Over the lifetime of a car, small things can make a big difference. When it comes to fuel economy, just 1 or 2 mpg can add up to hundreds of dollars left in owners鈥?pockets. 20,000 and their owners, every dime, dollar, and drop saved counts. Our colleagues over at The Car Connection finished up their first drive review and reported that the compact sedan they tested returned 37 mpg in combined fuel economy, above the 34 mpg rating from the EPA calculators. That鈥檚 good among compact sedans with which the Volkswagen Jetta competes, and relatively frugal compared to just a few years ago. Only 10 years ago, a Jetta equipped with a 2.0-liter inline-4 was rated nearly 10 mpg lower on the combined cycle, a testament to increased efficiency, better aerodynamics, forced induction鈥攁ll at a lower price. Most shoppers would place the Jetta squarely among bestselling competitors that include the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra that all manage combined mileage around 30 mpg or higher鈥攂ut there are some catches. 24,695 to start and may be out of reach for many small-car buyers.
We鈥檒l put that one aside. The rest of the Cruze range manages around 32 mpg combined. Similarly, the most frugal Elantra is the Eco edition with a 1.4-liter turbo-4 and dual-clutch automatic. We have our quibbles with that car鈥攅specially its transmission鈥攂ut its price isn鈥檛 one of them. Where鈥檚 the hold up? By Hyundai鈥檚 own calculators it鈥檚 not an EPA 鈥渃ompact,鈥?the Elantra sedan measures 110.2 cubic feet inside and that鈥檚 a hair bigger than the threshold. The Corolla is aged, but its fuel-economy ratings aren鈥檛. Most Corolla trim levels manage 30 to 31 mpg combined, according to the EPA. A frugal Corolla LE Eco edition uses different wheels and valve timing to wring every mile from a gallon of gas, it鈥檚 rated at 34 mpg. Which leaves us to the Civic and its superlative 35 mpg combined rating in most configurations with a 1.5-liter turbo-4. Our repeated drives have consistently returned those numbers鈥攐r better鈥攊n everyday conditions, at any altitude, without much fuss. There鈥檚 better news: Most of our editors have reported better than 35 mpg combined in several drives of the Civic. Like the Elantra, the Civic鈥檚 size creep puts it into mid-size territory with more than 110 cubic feet of interior space. 20,000 to start and sold without a plug. How automakers have made small, affordable cars more fuel efficient in the past few years, a trend that should continue.
With the new Jetta, they're getting what they want, and the game's momentum could very well shift in Volkswagen's direction yet again. Greeting the driver of a new Jetta is a commanding seating position, excellent outward vision paths and a logical, ergonomically sound array of controls and instruments. The build quality is superb inside and out and even the base model has an elegant, high-quality cabin. The raspy-sounding five-cylinder is pleasantly robust delivers and the Jetta carves through corners with precision. It's comfortable on long trips and responsive around town. The all-new Volkswagen Jetta goes on sale with two engines, with a third engine choice available shortly. New to the VW engine family, and the 鈥渂ase鈥?motor that replaces the aged 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the line-up, is a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine putting out 150 horsepower. If you live in one of 45 states where new diesel-fueled cars can be sold, the Jetta can also be ordered with VW's highly regarded, 100-horsepower 1.9-liter TDI turbodiesel four-cylinder.
The third car of the trio, the Jetta GLI, will follow in late summer, with a new 2.0-liter turbo engine boasting an output of 200 horsepower. The standard gearbox for both the 2.5L and 1.9L engines is a five-speed manual carried over from the previous Jetta. The optional transmission for 2.5Ls is a new, very slick six-speed automatic, augmented with a Sport mode and Tiptronic gear selection. And there's more good gearbox news: Soon, VW's super DSG twin-clutch gearbox will be an option with the Jetta TDI and the GLI. 220 more than a comparably equipped outgoing model. The list of standard equipment belies the cars' price points. Standard running gear on Value Editions is 6脳15-inch steel wheels with 195/65R15 all-season radials and a full-size spare wheel and tire. The 2.5 and TDI models are fitted with 6脳16-inch steel wheels and 205/55R16 all-season radials. A number of options and packages can add more than a few euros to the price of entry. 4,660). Package 3 is identical except that Sirius Satellite Radio replaces XM. A brace of electronic handling aids are standard on 2.5 and TDI models but must be optioned into Value Edition Jettas.
