If you’re searching for a small sedan with plenty of comfort and good gas mileage on a solid basis, go no further than the Volkswagen Jetta. Both the gas and diesel variants of the Jetta have a devoted fanbase. The Jetta TDI is a popular choice among hypermilers. These people are enthralled by the prospect of getting more miles out of a gallon of gas.
With the addition of a hybrid to the Jetta lineup, we thought it was about time to examine the benefits of each of the three platforms and give the facts, as well as some of our own opinions, on how they compare. First, let’s take a look at the three various drivetrain options available for the Jetta platform. We took advantage of the fact that the hybrid only comes with an automatic transmission to compare it to the gas and diesel automatics available. We sat in each one for a while, back to back, and here are our thoughts.
First and foremost, the interiors of the three vehicles, diesel, gas, and hybrid, are very identical. The dash cluster has the biggest variance, with the hybrid having a gauge that indicates whether you’re filling or emptying the batteries. Any of the three, when equipped with premium seats, top-of-the-line audio, and satellite navigation systems, outperforms any tiny car created just five or six years ago.
For the 2013-14 model years, the Jetta TDI uses the same basic 2.0L diesel engine as most diesel Volkswagens in the United States. This compact 2.0L diesel engine has an established track record and is one of our favorites. It’s quiet, smooth, and provides a lot of torque. A Jetta with a TDI diesel engine accelerates quickly and has enough torque to maintain pulling on steep climbs. The 2.0L TDI engine is responsive and quick. We didn’t anticipate anything less, given our previous experience with this engine in other VW models. On hills, the hold-back is superior to any gas engine choice. This makes cruising up mountain routes an enjoyable and peaceful experience rather than a brake-stabbing one.
The gas-powered Jetta isn’t as torquey as the diesel TDI, but the 2.0L gas engine isn’t bad either. It may not be as strong as the VW V-6, but it still consumes less fuel, and the V-6 isn’t an option on the Jetta anyhow. While the gas engine has less torque off the line, it has more power further up in the rpm ranges, allowing for a quick merge on the interstate. The beam and trailing link rear axle is standard on both the TDI and gas versions of the Jetta, whereas the hybrid has a multi-link system.
The Jetta hybrid is a brand-new vehicle for the American market. This rig runs on gas rather than electricity, as the name implies. This isn’t a plug-in hybrid or an all-electric vehicle. It’s a gas-powered car with an electric assist system, to put it simply. If you like, you can do it the other way around. We used the gas engine more than the electric in our tests, but with a little more practice, we could have gotten closer to a 55 gas/45 electric utilization. We initially found the quiet of the system kicking into electric drive strange, but we quickly became accustomed to it. The interior was largely the same, with the exception of a few odd gauges and features for the eclectic driving. A strange-looking package in the engine compartment may be found under the hood, and some load capacity has been lost.
- The Jetta TDI with automatic transmission is rated at 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, for a total of 34 mpg.
- The Jetta 2.0L gas with automatic is rated at 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, for a total of 27 mpg.
- The Jetta hybrid with automatic transmission gets 42 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the interstate, for a total of 45 mpg.
The hybrid and the 2.0L gas Jetta both require premium fuel, so the cost per mile estimates are closer than you may think. In reality, the diesel rig outperforms the gas-only rig in terms of fuel cost per mile. We don’t have long-term battery replacement prices for the hybrid, thus we can’t say whether its cost per mile is more or lower in the long run than the diesel.
Is the VW Jetta a diesel vehicle?
You’re not hearing things if you’ve heard about a mystery diesel VW Jetta. From 2009 until 2015, there was a diesel option, but it has since been discontinued. Now, normal fuel is the only way to get that fantastic VW Jetta MPG.
Is the Jetta a diesel or a gas vehicle?
Volkswagen Jettas with a gasoline engine built after 2010 are meant to run on high-quality unleaded regular fuel with an octane rating of 8790. Premium fuel can be used in the Jetta, and it’s recommended that you use one with an octane value of 9196. The Jetta GLI is the only Jetta for which premium gas should be used.
Diesel
Volkswagen Jettas with a diesel engine built after 2010 are designed to run on Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel or Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur Climatized diesel fuel. Extended arctic temperatures (5F to -10F or -10C to -23C) should only be utilized with Number 1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel.
Hybrid
Volkswagen Jetta hybrids manufactured after 2010 are meant to run on high-quality unleaded regular fuel with an octane value of 8790. Premium fuel can be used in the Jetta, and it’s recommended that you use one with an octane value of 9196.
How can I tell if my Jetta is a diesel or not?
Look up the model’s name. Many different model names are used by car manufacturers, such as ‘TDI,’ ‘HDi,’ ‘GTD,’ ‘dCi,’ ‘JTD,’ and so on. Your automobile is most likely a diesel if it has a badge like this on the back with a ‘D’.
Which Jetta model year is a diesel?
Volkswagen Jettas are made with a diesel engine. Volkswagen’s diesel Jettas debuted between 2009 and 2015, but it wasn’t available until 2016. The diesel vehicles’ fuel economy was also remarkable.
Which VW models are available in diesel?
The Volkswagen Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf hatchback and SportWagen, Jetta, and Passat are all equipped with TDI engines.
Is a Volkswagen Jetta TDI a diesel?
The 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-4 in the Jetta TDI delivers 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with Volkswagen’s six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission available as an option. The projected fuel economy with any transmission is 30/42/34, which is great.
Is it true that all Volkswagens run on diesel?
While all of their diesel models require diesel fuel, their gasoline-powered vehicles have distinct requirements.
Excellent Highway Fuel Economy
The Jetta is one of the most fuel-efficient gas-only compact sedans on the market, with an EPA-estimated efficiency rating of 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined. While our fuel efficiency barely scraped the city rating, the varied conditions and cold weather we encountered throughout our test convinced us that the combined rating should be doable in daily commuting. The Honda Civic and its turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder earns 30 city, 38 highway, and 33 combined miles per gallon, while the Toyota Corolla earns 29 city, 37 highway, and 32 combined miles per gallon.
The new Hyundai Elantra gets up to 33 mpg in the city, 43 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg on the highway, which is excellent, but the Jetta gets its rating by providing 187 pound-feet of torque versus the Hyundai’s 132. For the extra twist, we’ll gladly forgo some of the Jetta’s efficiency. The only option to get higher fuel economy without sacrificing a lot of torque is to go with a hybrid powertrain – the new Elantra Hybrid outperforms the Jetta in terms of torque and offers up to 54 mpg combined.
Reasonably Priced Range Topper
While the Jetta starts at a low $19,695 (for an automatic-transmission model), the $27,495 SEL Premium trim still feels like a great deal. The SEL Premium is the only trim with power seats, and the seats are “Comfort Sport” seats – we’re not sure what that means, but they’re surprisingly pleasant and supportive for a mainstream compact sedan. The Premium’s standard leather upholstery is also a plus, and the navigation-enabled 8.0-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster are class-leading.
Is TDI a gas or a diesel engine?
When standing outside the Volkswagen TDI and TSI cars, you’ll notice that they look identical. The distinctions are found beneath the hood. A gas engine is used in the TSI model trim, whereas a diesel engine is used in the TDI model trim.
The TSI stands for “turbocharged stratified injection,” whereas the TDI stands for “turbocharged direct injection” in more technical terms. When you’re having trouble remembering which one is which, remember that the D in TDI stands for diesel engine.
Engine Specs TDI vs TSI Volkswagen
There are a number of changes in engine specs between diesel and gasoline engines, but we’ll take the 2016 Volkswagen Golf as an example. When comparing the 2016 Golf TSI to the TDI, the TSI is slightly more cheap and has slightly more horsepower. On the other side, the 2016 Golf TDI has higher torque. The 2016 Golf TSI’s increased horsepower and traditional gasoline engine make it an ideal vehicle for small families and adventurous drivers.
Test Drive the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Hudson Valley NY
If you’d like to take a test drive in the 2016 Volkswagen Golf, we’re here to help! On our study and comparison pages, you can learn more about the model’s features and style. We want to assist you in finding the ideal vehicle for you, and it all starts with a test drive here at VW of Kingston.
What is the best way to tell if my Volkswagen is a diesel?
Enter a 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) below to check the current emissions modification status of a certain Volkswagen TDI diesel vehicle.
A VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code that serves as a vehicle’s unique identifying number. It can be located on the state vehicle registration card, the vehicle insurance card, or on the vehicle itself – on the driver’s side dashboard at the bottom of the windshield or on the driver’s side door jam.
