2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Quick Spin Review

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, like the rest of the Jetta range, has been refreshed for this model year. This sedan is made in the United States and is a dedicated model for North American drivers. It’s classified as a compact, but is slightly bigger than the competition, which pays off in passenger and trunk space. Diesel. Germans love it, Americans not so much. Which is slightly befuddling, since a turbocharged diesel engine can provide the kind of easy, elastic power delivery that pairs well with an automatic transmission, yet it will also tackle those long, straight midwest roads without making too much of a dent in the wallet. And don’t think they’re too noisy. Except for a little road noise (that might be alleviated by different tires) the Jetta TDI’s cabin is generally tranquil. This car is ideal for someone who covers a lot of miles and wants to keep fuel bills low while still enjoying comfort and modern convenience features at an affordable price.

Styling

This is one of those cars that looks like it was designed by committee and refined by focus groups, where every detail is ironed out to be as acceptable as possible to the largest amount of people as possible. There’s no doubting the wisdom of class-leading rear passenger space and 15.5 cubic feet of trunk volume, though. Considerations like that take precedence over style. The company obviously decided what features the Jetta had to have and then instructed the design department to draw the most effective lines around them. Since this is a mid-cycle refresh, there are some subtle visual differences to the previous model year. The front bumper has been tweaked and the rear end has a new trunk lid, tail lights and bumper. Buyers could probably find a couple of rival cars whose looks they prefer, but they still have to consider the whole package. And some people like a little anonymity. At least the Jetta’s looks aren’t polarizing.

Performance

The 2015 VW Jetta TDI uses a new version of VW’s excellent 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. It makes 150 hp, as opposed to the 2014 model’s 140 hp. But with diesels, it’s all about the torque. In this case, an impressive 236 lb-ft from a low 1750 rpm, so accessing some oomph from low speeds is as easy as flexing the right foot. To put this in context, the sportiest 2015 Volkswagen Jetta GLI has 207 lb-ft and still doesn’t feel lacking. VW claims 9.3 seconds from standstill to 60 mph, which borders on the side of leisurely. It feels better behind the wheel. There’s certainly enough thrust for overtaking at freeway speeds. That torque figure is the same as before, but while adding more horsepower, this engine also shows an improvement in fuel consumption: 31 mpg city, 46 mpg highway (with the manual transmission; the auto version achieves 45 mpg on the highway). The outgoing TDI is EPA-rated at 30/42. Over a long trip, it’s possible to average 55 mpg. And incidentally, that highway consumption estimate is just a couple of mpg worse than the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid’s, although the hybrid manages 42 mpg in the city. A six-speed manual transmission is the standard setup, with the option of VW’s DSG dual-clutch automatic. Both send drive to the front wheels; there’s no all-wheel drive option. The DSG includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, or just put the lever in D and think about something else. Its action has a satisfying smoothness and speed. No complaints about the stick shift either. On winding, uphill stretches of canyon roads, it’s best to keep the engine spinning at 2000 rpm or above, so the turbo gets in on the action and stays there. From corner to corner, the Jetta TDI keeps its composure. Only minimal body lean, and a safe and predictable tendency to understeer that doesn’t intrude too soon. If anything, the steering is over-assisted and the center armrest is too short and under-padded.

Safety

All the usual collections of letters are here, such as ABS (anti-lock brakes), ESC (electronic stability control) and EBD (electronic brake force distribution). And they’re joined by six airbags as standard equipment. Options include a driver assistance package that features forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring with a rear traffic alert. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash testing, the 2015 Jetta gets an overall five out of five stars.

Pricing & Features

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI comes in S, SE with Connectivity and SEL trims. The S starts at $22,460 (including $820 destination charge) and comes with heated front seats and an iPhone adapter. Heated side mirrors, leatherette seating surfaces, driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, sunroof and VW’s Car-Net connected car service means $24,895 (inc. dest.) for the mid-level trim. For $27,230 (inc. dest.), the top SEL model adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, push-button start/stop, navigation, rearview camera, and a swisher Fender-branded (made by Panasonic) audio system. An optional lighting package has bi-xenon headlamps with extra illumination for corners (worth the money), along with ambient cabin lighting and an upgraded instrument cluster. Adding a DSG transmission to any model is an extra $1,100.