2010 Volkswagen Jetta V 125TDI, 147TSI, 77TDI First Drive Review

2010 Jetta V 125TDI, 147TSI, 77TDI First Drive Review

TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM. It is called Volkswagen. And it's breathing hard down Toyota's neck for the global number one spot for car manufacturers.

Interestingly, where Toyota 'zigged' ten or so years back, choosing to put its technological eggs in the Prius basket, Volkswagen 'zagged'.

Volkswagen's answer to the challenges of a 'green future' was to set about producing engines and drivetrains – right across its model range – of astonishing efficiency. And it has done this without sacrificing power and driver enjoyment.

It's not alone; other manufacturers are on the same path. But Volkswagen, with models and price ranges straddling nearly every sector, is the stand-out.

Its high-tech free-spinning diesels and zesty small capacity turbo/supercharged petrol engines (coupled with F1-style DSG transmissions priced for the common man), challenge Toyota's Prius for fuel efficiency, and murder it for driver dynamics.

That's not to say the Prius isn't brilliant, it is; Toyota (and Honda with its first Insight) showed the world that hybrid drive was a viable powertrain alternative.

But where Toyota has overlooked, or down-played, driver engagement (where are its ‘fun to drive and own’ models?), every model in the VW range comes with personality as standard. Driving should be fun. Volkswagen hasn’t forgotten it.

The market would seem to be responding. This year, 2009, an ascendant Volkswagen Group has been closing fast on a becalmed Toyota in global vehicle production.

The 2010 Jetta V update is now in showrooms. Featuring a new line-up of petrol and diesel engine options, the new Jetta typifies Volkswagen's direction in producing cars that engage the driver but sip fuel like its poison.

Each, even the base model 77kWTDI, is an enjoyable steer. None we sampled could be accused of being “just transport”.

And each, as a medium sector alternative, is sharply priced.

The range

The range starts with the $28,990 (plus on-roads) 1.6 litre 77TDI diesel (launched with the Golf VI in August), producing 77kW and 250Nm of torque and achieving a fuel consumption figure of 4.9 l/100km.

The 77TDI is available with a choice of five-speed manual transmission, or the new seven-speed DSG.

Next in the diesel range, at $35,990, is the previously available 2.0 litre 103TDI. A carry-over from the 2009 Jetta range, the 103TDI uses 6.0 litres of fuel per 100km while producing 103kW and 320Nm of torque.

The 103TDI is available only with a six-speed DSG transmission.

The third diesel engine on offer is found in the 125TDI Highline. While new for the Jetta, this is the familiar 2.0 litre 125TDI lifted from the Passat. It is a rorty unit, producing 125kW and 350Nm of torque while achieving fuel economy figures of 5.9 l/100km.

It is also nicely balanced thanks to its four-valve design and twin compensator shafts. At $38,990 (plus on roads), the Jetta 125TDI Highline shares top-of-the-range billing with the 147TSI.

Volkswagen claims the 125TDI will reach 100km/h in 8.5 seconds with the six-speed DSG - the only transmission offered with the 2.0 litre 125TDI engine. It feels exceptionally strong and is instantly responsive; we have no reason to doubt those performance numbers.

Priced to align with the 125TDI Highline is the 2.0 litre petrol-engined 147TSI Highline. Developing 147kW and 280Nm of torque, even the performance-oriented TSI returns fuel consumption figures of 7.8 litres per 100km.