2 0 0 9 V o l k s w a g e n
J e t t a S p o r t W a g e n
An Entry Level Wagon
That Impresses By: Brandon Dye
In the American Hierarchy of Transportation the
station wagon ranks just above the moped in
desirability, and the entry level station wagon:
just above a riding lawnmower. Nevertheless,
Volkswagen continues to be one of the few automakers
brave enough to offer the unloved body style in its
Jetta lineup. We recently spent a week in one and
came away believing what we always have: wagons
offer the people and cargo capacity to meet most
people’s needs and drive better than any
crossover/SUV.
Our base model featured the normally unloved 2.5-liter
I5, which fared far better this time around thanks
to a bump in power over previous versions we’ve
driven. For 2008 the standard engine makes 170 hp
and 177 lb-ft of torque; enough to pull the
3,230-pound wagon around with borderline haste,
especially when winding ‘er out with the standard
5-speed. Like other VW/Audi manuals, this
transmission shifts smoothly with clearly defined
gates and positive clutch engagement. It is a joy to
shift and you save more than a grand by forgoing the
auto. The engine still isn’t the model of smoothness
and the song it sings on the way to redline will
never win a Grammy, but we’re convinced it’s better
than it used to be. Still, the awesome 2.0-liter
turbo four should at least be on the options list.
For 2009 you must upgrade to the top-of-the-line SEL
model to get the extra oomph. At least fuel economy
is a respectable 21-mpg city and 29-mpg highway, and
better than comparable SUVs. VW says 60 mph is an
8.4 second exercise. Taking entry ramps at speed
produces a lot of protesting from the tires, but the
wagon itself settles in pretty nicely thanks to
accurate steering and that confidence inspiring
German suspension tuning.
Station wagons rarely come across as cool and this
model is no exception. Our black tester features a
traditional wagon shape, but some chrome trim here
and there keeps things from looking like an economy
car. Our model was wearing the upgraded 16” aluminum
wheels (been a long time since I’ve written that!)
that are a pretty good value for $450. Otherwise our
car was a base S model that impressed us with its
great built quality and excellent materials. The
rear hatch opens wide to swallow 32.8 cubic feet of
stuff or almost 67 cubic feet with the second row
folded flat. A Saturn VUE can handle only 29.2 cubic
feet and 56.4 cubic feet respectively.
The interior design is straightforward and borderline
dated but with spot-on ergonomics and features like
a height adjustable driver’s seat and 3-spoke
tilt/telescoping steering wheel we find little to
complain about. The stereo’s display is pretty
laughable by modern standards, but that’s just
nitpicking, especially because it plays MP3 files
just fine and offers an auxiliary input standard.
The front seats, even in their base cloth trim, are
better than any seat found in a mainstream American
vehicle.
Priced at $19,449 the newest addition to the Jetta
lineup strikes us as a solid value. When you
consider bonuses like free scheduled maintenance for
three years and the option of a new 2.0-liter
turbocharged diesel that offers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft
of torque in a 50-state legal package, things look
even better. Not to mention the impressive, although
yet to be determined, fuel economy it’ll surely
offer. We say the SportWagen is something Americans
should be considering. At the very least it should
garner more respect than a lawnmower.
Drives like a car with the space of an SUV, priced
right, great build quality.
The
Bad:
Small radio display, 5-cyldiner offers less power and
fuel economy than 4-cylinder, A/C a bit on the weak
side.
The
Verdict:
Consider one of these if you’re looking for space but
don’t want to pay a penalty at the pump.
Have a question we didn't answer about the
2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen--or any vehicle for that
matter? Drop us a line at editor@automotivetrends.com
