Road Test: Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Highline

When Scott Hayes tested the Jetta 1.6 TDI last year, he drew a curious analogy between it and a roast potato – not the most enticing item on the menu at a Sunday lunch, but you wouldn’t say no, especially when done right, which is crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Forget about Sundays, food and the sensible reputation of the VW Jetta for a minute though, because he threw the Jetta 2.0 TDI into the proverbial deep end over the December break to find out whether it could swim.

I clocked up 3 700 kilometers in the Jetta 1.6 TDI last year, most of that was a return trip to the Johannesburg International Motor Show from Cape Town. You can read the full report here, but ultimately the Jetta proved itself capable, sensible and economical. This is not surprising, as these have always been central traits of the Jetta’s engineering. With a bigger capacity and more powerful 2.0-litre engine, it’d be safe to assume the 2.0 TDI would be all that, but with a dash of speed, which is why Ray Leathern and I tagged along on a 1 500 km blast around the Western Cape with some of the personalities from the 2011 Blacktop Rally.

Our sedate looking Jetta was definitely the odd one out in the car park. In fact, the only reason it got any attention at all – amongst the likes of a BMW Z4 M Coupe, Chevrolet Lumina SS, Volvo V60 T6 R-Design, Nissan 350Z and couple of ‘chipped’ Volkswagen AG cars, in the form of an Audi TT and Seat Cupra FR – is because of its total lack of athleticism, bordering on the asthmatic with its diesel powerplant. Nevertheless, as our convoy headed out of Cape Town we reassured ourselves by recalling the tale of the tortoise and the hare, a steady pace would prevail and we’d definitely have the most beer money left at the end of the day, thanks to the frugality of the diesel engine.

This strategy failed miserably however, as once the mountain passes loomed and the roads cleared, like the sensible, responsible, adult male that I am, I wanted to keep up with everyone else. As it turned out, we weren’t left behind. The turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine produces 103 kW at 4 200 r/min and 320 Nm of torque between 1 750 and 2 500 r/min. For everyday driving, these figures endow the Jetta with more than enough grunt. Load the car with passengers, the 510-litre boot with luggage, and it would still climb hills and overtake without too much effort. Overtaking slower traffic is made easy, thanks to peak torque being in the low to mid rev range, and given enough time to wind itself up, the turbocharged diesel will carry the family sedan along with respectable pace.

Pleasantly surprising though are the Jetta’s handling skills. The smaller 1.6 TDI began to feel a bit nervous when stretching its legs, but the flagship diesel is tenacious and not easily perturbed. The bigger engine may account for some of the 48 kg weight increase over the smaller capacity car and, being over the front axle, it means the car feels more confident up front. In addition, the 2.0 TDI features 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/45 profile rubber, giving it a sure-footed character, but the biggest contributor is the suspension.

Volkswagen’s decision to move from a multi-link rear suspension, as was the case with the Jetta Mk5, to a solid rear axle layout in the current car, would suggest a step backwards in this regard. One can always argue for and against each configuration – independent designs tend to intrude on boot space, have quicker wearing components and are therefore more expensive to maintain, on the other hand, the solid axle design offers a lesser ride quality. We didn’t have a Mk5 Jetta available to perform a direct comparison, but in short, the current Jetta handles far beyond what the average owner would ever ask of it in the corners. You may raise an eye-brow in suspicion, but the Jetta can be thrown into a corner at speeds unbecoming of most C-segment sedans (never mind a diesel), with the confidence that it will stay on course in the face of any nasty bumps and admirably give understeer the middle-finger in all but the most enthusiastic situations. In terms of ride quality, well, we didn’t feel at all hard done-by, if you’ll excuse the pun, and with a larger body, less weight and a wider track than the previous generation car, we didn’t find it to be too much of a compromise.

Inside the top-spec ‘Highline’ Jetta carries its passengers in comfort. The front seats are supportive, there is a generous amount of leg, head and shoulder room all around for a car of its class and, while the list of standard equipment is long, some highlights include: auto-dimming rear view mirror; auto rain-sensing wipers; 8 airbags; cruise control and climate control. Of course our press car was fitted with plenty of optional bells and wistles, such as sat-nav, an electrically operated sunroof, heated and leather covered sports seats, as well as park distance control. While these options are welcome additions – the touch-screen sat-nav being particularly easy to use and accurate – be warned, as they can drive the purchase price up dramatically if not well considered.

So after an unconventional test for what is a run-of-the-mill family sedan, the Jetta 2.0 TDI delivered comfort, convenience, space, but also economy, handling and associated safety, on levels that impressed – no mean feat in our crowded car market.

What we like…

• Contemporary styling, including the bigger 17-inch alloys.
• Handling abilities beyond what most will ever require.
• Mid-range torque and frugality of the 2.0-litre TDI engine.

What we would like…

• A choice of DSG gearbox.

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