US Pricing for VW Jetta TDI Sedan & SportWagen Announced

VW Jetta TDI Sedan / Copyright by worldcarfans.com

By Clinton Deacon
June 19, 2008 11:00 PM
Filed Under: German, Green, Volkswagen

Volkswagen's aggressive product strategy which is targeted at overtaking Toyota as the world's top selling automaker continues today with the announcement of pricing for the Jetta TDI Sedan and Sportwagen starting at $21,990 and $23,590, respectively. The new clean diesel models meet the strict emission standards in all 50 states including the bitch of them all – California.

“Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers a true value with the fuel efficiency that drivers are looking for while providing power, utility and performance,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The Jetta TDI’s offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience.”

The EPA announced Jetta TDI's true fuel efficiency at 29mpg City and 40mpg Highway which are the only figures that can be advertised, but clearly the Germans were less than pleased or accepting of this result. VW then brought in a third party certifier AMCI who later confirmed a much more respectable 38mpg City and 44mpg Highway.

Source: VW of America

Press Release (Click to expand)

Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for their eagerly anticipated Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen starting at $21,990 and $23,590, respectively. Fuel efficiency, performance and convenience all come standard with the 50-state compliant Jetta sedan and SportWagen TDI, which meet the most stringent emissions standards in California and the world. Both models will be available this August.

While the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Jetta TDI at an economical 29 mpg City and 40 mpg Highway, Volkswagen went a step further to show the true fuel economy of the Jetta TDI. Leading third-party certifier, AMCI, has tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway.*

The Jetta TDI’s come standard with Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of numerous standard safety features. Jetta TDI’s include six airbags, with optional rear side airbags, and like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, Jetta TDI’s also feature standard Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) for added safety.

Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program, with this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

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Comments

Joe_Limon

June 19, 2008 11:15 PM

hmm... when is that 60mpg diesel jetta being put into production 29/40 or even 38/44 isn't quite worth buying a new car for.

ShinyG

June 20, 2008 10:05 AM

After ripping us Europeans off with their expensive diesels, VW moves to the states to do the same! EPA's estimates are very close to what the European versions do in real life. I like it how VW decided EPA is not enough, so they brought it a "third party certifier". We have a word for this here: pure propaganda.

MiracleWhipp

June 20, 2008 10:18 PM

what is the current exchange rate? thats why they are 'expensive'.

afterace2

June 20, 2008 10:56 AM

still this is a much better choice in the US than a such-a-stupid 2.5 litre 150 BHP petrol engine taken from some '93 passat.

djcocum

June 20, 2008 12:38 PM

Well, you know Americans like large displacement engines. This engine is strong and has the right amount of torque, but here in Europe there're engines like 1.4TSI wich is much more fuel efficient and has 20 more horsies.

afterace2

June 20, 2008 3:58 PM

what about the old 2.3 V5 and the 1.8 T which had this or even more amount of power few years ago? Isn't a making a bigger engine with a similar power a step back? I think such an engine is only for cost-cuting, which is common in US-spec cars like VW or Toyota. Just compare the Euro Jetta and the US Jetta. Besides i don't think Americans will like large displacements any more, after the price for a gallon will go up several more times. Just give them the right engines VW...

LMS

June 20, 2008 9:04 PM

Americans still live by their wasteful idiocy - bigger = better.

The whole American dream was built on that equation, I doubt VW will be ale to change that.

But it does piss me off that we are paying more for gas because Americans haven't caught up yet and still drive around in ridiculous 3.5L+ engines that produce 160BHP and do 1 mile to the gallon.

flyerbry

June 20, 2008 11:48 PM

LMS... Your a clueless bigot! The largest American cars were built over 30 years ago (yes those were rediculous) and they have been getting smaller ever since. Many of the vehicles sold in the US are also sold in Europe. The fact that your government taxes gasoline to the point that the only thing you can afford is a small vehicle isn't the fault of American drivers. That has been going on for years. The high gas prices are here due to supply and demand from non-American drivers. The fastest growing automotive market is in fact China and since this time last year US gasoline usage has actually gone down 2 1/2%! Get your facts straight before you start pointing fingers!

LMS

June 21, 2008 7:24 PM

The demand is universal, so if you start saving, we pay less, simple as that.

The prices are, in most countries, already low and even sold below cost due to government funding. People CHOOSE smaller displacements out of logic, not budgetary constraints.

I'm sorry, but no one really needs Ford/Chevy pickup trucks, and again, one of those is being sold every minute - only in America. You're down by 2%, which means you've reduced some of you wastefulness, not more.

flyerbry

June 22, 2008 8:47 AM

Yet more flawed logic. Think when you read. The increase in demand isn't due to American drivers. It's the simple supply and demand curve which you obviously need to study up on. If the demand stayed the same the price would stay somewhat constant. The price goes up with demand and the demand is increasing OUTSIDE the US. By your "universal" logic Europe would be just as much to blame as the US. Sure the US (and Europe) can cut usage, but if it is skyrocketing somewhere else then then net outcome is still an increase in price. I agree, pickup trucks make poor daily drivers if you aren't using them for their intended purpose. However, many of those sold are used for commercial purposes - farmers, home builders, etc. who need the hauling capability. No matter what, one of your small displacement VWs won't fill that role. I'm not saying the American vehicle fleet couldn't be more efficient overall. My problem is your assertion that every vehicle on American roads is oversized and the increase in fuel prices is the fault of American drivers. Your missing the big picture. This has all been covered in the automotive press rather extensively.

benz_man

June 22, 2008 10:50 AM

LMS, China and India used to be the world "buffer" for oil demand. In the past, when demand increased, a marginal price increase would ensue. Being too pricey for these nations to sustain, demand in the region would plummet, lowering world demand in the process and in return dropping the price per barrel around the world. Now, India and China's blossoming middle class is no longer deterred by a "marginal" increase and continue to consume oil at a growing rate. Its a cascade effect, and its about WAY more than you, me or America. There's only one World, and its getting smaller by the day!

LMS

June 22, 2008 11:29 AM

That's exactly my point Benz. Petrol is a limited resource, the developing markets need it just as much as anyone else. Their need is legitimate.

The cars they buy are cheap, fuel efficient, small displacement engines. In a way, they're not wasting this resource, but using it to the best of their abilities.

I'm trying to look at the big picture and I see European and Japanese manufacturers spending billions on developing smaller engines while the US manufacturers go about their business as if there is no oil crisis - that, to me, is waste, even gluttony.

Any way you want to look at it, it still remains simple, start saving and pay less.

benz_man

June 22, 2008 7:52 PM

One of Chinas #1 imports is Buick. They sell like hot-cakes. And American manufacturers are averaging the same amount of efficiency per vehicle as the Europeans. Both are beaten handily by the Japanese. I agree with the industry-wide switch to increasing efficiency, but its needed by everyone, not one particular market. You're right, the more we save, the less we pay...in the long run.

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