Used 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Consumer Reviews
Used Jetta for sale
Fuel Efficiency Without Sacrificing Torque
Marcelo Murillo, 09/08/2015
updated 03/10/2021
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Prod. End 4/13 (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
I've own this Jetta since December 2013 when I bought it "used" with about 10K on the odometer, it now has close to 130k miles on the odometer. Here's what I think so far. Pros: -Handling -Lots of torque, low end torque, the useful type. -Fuel economy -#dieselgate (yes may be a con as well but this is more of a fault on VW than the car design and I received a juicy settlement from VW and Bosch) -Build quality, It has no squeaks or rattles, paint is chipped from road debris but not faded, no rust (I live in Florida, car is garaged 90% of the time) -DSG Transmission makes driving a pleasure and not boring (see cons as well) -Still have the original brakes, rotors and shocks, no replacement needed yet. -Cabin noise levels are very quiet for this segment -Sound system (I have the Fender edition one) -Interior design, it has aged very well and does not look outdated, simple German design nothing gimmicky about it. -interior materials seem to be holding up well to use, interior is tan colored and it does not look worn out, I do take care of my cars and clean them regularly. -Trunk space is decent for this segment, we've taken long road trips and fit everything we needed. -stable at high speeds, makes you feel safe on the highway. Cons: -Proper maintenance is expensive compared to my wife's Toyota Scion iM for example -Diesel Maintenance is more expensive than the regular gas version -DSG transmission can be jerky at low speeds -VW dealership maintenance departments are awful in my area, stay away. Find a trusted euro car shop instead. -Ride quality may be uncomfortable to some that are used to softer tuned cars, this car is tuned the German way which is fine with me. -lacks tech such as a backup camera and apple car play (this was 2013 after all) -OEM headlights are awful, not very bright. Upgrade yours ASAP -back seat space may be limited if you have more than 1 kid, specially with rear facing car seats -my wife complains the rear seat is too low and may give you a backache if you are taller. Scheduled Maintenance, problems and replaced parts: -AC compressor went out at 100K miles, replaced for $1200 -Alternator went out at around 115K miles, replaced for $600 -Tensioner pully and service belts replaced at around 100K miles -2 battery replacements, one under warranty early on and one at around 100K miles -Horn replaced at around 20k miles, under warranty at no cost -ignition switch replaced at around 80k miles, a recall and under warranty no cost to me. -Scheduled maintenance replacement of timing belt and water pump at 110K miles. $1200 - As of 115k miles the front passenger lock seems to be sticking, sometimes it will not unlock. Per shop the motor may be going bad, recommended replacement about 2 years ago but still working on and off, have not replaced yet. Shop quoted me $250 -wipers motor making noise when in use, shop recommended replacement 2 years ago, not done yet, still working so far. -regular maintenance is every 10k miles or 1 year. lowest $100 for a regular oil change and up to $300 if full service needed (DSG service+oil change+fuel filter) Conclusion: Overall it has been a pleasant experience owning this car, at near 130K miles it is still rides and drives like new, maintenance is not cheap but if you do it properly you can drive this car for a long time. I plan on keeping mine for at least another 100K miles if possible maybe more, not having a car payment and excellent fuel economy outweighs the maintenance costs. I will recommend this car to anyone that is willing to follow the scheduled maintenance for this car but if you are used to cars that require little maintenance or you just want to put gas in it and go I would suggest getting a boring but less expensive to maintain Toyota Corollas or Honda Civics.
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Great Overall Fuel Saver!
emotionalrat15, 01/24/2013
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 4/13 (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Bought this car in November of 2012 and optioned it with Bluetooth, RCD-510 Touch Screen radio and a sunroof. I love it! Its a great city car, however it needs to have lots of highway miles due to its DPF(Diesel Particulate Filter) not burning the soot properly in city conditions,so it clogs up. That was when my mom had it for a week when I was gone and when I stepped into it a warning light came on that it was clogged. I phoned VW and they said drive it on the highway for a few miles and the light will go out. And so it did. I get 46 mpg combined, its a blast to drive, but it needs a bout 20 more hp when merging at freeway speeds. But going slower, there is gobs of torque! I love it!
Maybe biased because I had a Bimmer
happy163, 01/04/2015
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Prod. End 4/13 (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Alright, so this was a trade in for another lease I had which was a 2013 Passat SE. This Jetta was better and a lot more fun to drive than the Passat. The TDI engine is a lot more lively and engaging than the 2.5 Liter in the Passat. The electronic steering was fun as well. The wishbone suspension however, was very noticeable for someone who knows a thing or two about handling. The back end is just too unstable on curves and wishy washy. I had this unpleasant rattling noise in the center console where the cup holders are. It would never go away. The gas mileage in the vehicle was excellent as I put on more miles on the car, the better the gas range was. At one point i was getting 45MPG.
Love my 2013 Jetta Turbo Diesel 6 speed Manual
mr_chosenone, 02/10/2015
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2011 new Jetta Turbo Diesel 6 speed standard and loved it so much, I sold it to my best friend and bought a 2013 with the exact same set up. They're both identical cars except for their birth year. Both are a blast to drive. I can drive it like I stole it and still get over 45 mpg. Love the electric steering. Buy the manual model if you want to have fun driving this little car. I have and will continue to recommend this car to my friends.
The good and the bad
maninva, 03/21/2014
updated 03/22/2016
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
12 of 18 people found this review helpful
Like other reviewers I had a bit of buyers remorse upon driving this car home from the dealer. No auto headlamps, compass, auto dimming review mirror or back up cam left me a little disappointed. The car grew on me once I got used to it. It is fun to drive and I enjoy getting 50 mpg on the highway. At 8k the paint on the front bumper started to chip off very easily. After three different attempts to have VW repaint the bumper they refused to do so. This was my first VW and will be my last. I will not buy cars from a manufacturer that doesn't stand behind it's product. A follow up to my previous review. Luckily I traded the Jetta in Dec of 2014. It was the worst car I have ever purchased. Had I kept it I would have lost thousand of dollars in value after the Emission Cheating Scandal came to light. I will never own another VW.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value