2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Review
Price: $3,950





+59
For sale nearby
70 listings
- $3,950great price$2,492 below market
- 154,107 miles
- No accidents, 1 Owner, Personal use only
- 5cyl Automatic
- Prime Motors (24 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Arlington, VA
Video walk-around, virtual test drives, E-purchase, shipping , financing and we accept all trades. Call/Text 703-671-8100 with questions or to schedul...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWPZ7AJXBM633526
Stock: 633526
Certified Pre-Owned: No - $7,600good price$211 below market
- 99,479 miles
- No accidents, 3 Owners, Personal use only
- 5cyl Automatic
- 83 Autos LLC (82 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in York, PA
The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen S PZEV is a practical and stylish compact wagon, ideal for drivers seeking versatility and efficiency. Powered by...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWPZ7AJ7BM612584
Stock: 612584
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-02-2024 - $8,995fair price$537 above market
- 118,395 miles
- 1 Accident, 2 Owners, Personal use only
- 4cyl Automated Manual
- Cars of Charlottesville (85 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
Close
Located in Charlottesville, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
33 Combined MPG (29 City/39 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VWPL7AJ0BM645752
Stock: 5542FLR
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 10-09-2024
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen model years
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen types
- Wagon
- Diesel
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Cavernous cargo space
- stellar fuel economy with TDI
- upscale cabin
- comfortable seats
- refined ride
- good iPod interface.
Cons
- TDI's premium price.
What’s new
For the 2011 Jetta Sportwagen, Volkswagen has slightly improved the 2.5-liter base engine's fuel economy.
Edmunds says
Pretty much in a class of its own, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen is a great alternative to a variety of vehicles, thanks to its versatility and available diesel engine.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen S PZEV 4dr Wagon (2.5L 5cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$138/mo for Jetta SportWagen S PZEV
Jetta SportWagen S PZEV
vs
$157/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
If it seems as if the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen looks more like a Golf than the new 2011 Jetta, your eyes aren't deceiving you. That's because Volkswagen's two Jetta body styles only share basic components now; this year's sedan has been fully redesigned to be larger and value-driven. In the process, though, the sedan has become more mainstream but less sophisticated and upscale. In our opinion, that leaves the Sportwagen, which pretty much carries over unchanged from last year, as the all-around better Jetta.
With its upscale cabin and sophisticated ride, the Sportwagen looks and feels like a German luxury car. And, of course, being a wagon, the Sportwagen can carry plenty of stuff. With about 67 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, this Jetta is roomier than popular compact crossovers like the Chevy Equinox, Kia Sportage and VW's own Tiguan. Since it sits lower to the ground and isn't as heavy as the typical crossover, it's also more responsive to drive and more fuel-efficient than those crossovers.
That fact is especially true given that the Sportwagen's base 2.5-liter five-cylinder has been given a fuel economy boost for 2011 and now manages a respectable 27 mpg combined EPA estimate. Those in search of a true fuel sipper, though, can still check out the VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI, which is powered by a clean-burning turbodiesel engine. With its 34-mpg combined estimate, it's one of the most fuel-efficient cars you can buy.
There are few small wagons around these days, so the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen doesn't really have any apples-to-apples competitors. The closest is the 2011 Volvo V50, which is more expensive but offers better acceleration and handling. One could also compare the Sportwagen to hatchbacks like the 2011 Mazda 3, small crossovers like the 2011 Honda CR-V or even hybrid hatchbacks like the 2011 Toyota Prius. Against any of these vehicles, the Sportwagen -- with its upscale design, useful wagon body style and the TDI's stellar fuel economy -- is a great alternative.
Performance & mpg
The VW Jetta Sportwagen S and SE are powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the S, while a six-speed automatic is optional on the S and standard on the SE. EPA-estimated fuel economy has improved for 2011, returning 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined with the automatic. The manual achieves 23/33/26.
The Sportwagen TDI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder good for 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automated manual transmission known as DSG is optional. The latter features a Sport mode that quickens shifts and performance. Fuel economy with the automatic transmission is 29 city, 39 highway and 33 combined mpg; the manual transmission gets an even more impressive 30 city, 42 highway and 34 combined mpg. In Edmunds performance testing, a Sportwagen TDI with DSG went from zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds.
Safety
Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags are optional. In Edmunds brake testing, a Sportwagen TDI with 16-inch wheels came to a stop from 60 mph in 129 feet -- a mediocre distance.
The Jetta Sportwagen has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. Its 2010 ratings (which aren't comparable to the new 2011 tests) were a top five stars for the driver in head-on collisions, four stars for the front passenger and five stars for both the front and rear in side impacts. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's crash testing, the Sportwagen received the top score of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.
Driving
For most shoppers in this segment, a comfy ride matters more than razor-sharp moves. By this measure, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen is a fine companion in day-to-day driving. It swallows bumps and provides a relatively quiet cabin from which to endure the daily grind. If you do decide to drive aggressively, the Jetta's steering is nicely weighted and accurate, though significant body roll puts a damper on the level of fun.
With the TDI models, expect a little more vibration, a tad more noise and less high-end kick when trying to charge up that highway on-ramp from a stop. However, the diesel's prodigious low-end torque makes it feel downright muscular around town, as it pulls away from traffic lights with authority.
Interior
The Jetta Sportwagen's cabin is a strong selling point, with high-grade, soft-touch materials and metallic trim that betters that of the new Jetta sedan. The vinyl "leatherette" upholstery found in the SE and TDI is finely stitched and does a good impression of real cowhide, with the added bonus of being easier to clean. Stereo and climate controls are straightforward and easy to use, with the touchscreen interface standard on the SE and TDI being a nice high-tech touch that's well-suited to the available iPod interface. That interface with the optional navigation system is one of the best on the market.
The Jetta's tall roof line lends a sense of spaciousness to the front seats, which boast a wide range of adjustment in order to accommodate drivers of various sizes. Rear legroom isn't as generous as that of the now-bigger sedan, but nevertheless, there's an adequate amount of legroom in back compared to what's available from most small crossovers. There's more than adequate cargo space; with its seats up, the Jetta Sportwagen boasts 32.8 cubic feet of space and 66.9 with the seats down.
2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen models
The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen is a five-passenger wagon available in S, SE and TDI trim levels. The Jetta sedan is reviewed separately.
The S trim comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, daytime running lights, roof rails, heated mirrors and windshield-washer nozzles, keyless entry, full power accessories, cruise control, air-conditioning, heated six-way adjustable front seats (power backrest, manual otherwise) and manually adjustable front-seat lumbar support. Also standard on this trim are a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, velour upholstery and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The SE adds 16-inch alloy wheels (optional on S), leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, a rear center armrest and a 10-speaker sound system with a touchscreen interface and a six-CD changer. The TDI is equipped similarly to the SE.
Optional on all trims are rear side airbags, a panoramic sunroof and Bluetooth. The SE and TDI can be equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as a navigation system with 20GB of digital music storage and an iPod/USB audio interface (available separately).

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Compare 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
See Edmunds pricing data
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Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(53%)
4(28%)
3(14%)
2(5%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Overall, Very Happy with the Sportwagen TDI
4.38 out of 5 starssylvania3, 02/13/2011
2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
I spend lots of time researching and test driving cars, as I am a
Mechanical Engineer.
It was thus not without lots of contemplation that I purchased a 2011 Sportwagen TDI to replace my 10 year old trusty Honda CRV with 170K miles.
Overall, I am happy. Some things are better than I expected, while there are a few minor things that are areas for improvement.
This car comes into it's … own on long highway trips, where it seems most efficient, and has a solid controlled feel to it. With all the torque from the diesel, the DSG rarely needs to downshift and pulls upgrade hills at 1700rpm like a tractor (the honda by comparison on same roads downshift and wines at 4000rpm)
Forget the sedan, try this first
4.63 out of 5 starsemajor, 06/27/2011
2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen S 4dr Wagon (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
This wagon is versatile and refined. We've carried furniture, huge Rubbermaids, not possible with a sedan. Tons of cargo room when you need it, drives just like the sedan when you don't.
Handling is responsive, the steering has a nice feel and heft to it, and the ride is comfortable without being too soft or sloppy.
Supportive seats, perfect driving position. Interior is way too nice … for a $20K car.
Strong 5 cylinder engine with lots of torque down low.
Gets 29-34 mpg highway.
Nice clutch and shifter.
Test drove the TDI, nice engine, but didn't feel it was worth the additional $5000.
13,000 miles and no problems yet.
As long as it stays reliable, I will have no regrets.
Blue Tooth needs a Dentist
4.88 out of 5 starstinf7jp, 05/22/2011
2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
Have had the car for several weeks and like it as much as on day 1.
MPG is 40+ and love the huge sunroof.
Having had
Audi and Mercedes vehicles, we have good perspective for what the vehicle should drive and handle like...and it does so nicely at the much lover price point.
Simply A Great & Well Designed Car
5 out of 5 starsjones0602, 03/03/2011
2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
I bought my 2011 TDI Sportwagen about 5 months ago and without a doubt feel this car was the right decision.
The MPG is nice, yes diesel is more expensive, but when you get 40+ MPG with the power of the TDI, it more then makes up for the price of gas.
I got the GPS/iPod upgrade which I use everyday.
The 2011 VW GPS is 10x better then my old Garmin.
I am 6'6" and comfortably fit into the … drivers seat.
The heated seats are perfect for NE winters, plus this past winter I never had to wait once till the engine heated up before it would turn over and start up.
Just a solid and well designed car from top to bottom.
2011 Jetta SportWagen Highlights
Wagon
S
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $19,995 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 26 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $138/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 32.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Jetta SportWagen include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover12.1%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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