I test drove a 2009 VW Jetta Sportwagon and was thoroughly impressed. It was nothing like the 1981 Rabbit that I drove in the mid to late 90's for an import parts house. This car actually stopped, steered, and accelerated with the confidence of a car twice its price(also known as an Audi Avant). The five cylinder engine was so smooth and quiet at idle that I had to look at the tach to see if it was still running. In addition, the clutch take up and shifter feel made it feel like a car I'd actually like to drive on a daily basis. Finding a manual in a wagon today is about as rare as it gets for anything without a propeller on the hood(BMW).
Looking at the back seat and cargo area, I realized the real value of this machine. It had more useful cargo and people space than many compact and midsize SUV crossovers without the fuel penalty. The Jetta wagon can be had with a standard 5 cylinder, a turbo 4 cylinder, or my favorite, a turbo charged direct injection diesel. That diesel gets in the high 30's around town and in the mid 40's on the road with either a DSG(dual sequential gearbox) or a real 6 speed manual.
The Jetta is loaded with little details that make it feel more expensive that it really is. These include standard heated front seats, map lights, rear seat vents with air volume control, electronic brake differential and electronic stability control. The car has 3 power points as well as a standard electronic recline on the drivers seat and an MP3 jack. The seat, dash, and headliner finish off the expensive look. It seems that VW is creeping toward Audi, which is good news for consumers of mid to low priced VW cars.
