2009 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

What a Change from My '05 Cadillac STS!

Written by: Rick Williams on 11/12/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

Review

Bought this car in PA and drove it home to SC. I took secondary roads all the way home to make sure it got broken in properly and I still got 43 MPG. I am very happy with the comfort, fit and finish, and fuel economy and I love the DSG. I can barely feel it shift. The car drives firmer than my old Caddy but in a good way. It just feels more solid and it's certainly as comfortable. My only concern is long term reliability since I've read about earlier generation Jettas having some significant quality issues. Only time will tell if VW has improved on the quality.

Favorite Features

The muti-function display is great. Among other parameters it provides distance to empty, average mpg, and instantaneous mpg. It's fun experimenting with various throttle techniques and watching the instantaneous mpg display. With immediate feedback it's easy to learn how to maximize economy.

Suggested Improvements

The sunroof should have a solid cover instead of the translucent cover. Needs steering wheel audio controls. Adjustable arm rest seems a bit flimsy.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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1 week in

Written by: jack on 11/11/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Loyal Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

Review

1 week into owning this car and I couldn't be happier. I'm shocked at the power this car has. My last car was a GTI VR6, granted it had over 120k but this TDI has just as much pick up. I have full confidence powering into traffic from a stop. This is a simple, elegant and very well designed car that inherits many technical, structural and visual cues from Audi.

Favorite Features

I'm loving the factory nav. It's a very nice system. I'm surprised at how much a like the satellite radio, it's fantastic. I'm still getting used to the automatic transmission after driving stick for 12 years, but having the tiptronic option is great!

Suggested Improvements

The trunk is a little hard to close and you have to plant your hand on the paint in order to close it. I think adding a little more black trim in areas around the feet would be a good idea too. My beige interior would benefit from that.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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You can have it all!

Written by: Randy on 11/11/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

I traded a 2003 Jetta TDI for this and it is everything the 2003--that I liked--was times 4. Mine has only the gorilla mats option and I can't think of anything else I would have wanted. The quality is much better than the 2003 (fit, finish, etc). The electronics are superb. Road sound is almost non-existent. The engine is just fantastic. Great power and quiet. I get 36 MPG on the low side and 46+ on the highway. I average around 39-40 and NOTHING is flat where I live, all up and down hills. In a flat region of the country, I have no doubt 50+ MPG would be easy.

Favorite Features

Favorite feature: easy, the engine. It pulls hard from anything above 1500 RPM. Passing is a breeze. You get better mileage than hybrids and you don't have to sacrifice any performance. This diesel is a sports car to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Make more of them available

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Rented one and have to have one

Written by: Francedrive on 11/07/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

My wife and I went on a vacation where we drove across France. We were given an '09 Jetta TDI. We averaged 48 MPG, 2 suitcases and various bags and was mostly comfortable w/ the sport seats. Fun to drive with the manual up the small winding roads in mountains. Was skeptical of the diesel engine, but after going 1500 miles @ 48-50 MPG, hitting 110 MPH with no shake, I am sold...

Favorite Features

Large radio presets, short shifting Manual, spirited engine

Suggested Improvements

would say less plastic bits, but then again its an under $30,000 car..

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Jettas are UNDERATED

Written by: Ed on 11/02/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen S 4dr Wagon (2.5L 5cyl 6A)

Review

This is my second VW, I had a Passat in 95. So far I am loving it really for the money it is a steal, when you look at the interior fit and finish, engine performance! And the driving experience? NICE, I love the euro feel handling and electric assist steering is great feel. It also has a very tight turning circle which no one has mentioned. I have yet to hit 1K miles but am averaging 24 MPG combined...I would think that will get a bit better when the motor breaks in.

Favorite Features

Controls layout, COOL nighttime dash display, steering assist, 6-speed with 3 way options, lots of room for my roadbike in the rear without taking a wheel off the bike.

Suggested Improvements

Lousy daytime radio display, can barely see on a sunny day and not at all with my sunglasses on... front seats should adjust the same way!!

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Move Over Prius, Here's The New Standard

Written by: Bryan on 11/02/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

Watch out, all you denizens in your hybrid econo boxes with 500 pound batteries under the backseat and your smug looks at the stoplight. I've seen the future, and am driving it now. That future is the 2009 Jetta TDI, especially the Sportwagen model. Imagine averaging, in a new, tight, not broken-in engine, 50+ MPG on the highway on cruise control, and in the high 30s in town, with lots of torque, comfortable interior, German engineering, and handling which, while not as good as my Lotus Europa, is a LOT more responsive and tight than a lot of more pedestrian cars. Do yourself a favor, hie yourself down to your VW dealer and drive one for yourself. You will NOT be disappointed.

Favorite Features

Favorites? Seating, instrumentation, build quality (everything lines up, inside and out), responsiveness, pull off the line, that great turbo surge when you tread on the loud pedal, quiet interior, and a nice, not hokey or overdone interior. Rear seats fold FLAT!

Suggested Improvements

Side impact/rub rubber on the doors. I can't really think of anything other than perhaps including the iPod adapter as standard.

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Quirky litle car

Written by: hermann_g on 10/30/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

Convenience features leave me a bit unimpressed, considering the high cost. Mostly manual seat adjustments, no steering wheel audio controls, and a really annoying radio electronic lockout feature. With diesel fuel now up to 30% higher than normal gas, the fuel economy advantage is questionable. Given a 30% price diff, if you get 45 mpg, a 35 mpg gas burner costs you pretty close the same. You need to use an expensive specialty motor oil. Clean diesel? I can sniff a tiny whiff of diesel exhaust as I am driving, so folks with respiratory issues may want to pay very careful attention to this during a test-drive. (Maybe some residue on the engine that will burn off eventually.)

Favorite Features

Sunroof. Manual shifter. Allow wheels. Nice graphite blue color. The 2009 Jettas now have a timing chain instead of a timing belt. Fun to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Add steering wheel radio controls. Do away with radio lock-out. Make iPod controls standard.

3 out 6 people found this review helpful

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My first Volkswagen

Written by: Sharon on 10/27/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

Review

I have never owned a VW before, but wanted better gas mileage. Upon a lot of research, I purchased the TDI. I drive 11 miles to work and mileage keeps increasing. I have 1100 miles on car now and it gets an average of 40 mpg. I haven't been on any long trips yet, but look forward to increasing mileage. It states 600 miles per tank. My previous car got 22 mpg and 240 a tank for the same trip! It has a lot of pep, room and lots of extras. I look forward to having it for a long time and driving it on long trips.

Favorite Features

Great fuel economy, lots of room, sunroof, great stereo, safety features,steering wheel controls, fun to drive and sharp looking. Dash lights are really fancy.

Suggested Improvements

Could use adjusting rear view mirror. Arm rest between front seats could be better - it seems like it would break easy.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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2009 TDI Exceeds Expectations

Written by: shifter on 10/23/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Loyal Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

Teutonic styling, handling and quality. Stiff suspension and taut handling takes some getting used to but lots of smiles per km. Fuel economy averages 6 L/100 km out of the box in a mixture of highway driving and city. Doors close with a reassuring thud. Interior controls and finish are all of the highest quality. Everything works as it's supposed to. Expensive trim level (Highline) and options (Sirius radio etc.) worth the upgrade. TDI is luxury car quiet and smooth. 6 speed manual takes some getting used to with closely matched ratios. Best to find a high range and leave it there, letting the 235 ft lb torque do the rest. Only missed feature is HID headlights, standard H4 are very good.

Favorite Features

Sirius radio, heated leather seats, computer display showing how much money you're saving driving a TDI. Audi-like quality.

Suggested Improvements

HID headlights. Gear indicator for 6 speed manual. Memorized seat setting.

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Great MPG, can't believe the savings

Written by: peanut on 10/19/2008

Vehicle

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

I picked it up in Tampa and drove 800 miles home. I got 42 mpg on average and the engine is not even broken in yet. The storage is great and will be perfect for my sales job. The savings on gas even with Diesel being higher is really great. Fun to drive, just as peppy and fun as the BMW X3 I drove. I would recommend to the person who wants to be environmental but needs a functional engine. I was able to pass trucks and get out of the way when needed which was my only concern initially. Did get the extended warranty being a new engine and style.

Favorite Features

The sunroof, Sirius radio, ipod adapter. The fact that the seats come up to lay the seats flat and the hidden storage under the gorilla mat. Great gas mileage and still have a fun driving experience. Also love the movable console as an arm rest.

Suggested Improvements

Power Driver seats, at least driver side. Solid cover for sunroof like in X3. Solar heat in south can be a bit much at times. Multifunction Steering wheel on Sportwagen TDI. Thigh support on seats. Power liftgate and dual climate control in sportwagen. Blue Tooth Hands Free standard on car.

19 out 20 people found this review helpful

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