What To Look For When Buying A Used Volkswagen Jetta TDI 2019-2019
This classy German compact sedan offers a spacious interior, excellent handling and the best-in-class highway fuel economy. This makes it one of the best cars for long commutes. Inside, the Jetta is stylish and functional. Front seats are firm, but supportive and comfortable on long trips. The steering tilts and telescopes. The driver's seat height is adjustable, so you can easily find the comfortable driving position. The 140-hp 4-cylinder turbo-diesel is very torquey and offers plenty of passing power. Is the Jetta TDI reliable? Isn't the Diesel engine noisy? How easy is it to find diesel fuel? We'll try answering these questions in this review. Volkswagen Jetta TDI interior. The Jetta offers class-leading 38.1 inch of legroom in the back. Diesel noise, smell and smoke: The turbo-diesel engine is a bit noisy when started cold, but once warmed up, you can only hear a little diesel clatter at idle; when driving, it's pretty quiet.
The exhaust smell and smoke were common in old diesel cars, however, with the introduction of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuels in 2006 and new diesel emission control systems, it's all in the past. Even when we were backing up the Jetta TDI into a one-car garage, we could not notice any exhaust smell at all. There is no visible smoke on acceleration either. Diesel fuel: The Jetta TDI requires Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which is a clean burning diesel fuel. There shouldn't be a problem finding a fuel station selling ULSD fuel in the US or Canada, unless you are very far from major highways. Check more information about Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel at the EPA website or at ULSD FAQs - Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance website. Fuel Economy: the 2012 Jetta TDI is rated at 30/42 mpg city/highway (7.8/5.6 L/100 km). Engine: This 6-the generation Jetta comes with the 140-hp 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder TDI turbodiesel.
Unlike the previous generation, this engine is a Common Rail diesel, meaning that all fuel injectors are connected to the same high-pressure fuel rail. The high-pressure single-piston fuel pump is driven by a timing belt, similarly to the Mk4 1.9L TDI. See the photo of the TDI engine with the cover removed. The fuel injectors are controlled electronically. Overall, it's one of the best diesel engines on the market. Consumer Reports rates this engine 'better than average'. Handling and ride: The Jetta handles well, with good grip in turns. The steering is responsive and precise; the car holds a straight line well. The ride is Euro-firm, but still comfortable. The cabin is well insulated from the wind and road noise. With 236 foot-pound of torque, the 2.0L turbodiesel pulls easily, whether from a stop or when merging or passing on the highway. The only downside is that when driving at slow speeds, the DSG transmission is not very smooth, as it's essentially a computer-controlled manual gearbox. Pros: diesel models hold value well, highway fuel economy, highway passing power, good handling, clean classy styling, spacious interior with plenty of rear-seat space, comfortable front seats, decent size trunk, crash test ratings.
Cons: price, interior materials could be better, the TDI diesel engine needs more maintenance, complex diesel emission control system, the engine is a bit noisy when cold, the DSG transmission is not very smooth at low speeds. Reliability: Consumer Reports rates the Jetta 'below average' for reliability, with 'power equipment', 'climate system' and 'fuel system' getting the lowest marks. There are quite a few complaints about fuel pump failures. However, major components, such as the engine, transmission, brakes and suspension are rated above average, except for the 2011 model. Reported problems include "Check Engine" light issues, squeaks and rattles, electrical problems. Regarding the Volkswagen Emissions recall, we found a good article from above-mentioned Consumer Reports that explains the 'Dieselgate' in details. Check the NHTSA website for outstanding recalls. Does it hold the value? The Jetta TDI holds the value much better than gasoline-powered models. Overall: If you want to save on fuel, the Jetta TDI is one of the possible choices to consider, especially if you have a long commute.
In the Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction survey, the Jetta TDI is rated at the top of the class, with 72 percent of owners indicating they would definitely purchase the same car again. 2015 Jetta TDI update: For 2015, the Jetta TDI has received minor styling and interior updates, a few more available safety features (blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and frontal collision warning) and better fuel economy. The engine and emission systems have been upgraded too. The 2015 Jetta TDI auto is now rated at 31/45 mpg. It's almost as good as hybrids. Maintenance: For the TDI, use only good-quality ULSD fuel. As with any turbo engine, don't shut it off right after spirited driving or after climbing a long uphill stretch of the road; let it idle for a while to cool down the turbocharger. Volkswagen recommends using high-quality synthetic engine oil. If you want your engine to last longer, change your oil more often than the recommended 10K miles / 15K kilometers interval. The diesel fuel filter should be changed every 20,000 miles or 30,000 km. The DSG transmission fluid and filter should be changed every 40,000 miles or 60,000 km. The timing belt in the 2.0L TDI engine needs to be replaced at 120,000 miles (195,000 km). You can check the US maintenance schedule for different models here.
