Hidden within the cloud of its emissions scandal, Volkswagen has a new fuel-efficient powertrain that is a compelling alternative for diesel buyers.
Since its 2011 redesign, the Jetta sedan has offered more engines than Spinal Tap had drummers. Just introduced is a 1.4-liter, 150-hp turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, which might be the most satisfying of all of the small turbos on the market. (Read the complete Volkswagen Jetta road test.)
Despite its small displacement, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T delivers healthy midrange torque. Occasionally the turbo can be caught off-boost, and the transmission may remain in too high a gear, but that is rare.
More important, for those looking for a high-miles-per-gallon diesel alternative, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T got a decent 32 mpg overall, compared with 36 mpg for the Jetta diesel.
More impressive is its 47 mpg on the highway—just a shade below the TDI, and without the diesel's hesitation on takeoff and noisy low-speed clatter. And the 1.4T stickers for $2,850 less than the comparable diesel that was being sold before the scandal broke.
As such, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T provides an enticing combination of zip, frugality, and refinement, especially when considering the 1.4T's automatic transmission vs. the jerky dual-clutch setup that afflicts the diesel.
Volkswagen limits the 1.4T to relatively basic trim levels, and our SE lacked some common features, such as lumbar adjustment in the cloth-only seats. But the infotainment system now works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Overall, this small turbo gasoline engine considerably weakens the case for diesels on more than one level. If VW needs a comeback player, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T could be it.
POWERTRAIN: 150-hp, 1.4-liter 4-cyl. turbo; 6-speed automatic; front-wheel drive
FUEL: 32 mpg
PRICE: $21,235
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the February 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
