Used 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Consumer Reviews
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Frome Camry Hybrid to TDI
Wow... the difference in the drive and feel compared to the Camry Hybrid is incredible. I feel like I am driving a car again. It corners beautifully and gets better mileage then the Hybrid. My trunk space has doubled since I no longer have a battery in the back. It's roomy and very comfortable and was $10,000 less then the Camry. Everything is better... the controls on the steering wheel are positioned correctly and all the controls in the car are very intuitive... it does not take a genius to figure anything out. A solid car with great mileage at a solid price.
Powerful, efficient and FUN to drive!
As an owner of an 84 300D Turbo Diesel Benz for over 10 years, I knew it would be worth waiting for the 09 Jetta TDI. Two weeks after purchasing my Loyal Edition, I remain extremely satisfied. This car has amazing torque output! I can feel the quiet diesel engine purring under the hood as it speeds effortlessly down the road. The firm ride adds to the feel that I'm driving a tamed beast! Months of research convinced me that no other car gives you the value the TDI offers. At an average of 44.7 mpg on the highway this past weekend, I am convinced this is an unbeatable deal that will last for years to come.
Great MPG, can't believe the savings
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.
2009 Jetta TDI
This is an excellent car for the money. The standard features include 10 speaker stereo, heated seats. The fit and finish is superb for a $21990 car. The EPA mileage ratings are totally incorrect. This car easily gets over 40 mpg in mixed driving. You will easily get in the high 40's or even 50 mpg on the highway if you drive carefully. The car handles well, is stable and feels very secure.
Great non-truck option, to get diesel
For an interstate commute of 90 miles a day the TDI Jetta is fantastic. Plenty of power ( relative, of course ) high comfort, and excellent design and build quality. Consumption so far averaging around 44 mpg. Having had rental car diesels in Europe, the Jetta is the best of the mass market ones.
Buy yourself a TDI
This is one well made machine. Handles like its on rails. Great lines and its a TDI to boot. I can now thumb my nose at the gas pumps.
I Like it!
This is my first new car in a long time after driving vans/mini-vans for the past 15 years. Handles great and very good acceleration when you want it. Feels real solid and sporty. I have 3900 miles on it and have been averaging 36 mpg. I am hoping that will improve in the summer to make up for the .80-1.00 more per gallon over gas.
Love my TDI with DSG
I bought my '09 Jetta TDI sedan in January and I just passed 10K miles a few weeks ago. Recently took it in for the FREE 10K service, which is a nice plus, as the '09 comes with 36K no charge service. So far I love it! The ride is smooth, somewhat tight, and very easy to handle. Acceleration is phenomenal considering the mpg. The diesel is quiet but has a nice exhaust note when pushed. Fit and finish are near perfect. The seats are very comfortable but not soft and cushy. The dash is clean and un-cluttered. Plenty of room for even the tallest drivers, but a smallish back seat. The trunk is decent size and pass through storage is handy.
I am still amazed!
I have now had my TDI Sportwagen for one and half months. I have 6500 miles and average about 38 mpgs overall. I keep a fully loaded car for sales promotion items from the back of the front seats to the back door and getting an average of 38mpgs. I can't imagine what I would get with a car that did not have a heavy load daily. It is very sporty, handles well and I am very pleased. I would recommend that you give this car a drive if looking for an economical option to the SUV. I am still saving about 30-40 dollars a month on gas even though there is a 80 cent spread between unleaded regular and diesel.
Incredible overall package
I recently purchased a TDI Sportwagen with the panorama sunroof and 6-speed manual. I have driven the car about 500 miles. I have averaged 39 MPG and have gotten up to 46 on longer highway trips. The size is perfect, roomy back seat and plenty of cargo space. The huge sunroof really brightens up the black interior. The car is plenty peppy and a lot of fun to drive. Overall I am very satisfied so far.
Awesome Car
We got this TDI last month it is a great car. It is put together well, the engine pulls hard. We haven't broken the engine in all the way yet and we've been getting 35-41 mpg mixed. Everything on the dash is laid out nicely, easy to reach.
The best car i ever owned.
I drove about 350 mi with my new car and I still have 1/2 of the tank full. Drives like a rocket, very solid feel. Did I mentioned that it is quiet and acceleration it so powerful especially up hill. I love this car the ride is comfortable. This is our main car from now on. I was diving the other day up hill and a Toyota Prius did have very hard time keeping up with the traffic. Bottom line go get one.
Jetta TDI owner for 21 days
This is the first car I have owned that isn't American. I struggled to find a happy medium with price, high fuel mileage & satisfaction with the size/interior of a new car. My Ford was 10 years old & I wanted the next car to last that long. After lots of online research & many test drives, I wanted a '09 Jetta TDI in theory, but needed to drive one once they hit the street. It was love at first drive. The car is substantial, feels solid, not much noise & I don't feel like I'm driving a tin-can. Other cars get similar mileage, but don't have the "pep," feel as safe or have the quality. The standard equipment is great. I love my Jetta TDI & I'm working on my guilt for not buying American.
First Time VW Owner
First time owning a VW and I have to say I'm very impressed with the quality of materials used in production. Seats are comfortable and supportive. The VW TDI diesel is much quieter than I was expecting after previously driving a Mercedes diesel years ago. Great Car all around so far.
not like the 2002
We test drove a 2009 Jetta TDI wagon to compare it to our 2002 TDI wagon. Our 2002 gets mileage almost 10 mpg higher than the 2009. Fit and finish are about the same. With diesel now lower priced than gas here in our state, and teh difference in mileage, we will keep running our 2002 for a long time to come. After VW screwed up and lowered the mileage, find yourself a 2002 or 2003 TDI diesel if you can and buy that instead. They command a huge price premium in our area being they are so much better than the 2009 models.
Great Alternative to Hybrid
Good handling and really fun to drive. Torque is excellent. Small problems like rubber seal on door is coming off and rear passenger light switch pops open. Have to take it back to dealer for these repairs. Great miles and feels like a more expensive car, very roomy. Wish it was more aerodynamic. Got the car in white and all bugs splatter all over hood, fender and windows.
Best Overall Car
I have owned 15 cars over the past 30 years ranging from a Subaru to a Porsche. The Jetta TDI is the best overall so far. Low price, great gas mileage, fun to drive, roomy, great build quality and love the huge sun roof.
Our First Volkswagon
The car has 1400 miles and has been a hoot to go through city driving. We average about 35-36 mpg. We have yet to really put it on the highway for a long haul, but we will next week. We have gotten as high as 38mpg, but hope to see some 40+mpg. The car had marks in the paint due to shipping, but was corrected by the dealer. The radio sound is great and the seats are most comfortable. I love coming to a light and leading the traffic with this little jewel. This is really the wife's car, but I drive it when I am with her. The mileage does drop 1-2 mpg when using the air conditioner. The panoramic moon roof is really neat and does not feel hot inside with the sun screen shade covering.
Small Wonder
Ours. Well, wife's but what the heck I get to drive it too when we ride together. we got the 6 speed manual, what a blast to drive. by the way we went in to buy a Tiguan but ended up buying the TDI we think it's a better value. Got the multiple on dash cd changer but don't need it cause it's got an ipod hook up and the rest is history. this car is well worth it, an excellent car without comparison, buy one we need to support the Diesel technology so they bring more choices for us to love.
Great engine, great mileage...
I traded in a hybrid for the increased power and nominal trade-off in mileage. I love the amount of power in the diesel engine while still getting great gas mileage. Passing, accelerating, cruising, are all easy and confident maneuvers that were frenetic in the hybrid. I'm completely hooked on torque with so much available at a low rpm. I'm hoping that more companies come out with diesels to provide some good competition to this one.
My third TDI and the best yet
This is our third TDI and first sedan. We still have an 05 wagon but will be trading for a new sport wagon in late spring of 09. Our 03 wagon saved my wife's life when she was T-boned and ended up upside down 100 yards down the road. Not a scratch, a very safe car.
Happy in DC
This car is wonderful love the fuel mileage,rides well on long trips ,sound system is above average. Very satisfied with quality of equipment. Would recommend this car over Accord and Camry much better value
Love my diesel wagen
This car is terrific. The range is525 miles per tank, and I'm getting over 40 miles per gallon highway and 34 city. Comfortable seating, plenty of cargo space, and I couldn't be happier
Quirky litle car
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.)
Diesel is the way to go
5000 miles and this is the best car I have ever owned. I drive 100 miles round trip everyday. 41-43 mpg. Average speed 75mph. I cannot figure out why anyone would buy a hybrid. Clean diesel tech. is the way to go. GM, Ford, Dodge/Chrysler need to catch up. I would have bought American if they could match the quality and performance, but they cannot.
First Impression
I am still breaking in the car with only 120 miles driven. I am impressed by the engine and DSG transmission. Very smooth shifts while accelerating, and seems to find the correct gear for each situation. However,at very low speeds there is too much engine braking due to no fluid coupling so some small amount of lurching is sensed. The interior is very attractive and seems well made. The only complaint thus far is the front seats which are too hard. I hear this is a German car trait, but this doesn't impress my behind.
First 2500 Miles
I've driven the car for 2,500 miles now and am very happy with it. 85% of the miles are short in town trips ath are 5 miles or less (hardly enough to get let the engine warm up) and I am averaging 35.2 MPG. I am sure if we drove slower and took longer trips the mileage would be substantially higher. We purchased this because we wanted an efficient car and could not stand the tiny box feel of all the other high mileage cars on the market (IE civic, fit, carolla, yari, etc).
What a Car
With just 8000 miles on the car and two recent long trips. The mileage continues to improve. 42 to 44 combined with the AC running. 6 speed manual transmission and engine are smooth, plenty of power. A round trip of 800 miles each way average speed 70 mph. Cost less than $87 in fuel costs. Nearly 640 miles per tank full (14 gal). Car is comfortable, and responsive. Loaded with extras, like the 120 volt AC outlet. This is standard on this car. Very quiet, smooth ride. A car you feel safe in. Plenty of space in the trunk. Needs to be driven before you spend your money on a trendy Hybrid. How long will there batteries last? And how much will they cost to replace?
2009 TDI Exceeds Expectations
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.
Good Travel Buddy
I have put almost 12,000 miles on this car and have enjoyed it with one exception. . They actually found out that this car, being one of the first manual TDI wagons, was running too clean and choking itself. It behaved much better after the EGR valve replacement. Fussy clutch in 1st until it was broken in. It likes to hiccup after startup during the first minute the engine is warm.(Part of EGR software issue) A software upgrade was performed last week, but still have the problem. I drive aggressively and get 32 MPG around town,36 HWY. Drove 525.5 miles on one tank road trip and got 41.2 MPG . A great highway cruiser and fun to drive.
Green With Glee
I also have a Honda Civic Hybrid but the Jetta TDI for the same money is much more fun and better quality. The diesel engine has tremendous low end torque and the turbo is rocket fast in sport mode. Just did a round trip from San Diego to LA and back and averaged 46 mpg. Been getting in the mid 30 mpg around town. The three mode transmission is fun for whatever mood. Leave it in D for economical commuting, drop it into sport to zip through traffic and manually shift when in the mountain twisties. Good seats with nice bun warmers and plenty of room for my 6 foot frame. Feels like a BMW or Audi for many thousands less. With free service and tax rebates how can I go wrong?
maiden diesel voyage
Very solid build. The 6 speed manual is very smooth and really lets you enjoy the torque of the diesel. I live in south Florida and the sunscreen over the panoramic sunroof actually does keep it cool inside. I am 6'6" and have plenty of headroom and my kids can still sit behind me. First tank was 39.5 mpg with 60% highway. I have seen over 50 mpg over long stretches at 72-75 mph.
awsome, fun, ecomonical
We bought it to replace my wife's 1999 Olds Cutlass with 51,000 miles bought new from the same dealer 10 years go. We compared it to the Prius and the VW SportWagonTDI won. We just finished our 1st long trip (800 miles) in it and are totally satisfied. Keep in mind my car is a 2004 GMC Denali all wheel drive and loaded. I am 6'7" tall and 280 lbs the VW has plenty of room. It has as much head room as my Denali. We averaged 33.6 MPG calculated from gas tickets after driving 80-90 mph on Interstate and 4o-60 MPH on two lane roads from Savannah to Apacatchacola. It is not even broken in yet and the mpg is impressive.
VW Jetta TDI
I purchased a new Jetta TDI 6 speed manual car a few weeks ago. First tank of diesel averaged a little over 45 mpg. This car looks, drives and rides like a car costing a great deal more. Standard equipment on this car would be options on others. I can only say this is a great well priced 4 door car.
My best car ever
The '09 Jetta diesel is powerful, economical, safe, and well-built. Forget the EPA rating, you'll get 40-45 MPG driving sensibly. Just note it is not a car for short-commute city drivers; stop-and-go and short commutes where the engine never warms up will cream your mileage (though you should still see mid-to-high 30s). This is a full-sized powerful sedan that handles like a luxury car but gives the same or better fuel economy than toy cars such as the 'Smart' or any hybrid you care to name. Do yourself a favor and test-drive it.
My first Volkswagen
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.
A Win-Win Situation
Like everyone else, fuel economy is in everyones mind. Driving a BMW 525 70 miles per day to work was getting expensive. Much shopping/research went on and the VW TDI SportWagen was the Ace of Hearts that we were looking for so the BMW went bye-bye. I look forward to driving this car everyday and thank God I was lucky enough to find one on the lot on my first visit to the VW dealer.
Love this car!
I traded a 2005 Avalon Touring for a Sportswagon TDi. I got a good deal on my trade-in and $1300 tax CREDIT for buying a high mileage car! These cars are a little hard to find though. Routine Maintenance is covered for 3 years. I was looking for a car that I loved to drive. This feels like most other German engineered cars..tight, precise handling, good firm ride, and a unique driving experience. The last car I enjoyed driving this much was my CTS. This car broke the Guiness 48 state mileage world record..58.8mpg! Now you wont get this kind of mileage, expect 35-38 general driving, and 45-48 on the interstate. But this little turbo diesel is wonderful! Powerful, quiet and extremely efficient
Finally A Car I Love
Just picked up my Jetta TDI Sportswagon last week and so far I'm loving it. Fun to drive, handles great, the turbo is a real kick. Perfect size after driving mini-vans for the last 19 years. Plenty of cargo area in the back, seats are comfortable. A/C works great and cools down the car within a couple of minutes. So far I'm still on my first tank of gas but at 175 miles I've only used a quarter of a tank of gas. Nice to finally have a car I look forward to driving.
A lot to like
The Jetta in general closely approximates an entry level luxury sedan while being priced closer to more basic sedans. The TDI drive train provides tremendous performance with exceptional mileage (40+ mpg is easily obtained driving gently). At idle it sounds different than a gasoline engine but not objectionable. There is no diesel smell. Its acceleration and responsiveness are impressive. The trunk is large and easily accessible with a pass through for long objects. The cabin is comfortable for four. This car deserves to be very popular. I see no good reasons not to consider it if looking for a mid sized sedan.
First Diesel
This is my first Diesel car. Like anyone who is considering the GAS vs. DIESEL debate we read so many online articles that we eventually got a headache. First Impression - We now have 700 miles on the car and on a 80 mile highway trip I averaged 42 mpg - driving 60-70 mph. Driving 75 or higher mpg dropped slightly. I have not been able to judge the city mileage yet. For anyone that is considering one best advice - test drive one. Great handling, good features, low road noise, and European design. Until I have to fill up I don't even realize I am driving a diesel. If diesel prices stay were they have been for my last three top offs it should pay for itself very quickly. You get what you pay 4
Extremely Fun and Fuel Efficient
I was considering hybrids, but heard about this one coming out. I'm glad I waited. It has tremendous acceleration and great handling. The computer showed that I got 44.3 mpg on a 300 mile trip. I'm still over half a tank plus I drove around all day today. The engine is quiet and clean. I've seen older tdis spouting dirty smoke, but this one does not. There is also a minimal amount of noise. If you are inside, you can't hear it at all at idle. When you punch the throttle, this thing takes off. A lot of push. I notice it especially around 20-30 mpg like trying to get on freeway. It is peppy! The materials are as good as the bmw 650i we own. Just don't confuse the fuel!
Great car for the money
I just got my 2009 Jetta TDI [DSG] and I love it! It's a great little car. Even brand new I've been averaging over 50 mpg on the highway during my commute. The styling is nice, not great, but nice. The interior is very well laid out, with controls in easy to access, but not necessarily see, locations. The DSG, although an "automatic" transmission, shifts like a manual and it takes some getting used to if you have never driven before. The degree of engine braking as the car downshifts back into first was startling the first few times. I'm looking forward to getting even better mileage after the engine is fully broken-in.
Move Over Prius, Here's The New Standard
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.
TDI for fun
2009 Jetta TDI I currently have less than 1400 miles. I took a short trip of 250 miles and received 47 mpg. This was great. The Sport Wagon would be my preference. Since my walker doesn't fit in the trunk with the back seat up. It appears to be a large trunk but not the depth I would like.
Great Car, Would recommend
The ratings I base on any car that's as fuel efficient as this one. Much more fun to drive than a hybrid, yet gets nearly the same mileage. Spacious, back seat fits adults, seats comfortable on a 1400 mile, three day trip. Be wary of the hype that the car will get over 50 mpg. Trying real hard I can get 45 - 46. Around town I've been getting much better than I'd guessed, 38 - 40. I have the manual and keep the car at 1500 rpms unless going uphill. Never needs to be at more than 2000 rpms unless in top gear, passing or entering a freeway. Averaging 70 mph you will be lucky to exceed 41 mpg. It's in the constant 50s and 60s that 46+mpg is possible.
reported to nhtsa
Terrible problems with the transmission...shifted from park to reverse...depress brake pedal light came on, and gear indicator light (prnds) started flashing and car slipped into neutral, but re- engaged...lurched backward and almost hit pasng car...then next night...driving 50 mph in drive...car jumped to neutral, engine raced to redline... gear shift indicator light started flashing and depress brake pedal light before starting light came on...almost got rear-ended by car behind me. Dealer said i have to have transmission torn apart and some type of sensor replaced...done research...found this problem exists, along with flywheel and mechatronic module...sent report to NHTSA...
TDI Sedan after first 5000+ miles
Below are the ACTUAL mpg and average speed figures as reported by the onboard VW computer: MPG = 34.7 at an average speed of 32 mph 34.3mpg @ 30mph 34.3mpg @ 31mph 33.7mpg @ 30mph 33.8mpg @ 30mph 33.9mpg @ 33mph Each set of the figures above were from full tanks of gas (about 400 miles per tank). As you can see, most of the driving was city driving and the TDI is pretty consistent at around 34 MPG. I have yet to use a full tank on the highway but I typically see MPG figures in the mid 40's when charging around the flatlands of the Sacramento area doing 65-75 MPH. Love this car!!
notified NHTSA.
Bought 2009 Jetta TDI. At 720 miles had a severe problem with the transmission. In park, with engine running shifted into reverse...trans acted like it was in neutral engine raced, shift indicator lights started blinking, depress brake pedal before starting light came on, and car went into reverse and lurched backwards almost hitting other car...next nite,10pm 50 miles per hour, engine goes into neutral even with gear in drive, gear light blinking brake pedal light on simultaneously.just like ex. above. Almost got rear ended. had car for less than week...now told need a transmission tear down and evaluation of all sensors. I want my car replaced with a new one!!!
DSG trans slippage?I
light purchased car april 09,and really like the gas mileage esp. in town. Having problem with the DSG trans. slipping when on an incline. The trans. slips to neutral and the car starts to roll backwards for a few feet and then engages.Talked with dealer today and he said that was because the trans. goes to neutral at a stop. Offered no fix except possible software upgrade. Was wondering if any one else had same problem and what the fix was? Also added on a dimming mirror with homelink. This should be an option on sportwagon.