2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The folks at Volkswagen claim their 2014 Jetta SportWagen offers the only diesel-powered station wagon on the market. Possibly that’s so...

The folks at Volkswagen claim their 2014 Jetta SportWagen offers the only diesel-powered station wagon on the market. Possibly that’s so because it’s about the only car on the market that touts itself as a station wagon, as opposed to, say, a hatchback or small crossover. Though rumors of a significant redesign are in the air, VW seems content to keep its compact wagon as is by once more offering a pair of engine choices, including that aforementioned turbodiesel, an elegant and well-endowed cabin, and nearly 67 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seatbacks folded. Also returning are the traditional three trims, the base S, the midlevel SE and the diesel-powered TDI.

Although more than a few reviewers lament what they perceive to be a downturn in the interior quality of VW’s Jetta sedan lineup lately, most are quick to point out that this quirk is not apparent in the Sportwagen. The base SportWagen S, for example, again boasts 16-inch steel wheels, heated power-adjustable mirrors and a roof rack outside, with cloth upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, a fold-flat front passenger seatback and a rear pass-through center armrest gracing the interior.

Of course, full power accessories, cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering remain standard in this entry-level trim, as does air conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and floor mats in front and rear. Finally, Bluetooth hands-free calling comes standard, as does an 8-speaker audio system with a single-CD/MP3 player.

To all this, the SE adds standard 16-inch alloy wheels, convincing leatherette upholstery, a cooled storage bin and a pair of additional speakers, as well as satellite radio, while the TDI throws in a rear-view camera and some added leather interior accents.

A noteworthy option available to the SE and TDI versions is the panoramic power sunroof, while the TDI remains eligible for a touchscreen navigation system. All trims, meantime, can be delivered with available splash guards, upgraded and upsized wheels and a Body Kit with added skirt extensions and front and rear valences.

Powering the S and SE is the now-traditional 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder (I5) engine that mates with the standard 5-speed manual transmission to put out 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Mileage, meanwhile, remains a respectable 23 mpg city/33 highway. Once again, however, an available 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission is offered with either trim, returning the same power numbers, but with mileage figures dropping a bit to 23/30. Oh, and again for 2014, both the S and SE are also offered in the eco-tweaked PZEV (Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle) sub-trims.

Stepping over to the hood-up Jetta SportWagen TDI, look for a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel powerplant that’ll throw down 140 hp and an impressive 236 lb-ft of torque with its delivered 6-speed manual transmission. This well-wrought turbodiesel stick-shift-integrated drivetrain is good for an estimated 30/42, with an available 6-speed auto-manual transmission lowering those figures significantly to 29/39.

Finally, this little VW wagon was voted a Top Safety Pick for 2013 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and 2014 sees no changes to the standard safety features, including 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) as well as traction and stability control. Again front and rear head airbags remain standard, as do front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection, while daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system all remain standard, as well. Security-wise, once more expect a remote antitheft alarm to be delivered with each 2014 Jetta SportWagen trim.