2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Long-Term Test

Why We Got It
Durability
Performance and Fuel Economy
Retained Value
Summing Up

Since the invention of the internal combustion engine, our society has found itself dependent on oil. We burned through the black stuff like there was an infinite supply, so a movement toward conserving this non-renewable resource has been inevitable. The initial murmur of protest was muffled by corporate dollars, but with time the movement gathered strength. Once public outcry reached audible levels, its voice was clear: Alternative fuels were the future.

Electric, gasoline-electric hybrids, natural gas, hydrogen and ethanol. No stone has been left unturned in the global quest to limit our reliance on oil. This push for increased fuel-efficiency widened the niche for diesel-powered passenger cars. Until now diesel has been a dirty word in the United States, and its consumption has been limited to big rigs and heavy machinery. But in the wake of this conservationist movement, the U.S. public became receptive to the idea of diesel as a viable fuel for passenger vehicles.

Americans have finally realized that they didn't need a hybrid to attain 40 mpg. They could do the same with diesel power. And diesel is far more practical than many of the other emerging gasoline alternatives. This was the state of affairs as the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI resurfaced for sale in the 50-state U.S. market.

Why We Got It
The latest oil crisis sparked a need for change. And Americans now had a new enthusiasm for diesel as an efficient alternative to gasoline. Suddenly the largest global automobile market wanted diesels. This put VW in a strong position to launch the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

For 2009 VW unveiled its EPA-certified (LEV II Bin-5) diesel engine, qualified for sale in all 50 states. This turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 diesel powered our 2009 Jetta TDI and was equipped with a specialized filter to convert toxic exhaust gases into less harmful carbon, nitrogen and water. Unlike the Bluetec units prevalent on Mercedes-Benz products, which injected urea from a canister to facilitate exhaust cleansing, the VW system is maintenance-free. VW labels its new TDI as the "clean diesel" and has sought to lay claim to the emerging U.S. market for affordable diesel-powered cars.

Our primary reason for adding a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI to the long-term fleet was to test the merits of this new diesel. But it wasn't the only reason. We were equally interested in seeing how it stacked up to the old diesel. Already under long-term scrutiny at the time of our 2009's arrival was a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. With both Jettas in the fleet concurrently, we had a unique opportunity to compare durability and reliability across two generations of the same car. And having purchased the 2005 model used, we learned that TDIs retain their value incredibly well. Would the 2009 follow suit? We needed just 12 months to find out.

Durability
Volkswagen's direct-shift gearbox (DSG) impressed us during short-term tests. We appreciated the hybrid characteristics of the dual-clutch automated manual transmission. It delivered the driving manners of an automatic, with the shift response and fuel economy of a manual. But in some situations the DSG was lackluster. Inside Line Editor in Chief Scott Oldham commented, "My frustration with our Jetta's DSG transmission is growing. Right now I'm focused on the fact that the thing won't hold a gear. Pop it over into the manual gate (there are no paddle shifters) and it will still upshift on its own when the engine reaches redline. That sucks." It took some time. But once we accepted the Jetta's couch-potato level of athleticism, we turned our attention to its impressive practicality.

Inside the cabin the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta truly stands apart from the competition. Materials feel more refined than those of its Toyota and Honda counterparts. Previous-generation VWs taught us to fear the premature deterioration of interior items. But we experienced nothing of the sort from our TDI. Interior accoutrements were well received and the Jetta became a preferred road-tripper largely due to the comfort afforded by its highly adjustable seating position. A tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel and variable-height center armrest enhanced versatility. Senior Editor Erin Riches noted following a trip to Las Vegas, "I was very content in our Jetta TDI's driver seat. The driving position in this car is more ergonomically right than any car I've driven in the last year or two. There's nothing I don't like about it." Rear seats offered minimal headroom but swallowed up child car seats without a problem.

Our history with the Jetta includes two issues of mechanical note, neither of which were major (or had they been, if Volkswagen of Santa Monica brought some competence to their resolution). A DSG recall was issued during our test that did not apply to our Jetta, though it did affect some 40,000 other VWs with DSG. A recurring brake warning light was our only mechanical issue. It required two visits to remedy: one to change the brake master cylinder and bleed the system and a second to properly bleed the system. Service at 10,000 miles also occurred in two installments: one to change the oil and another to drain out the extra quart of oil. Should we have been surprised that the same dealership again overfilled our TDI by a quart at the 20,000-mile service? That time we fixed it ourselves.

Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance was the only silver lining in our service experience. Under this program, every VW receives complimentary service at the 10-, 20- and 30,000-mile service intervals. In fact, after 12 months and more than 25,000 miles, our only out-of-pocket expense was the replacement of a windshield damaged by road debris.

Total Body Repair Costs: $571.24 for windshield replacement
Total Routine Maintenance Costs (over 12 months): None
Additional Maintenance Costs: None
Warranty Repairs: Brake master cylinder replaced
Non-Warranty Repairs: None
Scheduled Dealer Visits: 2
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 2, one to re-bleed brakes and one to drain overfilled oil
Days Out of Service: 2 during brake master cylinder replacement
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None

Performance and Fuel Economy
We didn't add a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI to the long-term fleet for its performance. A turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel mill generating 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque pulls this car down the path of fuel economy. But this didn't keep us from subjecting it to our usual regimen of tests.

Performance was virtually identical between the first time we tested the TDI at 1,000 miles and its final test at 25,000 miles. Acceleration from a stop required 8.8 seconds (8.6 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip) to reach 60 mph en route to a quarter-mile time of 16.6 seconds at 82.5 mph. From 60 mph the Jetta needed a whopping 130 feet of asphalt to reach a stop.

The Jetta proved equally unimpressive from a dynamic standpoint. Lateral grip of 0.79g is average for the segment, as is its slalom speed of 64.2 mph. Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot noted following the slalom test, "Throttle has very little influence on the chassis. Precise entry speed is critical for a fast run. There is lots of wind-up and spring-back in the suspension. Both make the Jetta a wild ride with stability control off — especially if the entry speed is too fast."

Fuel-efficiency is where the TDI excels. We achieved 40 mpg on multiple occasions with the Jetta, and under highway driving conditions it was not uncommon to eclipse 500 miles per tank. Its capability even earned the Jetta a spot among the fuel-miser elite in our Fuel Sipper Smackdown comparison test.

Best Fuel Economy: 43.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 28.0 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 34.4 mpg

Retained Value
When it came time to retire the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI we had an idea of what to expect in terms of retained value, as we had encountered a handful of 2005 Jetta TDIs selling near their original price as we scoured the market for one of our own for our previous diesel Jetta test. And a quick consult of Edmunds' TMV^® Calculator confirmed our suspicions.

The original MSRP on our 2009 Jetta TDI was $24,190. After a year we'd racked up 25,000 miles on the VW and were ready to turn it in. By the conclusion of our test the stout TDI still commanded 84 percent of its original value. This goes to show that demand for diesels continues to be high in the U.S. market, even after gasoline prices have declined somewhat in the last 18 months (though they're rising again now).

True Market Value at service end: $20,412
Depreciation: $3,778 or 16% of original MSRP
Final Odometer Reading: 25,570

Summing Up
Now that diesel-powered German cars are finally here in America in real volume, there's been a burst of enthusiasm for the whole idea of the superior fuel economy that diesel offers — some 35 percent over a comparable gasoline-fueled powertrain in the case of the Jetta TDI, VW claims. J.D. Power & Associates forecasts that diesels will make up 15 percent of the American passenger-car market by 2020.

Our 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI proved up to the task of leading the charge for diesel passenger cars in America. Poor long-term reliability has been a burden synonymous with Volkswagen products over the years, but it's a burden that seems to be lifting. Our Jetta held together for 25,000 miles with no signs to the contrary. And this new image is being noticed, as the TDI's resale value surpasses all compact sedans we've tested before it. This is a great car. If only its dealer network deserved the same compliments. Internet forums agree that the troubled level of competence we experienced from the service department at Volkswagen of Santa Monica is not isolated to this dealership.

If we learned anything during our 12-month test, it's that owning a VW is all about do-it-yourself service. Here at IL we are a rare breed. We were trusted to change the oil in the family car before we were trusted to wear big-boy pants. Replace the drain plug before you pour in the new oil. Check the dipstick when you're done. Not a tough job. So how is it that a certified Volkswagen mechanic overfills the engine oil in our car twice? We still don't understand.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.