Used 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Consumer Reviews
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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.
Rented one and have to have one
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...
TDI Sportwagen
I just purchased a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. I have been looking at the Jetta for a long time and was able to finally able to locate a TDI wagon and my local dealership (someone ordered it and financing fell through!!). I love the TDI. It is quiet, powerful and smooth. It feels more solid and refined than the SE model. The seats are very comfortable. The sound system quality is very good. The fit and finish is excellent. The wagon model is very attractive.
What a GREAT car!!
Went from a 2001 BMW 540i 6 speed to this vehicle with NO REGRETS. Wasn't even looking at this vehicle but my wife saw one, we test drove, and bought one that the dealer had coming in. Very lucky too to get VW rebate, low interest financing, and the $1,300 gov't refund. Glad I listened to others and got 6 speed, sunroof, and 17" rims. Added fog lamps and tinted the windows. Car looks great, has typical German Engineering, is a BLAST to drive, and gets great mileage so far (with only 2,500 miles, I'm getting 36 daily city/freeway and got 43 highway on a recent trip). Love all the room in back the wagon creates, its been great for hauling two black labs. I highly recommend this car.
Near-hybrid economy, but fun to drive
I had been driving a 99.5 Jetta TDI with 180k miles before buying this car. It had been quite reliable and is still running well, but I was ready for a new car. Cheapskate that I am, I put $500 down on a 2010 Prius which wasn't yet in the dealerships. I finally had a chance to drive the Prius and was moderately disappointed, so I went 10 minutes down the road and test drove the 2009 Jetta TDI. The driving experience was simply night and day. I expect that the Prius would have been more trouble-free and about the same cost per mile as the Jetta, I just couldn't bring myself to buy the Prius. The new TDI is SO smooth, powerful, quiet, and clean- smelling. I just wish the mpg was better.
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
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
Economical yet Fun
Bought the six speed manual in July and have put about 1200 miles on it so far. Got 41.5 mpg for the first 500 miles and 43 mpg for the second 500 miles (mostly highway but some stop and go). The car handles great and has good acceleration. I traded in my 2003 Passat and this car is almost as big as my Passat was. Not as luxurious as the Passat, but I didn't want to spend the extra money and I wanted the high gas mileage. Unlike a couple of the other reviewers, my air conditioning has been great (live near DC and it has been hot recently). Looks sharp - good head turning quotient.
You can have it all!
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.
Great car for the price!
Great car, very reliable. Great on gas, and affordable. I only wish it drove better in the snow. Definitely need to upgrade to snow tires on this one.
Crown Victoria to Jetta TDI
After driving a Ford Crown Victoria for 18 years, it is going to take a while to get used to a smaller car where I feel and hear more of the road than I would like. The 16-inch rims and low profile tires give the car a sporty feel but I prefer the smoother ride of a large sedan. I took the Mercury Milan Hybrid on a test drive first but it was priced too high. It was smoother and quieter than the Jetta. I am impressed with the fuel efficiency after 500 miles. I am getting 34 mpg city and 47 highway while driving between 65-70 mph. When the piston rings are seated and the car is more broken in, I expect to do better.
2009 VOLKSWAGEN TDI
The car is great! It handles like a sportscar with good acceleration. It is smooth a high speeds. Lots of cargo space with the rear seats that fold down flat. Decent fuel economy averaging 35-39 mpg depending on speeds.
great car
So far so good . I don't know the reliability yet because it's new.But I have to choose it to complete the review!I like it more than BMW because VW is quieter.
TDI SportWagen is Amazing
I now had my 2009 TDI Wagon a full year now and have 15k on it, so I thought I would share my experience. The car has been flawless and has had no service issues at all. Mileage has been great at mid 40's on the hwy and mid 30's in the city. If you are going 65mph cruising it will get over 50mpg. My usual tank avg. is 38-40mpg with 2/3 hwy miles. The car is fun to drive especially with the 6spd. manual. Started right up in 30 below zero overnight weather last winter, no problems at all.
What a Change from My '05 Cadillac STS!
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.
21,000 Miles So Far
This replaced my 2006 TDI in August. Think I was the third one sold by the dealer. Seat is the same as 2006, and I found out that new TDI(s) have electric passenger seat (I should have waited for it). Best mileage running Minnespolis to Louisville was 41 mpg (WINTER DRIVING). New EPA ratings are realistic for a change. Around Town gets around 33 mpg (WINTER DRIVING). I expect a minor improvement with straight #2 fuel. I love the mileage and feel of the car.
Still great
We have exceeded 16K Miles in less than a year so the engine is till in break in mode, as you may know diesel engines are made of much harder metal in relation to a gasoline engines. Returned from a trip to the Bay Area over the weekend. By the way this is the wife's car i only get to enjoy it on weekends or long trips as i get the behind the wheel assignment. The car feels strong and solid as the day we brought it home, driving a manual on hilly San Francisco can be a bit intimidating but not in this car as engine and tranny are well calibrated, in fact our kid did comment that it was better than the amusement park rides.
Not your typical diesel
Coming from a Legacy GT I was worried that the power wouldn't be there. However mated with the 6 speed manual it is plenty of zip and performs just fine in the mountains near Denver. The 1 regret is the gearing on the vehicle for higher speed driving. For customers that need to avg. 80 mph you won't get the typical 42 mpg I have been calculating. The best mpg - avg speed hovers around 60 - 63 mph which correlates to 50 mpg. Overall I am happy so far, 6,600 miles in the fuel costs are excellent and always try to get 600 miles to the tank. Pricing makes it hard to say no and the gov. incentives are nice. The only problem I foresee is taking it in for service, I've heard horror stories.
TDI Sportwagen--WOW
3 months old now with 4400 miles. Very good mileage--34/35 city and 40+ on highway. TDI engine has great torque and good acceleration. Automatic is superb--shifts great and extremely smooth. Use the huge sunroof all the time. Tight handling and attractive interior. Sound system is very good. Lots of room--cargo space almost as big many SUVs and wagons. Solid build and tight tolerances on body work. Styling is pretty good too. Very impressed as cars for last 12 years have been Audi A6s, A8, S8. This wagon is a great car and very good value.
Torque Monster
Traded in 2001 BMW M3 for TDI Sportwagen. So far with 4,900km (3,050 miles), most put on in one 3,400km road trip, I am very happy with both power and mileage. Climbing a mountain pass doing 75mph with cruise control on, the transmission never shifted out of 6th gear. This is with the car totally loaded down with luggage and 4 passengers. Only minor complaints with "buzzing" in drivers door on certain road surfaces and a creaking on the passenger side of the sunroof. I will take these to be fixed when I take the car in for it's 1st service.
TDI Convert
Call me a convert! I ditched my 07 Chevy Tahoe for some TDI fun. I waited several months for a TDI sport wagon and it was worth the wait. This car is a joy to drive and the mileage is fantastic. I drove a friend's hybrid Camry, and a Prius, before testing the TDI. There is simply no comparison. Toyota's hybrids are great at what they do, but I couldn't imagine driving one on a daily basis. This is my first VW, and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the diesel option in the new Tiguan so my wife can have a little fun. Zipping around town in the Jetta is loads of fun, and I am looking forward to my first road trip.
1 week in
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.
I Am A Diesel Convert!
I've only put 1K on the car so it's way too early to judge the reliability therefore the lower score. My wife wanted me to buy a Civic but relented to my choice of car. Unfortunately, she drove it to work last week and now she wants it for her own. The car is very comfortable to drive. I can tell it was designed to drive the freeways for long trips. You don't hear the engine at all at cruising speeds and you are at the peak torque @ 60mph. At first start up, and at a stop sign, the signature diesel sound is there but very muted compared to a bigger oil-burner. Finally, we are very pleased with the mileage. At 1K odometer, we are getting low 40's highway, around 35 mixed driving.
Excellent practical car
One year ago I purchased this car, and had it towed to the dealership for a Fuel Pump Relay issue 2 days later. 32K miles later and the car has been flawless, with excellent MPG at highway speeds. This car isn't the fastest/ most powerful, but it has an excellent balance of power/performance. In North Dakota at speeds of 75 - 80 we got about 41 - 42 MPG. Steering is responsive and the ride is quite smooth. First 3 services are free, and free inspections for the life of the car isn't bad either. The longer you drive the car the better it runs. Looking forward to the second year!
Jetta TDI wagon - a confusing experience
The vehicle is great to drive. We live in a mountainous area and it eats hills. We can drive from Kamloops to Vancouver in 6th without much problem. It has loads of passing power. Even with hills and high speeds combined fuel use is 6.7 L/100km. That said, vehicle totally failed at 1000km and had to be towed to a VW dealer for repair. The problem was identified as a leaking turbo hose. This was fixed but the engine warning light subsequently came on frequently until the engine computer was "re- mapped". Carpet in rear is coming out from the interior sill and the carpet on the back of the rear seats is falling off. This is all scheduled for repair but is a bit disappointing.
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.
The US needs more diesels like this
I bought this car as a replacement for a hybrid that just didn't cut it for me. The VW makes up for all of the performance and comfort trade-offs of a hybrid but with little penalty to the MPG's. I actually average about the same or better with diesel than I did with the hybrid - about 39 mpg over the life. Acceleration of the line makes passing slowpokes easy and squirting in and out of stop and go traffic is a breeze since it gives you "right now" torque. My only disappointments have been some annoying rattles, an audio system that gives me headaches, and no aux in if you have the ipod adapter. Other than that, I can't complain. I think I'm spoiled for anything but diesel.
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.
Back to Volkswagen
Owned very reliable Camry for years, but decided to try VW again after many years. I couldn't be much more pleased. I love this car. It's fun to drive (Camry was boring) and I average 39 mpg in mostly urban/suburban driving. Yeah, my iPod adapter is a joke, but they updated it on the 2010s. DSG works great for me, though it does feel a bit different than a standard automatics. You can easily adjust to it. My biggest decision was 16" or 17" wheels. 16" ride better over expansion joints. 17" handle better in tight curves. I wish I had both! So far my TDI is a great car. My local dealer is excellent too.
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.
First car I've ever loved!
Been driving a Sportwagen TDI (DSG)for 3 months now, and absolutely love the car. A very practical wagon with loads of cargo room, interior design that's far more like an Audi than Honda or Subaru, and the gas mileage of a Civic! The car feels wonderful on the road - solid and much more powerful than 140hp would lead you to believe. Yes you pay more for diesel fuel, but with a 40-cent spread between unleaded and diesel in NY, you still come out ahead, and put less CO2 in the air to boot. Gas mileage is very temperature dependent - was getting 34 mpg in winter, but already the commute is up to 38 mpg with spring temps (it's hilly here). Totally love the car!
Good but needs tweaks to get to great
Great car overall. I traded from a loaded 2009 Honda Fit. While the VW's ride is far superior, the Fit's features were quite impressive too. To take the VW from good to great, the VW needs voice navigation and steering wheels mounted controls. It needs front fog lamps and the homelink. the $500 for the blue tooth seems pricey too. Otherwise, the TDI is quite amazing.
An Item to consider
I like my TDI very well however potential buyers need to be aware of one drawback - availability of diesel fuel. Only about one (non-truck stop) station in five has a diesel pump, and it is often off to the side and not under a canopy so larger vehicles can access it. The fuel filler nozzle is frequently too large for the TDI's small opening (Why VW?) requiring holding the nozzle and slowly filling enough to get to a better pump. Could not recommended this car unless you are willing to endure this inconvenience
Great car
I am really happy with the fuel economy and features of this car. It is fun to drive but still gets very respectable mpg. I still have power when I need it. We also have a Honda Civic Hybrid, and the VW is getting better mileage, and is much more fun to drive.
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.
Nice Combo
This is a unique blend of qualities. Nice design and build. Nice interior. Great fuel economy (30 to 40)and nice performance from this drive train. Fun transmission that can drive like a manual in sport mode. Good handling from this zippy car. From 0 to 50 mph this car is quick which is not expected with this kind of economy. It also has Audi interior cues such as info center on dash. It is the same as my A6. No diesel smell or noise. Pleasantly surprised from a former BMW 328 owner.
Car to buy
I'm glad I ended up with the VW TDI after comparing several other cars. The TDI performs better than expected. Plenty of power and handles great for a small car. MPG is great, if you compare the TDI to the Hybrids currently on the market you will buy a TDI. I believe 5- 7 years down the road the TDI will still be running strong the Hybrids will be costing you a fortune. Not to mention all the hazardous waste from the batteries used.
Fun between fill-ups
I have found that the TDI is great on mileage. Our 1st trip was to Fresno and we got 47 MPG. The turbo lag upsets other drivers. I would like the wagon better.
Still in honeymoon phase
I have now had my tdi one year and 35,000 miles. Still drives like new. I do a lot of highway driving and it is too easy to drive way over the speed limit (85-90) while still getting 35-37 mpg. Queen size air mattress fits in back for the dog. No downshifts required when driving up 6% grade mountain highways. Torque just flattens out the mountain. Driven very conservatively, I have nearly hit 700 miles to a single tank of diesel.
Great car,
I was really impressed with the Diesel as an alternative to a hybrid. I had a Civic Hybrid that was a great car, but had no guts when you needed it. This car has it in spades. The diesel's torque makes for a much more pleasant driving experience while returning similar fuel economy. The only thing I can't figure out is a high pitched noise that is constantly going. It's not the turbo. This noise is coming from the rear passenger quarter of the car and is especially noticeable after shutting off the engine. No one else seems to hear it, but it makes my ears feel like they've been screamed in after I drive it. Hopefully, it's a break-in issue that will go away.
Great car
Great gas mileage and plenty of power. Runs so quiet you would never know it was a diesel. Heated seats are comfortable for a small car. I'm glad we settled with the VW TDI. We couldn't be happier with this car as of now. Love all the safety features built into the car. The auto-transmission gears down like no car I have ever driven. Fun to drive and responsive. Why would anyone buy a hybrid when you can drive the VW TDI.
compared to '05 TDI
I have only driven 200 miles in the new TDI clean, but I already know I would rather have the leather seat package I had on the '05. The car is my office, and this one is not as comfortable as the '05. I am an outside sales rep, and I drive A LOT. The "clean" is fun to drive, the sound system is better, it has more features in the dash, which I like. So far I have used 1/4 tank of fuel according to the gage, we shall see how that continues to play out. Overall, I really like the "clean". I do have more space to carry my sales bags and samples, and there is more power to carry it all.
Great Value
This is a great car for 25k. Getting 40+ MPG out of the gate in mixed driving. Very quick off the line. You cannot find this mix of performance, build quality, MPG and price anywhere else.
Love my new TDI sedan
The last car I owned that was actually fun to drive was a 1988(?) VW Jetta. This car may not be quite in that class but it's hella more fun to drive than the trucks and SUVs I've had over the past 20 years or so. My reliability rating is based on only 1 week of ownership, but so far so good. Since nothing has gone wrong, I give it a 10.
15,000 mi Review
I was a little reluctant to purchase a German car due to previous reports. I can truly say that my TDI is one of the best cars I have ever owned. Getting 47 mpg highway/36 mpg city. Great ride, great interior features & comfort. I love the TORQUE & six speed DSG. I highly recommend this car to anyone. I liked my Jetta TDI so much, I am buying a Golf TDI for my wife. Now with my Duramax, Jetta TDI & new Golf TDI, I am a all Diesel.
Here is a new TDI convert!
I have had my car for about a week and am very happy with it. My first half-tank of diesel has gotten me 350 miles! Beyond that, it's a car with excellent fit-and-finish, great sound, smooth ride, and a classy feel. It feels like I bought a much more expensive car. There is plenty of room for four people, and there is ample hip, shoulder, and leg room. The car is fun to drive, has unbelievable torque and accelerates nicely.