.

Long list of standard comfort, convenience features. See www.vw.com.

•How big? Two inches longer, an inch wider, about 400 lbs. heavier than Honda Civic. Jetta sedan is 179.3 inches long, 70.1 in. wide, 57.4 in. tall on a 101.5-in. wheelbase. Weight: manual, 3,230 lbs.; automatic, 3,285.

•How thirsty? Rated 29 miles per gallon in town, 40 highway, 33 combined. Trip computer in test car registered 28.9 mpg in suburban driving.

Tank holds 14.5 gallons.

Ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel required. Diesel's available at about 42% of service stations, including truck stops. Most diesel stations sell ultra-low-sulfur but aren't required to until 2010, says the Diesel Technology Forum.

•Overall: A no-brainer, if diesel fuel weren't averaging 50% more expensive than gasoline.