2004 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon TDI

Stingy Diesel Has Never Been So Generous

The off-the-line pep of Volkswagen's compact Jetta diesel wagon took me by surprise. Wheat Beige in color, the 5-speed

The pep of the Jetta Wagon TDI took me by surprise; off the line acceleration of the diesel was great. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

automatic wagon bore the "TDI" badge that has become synonymous with fuel efficiency in North America.

It was relatively quiet for a diesel for sure, but it certainly didn't behave like one when departing from standstill.

Also on the go, and almost as quickly, is the rising price of fuel. More than any previous time in its lengthy existence, the diesel Jetta now makes sense.

Historically many people - including yours truly - held an anti-diesel bias. Noisy, slow and frequently smoky, these

Noisy, slow and frequently smoky diesel engines are outdated viewpoints held by many people. Times have changed, and so has diesel technology. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

workhorses were often the target of venomous wrath spewed by drivers of big-block V8s. But time has interceded and diesel technology is much improved. Modern diesels burn cleaner quieter and more efficiently than they did not less than a decade ago.

The evolution of diesel technology combined with unpredictable North American fuel prices is nourishing a diesel revival of sorts. The burgeoning popularity of diesel power is built on a foundation of stingy fuel consumption and engine longevity. And thanks to Volkswagen's new for 2004 "PD" technology, the 1.9-liter I-4 diesel now kicks out 100-horsepower and a walloping 177 foot-pounds of torque. That's a gain of 10-horsepower and 22 foot-pounds of torque over last year's 1.9-liter TDI.