2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Comfortline Review

Looking for a sporty 4-door German sedan powered by the latest in turbo-diesel technology? The BMW 335d too expensive? If you’ve just twice muttered “yes,” and your wallet can sustain a hit of $24,475, the new Jetta TDI Clean Diesel may be for you.

EnerGuide Canada rates the 2010 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel at 6.7 and 4.6L/100 km in city and highway driving respectively. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)

“Clean diesel” – an oxymoron?
Historically, “clean” and “diesel” were not used in the same sentence unless the prefix, “un” fronted one of the two seemingly incompatible words.

With the arrival of ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel and the latest engine technology accompanied by highly effective emissions control equipment, the existence of “clean diesel” is a modern day reality, and the Jetta TDI is a fine example of that.

Diesel engines renowned for torque
Diesel engines are not high revving beasts; they find their internal fortitude at the low end of the rev band. The new diesel powerplant in the Jetta eagerly supplies 236 pound-feet of torque at only 1,750 rpm. That’s more torque than many V8 engines are capable of producing below 2,000 rpm.

The Jetta’s new mill displaces only 2.0-litres while accompanying its Goliath torque with 140 horsepower. Perhaps even more rewarding than the low-end grunt is the fuel efficiency of VW’s diesel 4-banger.

EnerGuide Canada rates the 2010 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel at 6.7 and 4.6L/100 km in city and highway driving respectively. For those still adhering to the Imperial gallon, that’s 42mpg city and 61mpg highway—and all while leaving 95% less soot in the atmosphere than older gen diesels.

Quieter, smoother operation is another attribute of these reliable, updated workhorses.

No typical 4-banger histrionics
An aspect of typical 4-cylinder gas engines that I’ve always frowned upon is the need for them to rev frenetically to develop maximum output. This undesirable trait is most evident when paired with an automatic transmissions. The beauty of diesel engines is their low-end torque, which eliminates high-revving histrionics.

The Jetta’s new mill displaces only 2.0-litres while accompanying its Goliath torque with 140 horsepower. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)