Used 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Wagon Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Wagon.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Capable, smart and economical... a winning combo!
Philip, Everett, WA, 03/11/2016
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
I bought this car after owning an Audi TT 3.2 6m/t which I loved but it was getting expensive to maintain and fuel up and I needed a family car. An SUV or cross-over were out of the question because I simply despise them and they drive like bricks on wheels. I was not prepared to spend over $30,000 for a new car and it had to be a daily driver with very good fuel economy. Since I will … never buy an American car (GM, Ford or Chrysler) or one with an automatic transmission or CVT, a hybrid was out of the question. I had rented a 2012 Jetta Sportwagen 2.5L during a business trip to Seattle and I remembered liking the spacious interior, massive cargo volume (I had to carry 3 coworkers and their bags) , easy and ergonomical controls and above average handling (despite the fact that I had to rent one with an automatic transmission). My 2014 JSW TDI has gone on a road trip from Florida to Pennsylvania and Maryland in October of 2014. I bought the VW roof rack which I installed myself due to extreme ease of installation. The car performed admirably and road noise, even with a loaded roof rack, was not extreme.
When I bought the car, I did a cost benefit analysis of the 2.0 TDI vs. the 2.5L and it did not make sense to lease the TDI over a 36 or 48 month period due to the price of diesel (the premium of the diesel engine would not pay for itself based on fuel economy until the fifth year) in 2014. With the recent plunge of fuel prices, I can pay less than $30 at the pump and drive for 2 weeks before my next fill-up. I regularly get more than 530 miles on a tank (14.5 gallons) of diesel in mixed city/highway driving. Admittedly, I am writing this review after the VW Dieselgate scandal. I did not buy this car because it was touted as a "Clean Diesel"; I bought it simply because the combination of fuel economy, vehicle performance/handling, cargo space, comfort and interior quality/ergonomics is the best I could find under $30,000. I work in an area where dumptrucks and 18 wheelers spew black smoke incessantly. Yes, I am disappointed that my resale value will undoubtedly drop but I am gambling that, with a robust compression ignition engine, I will drive this car until it dies and that will be more than 10 years from now (based on reading reviews on VW TDI forums of other drivers who report very long lives and high mileage on their VW TDI's.
The steering is crisp and responsive and there is slight torque steer evident. It is very easy to park the car and the rear view camera is a handy assistant (even though the car is by no means oversized). I have noted a glitch that sometimes I shift into reverse and get a warning on the screen that the camera is unavailable (shifting into neutral and then back into reverse always recovers the camera functionality). The transmission is easy to shift up and down and the clutch is on the lighter side though "catches" relatively deep. This does not bother me even in city driving as I am used to stiffer clutches though I can see how some drivers could be annoyed in repeated bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Living in Florida, I am not overly concerned about needing winterized diesel or the inherent difficulty in starting a compression ignition engine in colder temperatures, but it is comforting to know that I have not had any issues with the glow-plugs in the first 2 years. The service intervals call for oil changes every 10,000 miles.
Only after buying the car did I realize that it is considered by some to be a "cult" car in the sense that there's a very close-knit community of owners who simply love their JSW's akin to Subaru WRX or Mitsubishi Lancer EVO owners. I do love that you don't see too many JSWs around and I believe I have one of the few JSW TDIs with a manual transmission in Miami (all the ones I have seen have the tiptronic or DSG). A diesel powered station wagon with a manual transmission is a touring car that few people in the U.S. can appreciate more than a CUV or SUV but Europeans certainly understand the wagon's appeal. I am very pleased with this car and would definitely buy a 2017+ Golf Sportwagen TDI whenever VW is able to bring their 4 cylinder diesel engine back to the U.S. market!
Nothing Lagging in my VW Sportswagon
Dennis Brunetti, Sandy, UT, 01/23/2016
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
I bought mine used from a dealer with 14,500 miles. The original owner lived in Elko, NV and took very, very good care of the car. It looks, acts and drives like a new Sportswagon. Contrary to the reviews I've read noted herein the drivers seat is extremely comfortable along with the front passenger seat. Not sure about the back seats because I never sit on them. The car is nosier than … my 745iL but the bonus is the smooth engine, smooth shifting, and super high fuel mileage. Further, the cargo space is more than adequate for my needs, and the cabin interior material is in accordance with the price of the car. Additionally, the cost was $ 12,000.00 less than a new Golf Sportswagon which has replaced the Jetta Sportswagon in 2016. Thanks for reading, Dennis B.....
Fixed TDI & Better MPG
Intoxicated By Torque, Hyrum, UT, 07/27/2019
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
I have the TDI SportWagen with the 6 speed DSG. It has been fixed by VW, complete with the urea tank for scrubbing out the nasties. The exhaust smells like a urinal cake and a slight tinge of diesel. Not great. That's the bad part of the car. The ONLY bad part.
I drive this around town mostly in Logan, UT but I have also taken short trips up to Idaho Falls and south to Salt Lake, Provo, … and surrounding towns. I have done one long 1,700 mile round trip from Logan to San Diego and back to Logan too. In every situation, no matter the elevation or the weather, this wagon excels. The transmission never hunts for the right gear. It never needs to due to the abundance of torque. This also makes the car get other-worldly MPG on the highway. On my San Diego trip, I got as high as 55 mpg. In the short trips, I average about 45 mpg and have gotten 50 mpg more than once. Combine that with the 14.5 gallon tank, you're looking at a solid 725 miles per tank. Who cares how much diesel fuel is, I fill up once every 5 weeks regardless.
The seats are so supportive up front. It has 3 level heaters in the seats. the lateral support makes it feel like a GTI. The handling is flat and the suspension works well. It soaks up the bumps yet never feels like it will body roll out of control. The DSG also gives immediate shifts and will allow runs up to redline, which I rarely do. I'm really more of a featherfoot.
There's a ton of space out back with extra storage under the floor. My labrador has plenty of space behind the seats. He can get up and move around or lay down and catch a few zzz's. He loves it.
My car has the 6" touchscreen radio with steering wheel controls, bluetooth streaming, iPod/iPhone interface that charges as it plays, USB ports, AUX port, and 6 disc in dash CD changer. It also has SiriusXM which I listen to 95% of the time thru amazingly clear speakers.
It feels bigger than the Golf SportWagen too. I know they are roughly the same size inside. My Jetta just feels roomier.
I love this car!
Update, Nov 22, 2021
I sold the car in May. Turned out that having a diesel in extreme northern Utah and a local commute with no freeway driving at all was not the best thing for the particulate filter. Since I never drove very far to work, just over a mile and a half each way, the engine never got up to temperature. That allowed the particulates to build up and only a long 200+ mile drive would clear the filter. That was the last thing I wanted to do in the middle of winter.
I sold the car to Carvana for more than I had paid for it. No more payment. It was a good thing.
Weird car
katherine3333, Essex Junction, VT, 09/26/2014
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
This car is the "compromise" for those who want decent gas milage and a wagon without breaking the bank. Be prepared to be uncomfortable in the small, hard seats as get your 40 MPG. And it is LOUD, a noise that music can not drown out. Oh well...gotta give to get.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Wagon
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Cavernous cargo space
- Pro:very good fuel economy with TDI model
- Pro:upscale cabin
- Pro:comfortable seats, refined ride.
- Con:TDI's premium price
- Con:sluggish acceleration response at low speeds on automatic-equipped 2.5 models.
Full Edmunds Review: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Wagon
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen in Ohio is:
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