Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Wagons/Estates, Volkswagen
VW adds Jetta Sportwagen, pricing to site
For those of you impatiently waiting for the VW Jetta Sportwagen, there's something new over at VW.com to keep you busy a few more days. Along with photos of the car inside and out, there are stats, options and a base price that's closer to the true price than the rough estimate we had before. Entry-level price for the anxiously-awaited wagon is $24,500. The site says you get an 8-speaker stereo with aux-in, ABS and traction control for that number.
We assume that's with the 5-speed and 170 hp, 2.5 liter gasoline engine that gets 21 city, 29 highway. Which ain't too bad, actually, but not nearly as good as the mid-50s highway mileage the site brags about for the optional TDI. Sadly, there's no mention of how much you'll pay for ticking the TDI box on the option sheet. Or for the 6-speed Tiptronic or the panoramic sunroof or those sweet-looking leather seats. VW also let slip on the site that the Tiguan will be available this spring. Thanks, Julio, for the tip!
[Source: VW.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ligor 11:40AM (2/03/2008)
not only is that ugly, and VW reliability, but for $25k
they must be smoking something
and VW wants to overtake Toyota
they need to bring this here for $19k and $22k fullyloaded,
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Richard 1:09PM (2/03/2008)
Yeah, but how can they do that with the current Dollar/ Euro valuation.
Got to be tough to be a European manufacturer in the US market in terms of content per dollar and profit these days.
MajorGeek 11:55AM (2/03/2008)
Ugh, thought the station wagon days were over with all the SUV's and crossovers that just have better designs, at least visually. That is truly a plain, ugly vehicle. Aux in, ABS and traction control should be pretty standard on most vehicles nowadays, not "features".
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DKB_SATX 4:44PM (2/03/2008)
Preference is a very personal thing. I think that too-tall, too-tippy, high-CG, poor-aerodynamics SUVs and CUVs are stupid and unnecessary, in addition to being unattractive. I like wagons. That said, I think the VW designers ran out of steam before they designed the back of this car, it's a bit squishy-looking for a Mk.V VW.
It's fine if you like CUVs or whatever, but all other things being equal I'll take a lower, better-suspended wagon every time.
Brad 12:01PM (2/03/2008)
personally, I think it is very nice looking and a great addition to the MKV family.
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zamafir 12:07PM (2/03/2008)
VW doesn't want to overtake toyota any time soon, and no, they will not bring it with panoramic roof, nav, leather, and backup camera for 22k, you're the one who's smoking (unless you've got a laundry list of cars which offer said features for that price). The Wagen is what it always was, a niche car targeted at organic growth. The TDI should cost around 27, and while it's not cheap, a fully loaded Prius cost 28 and achieves 10 LESS MPG on the highway, so I'd wager this car, placed where it always has been, will have no problems selling.
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nagmashot 12:27PM (2/03/2008)
that is most likely correct...
VW sells the cars in the USA for nearly the same price as in Germany onyl Euro sticker replaced by $ ignoring the shitty exchange rate currently.
The Jetta wagon cost in Germany with 170hp 24,800Euro
The Jetta wagon cost in Germany with 170hp TDI engine 27,250Euro... most likely they sell it for $27,000 or slightly lower in the USA..
How many 170hp diesel wagons able to get easy over 35-40mpg are currently avaible in the USA for less than $27,000? ;)
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:32PM (2/03/2008)
2.0T TDI makes 140HP, not 170HP.
nagmashot 5:16AM (2/04/2008)
@why not LS2/LS7
the 2.0TDI is avaible with 140 and 170hp...
the price I claimed is for the 170hp/125kW/350Nm Jetta version with 6 speed stick shift
Dad 12:36PM (2/03/2008)
"so I'd wager this car, placed where it always has been, will have no problems selling"
Agreed, it will appeal to a lot of buyers.
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MemphisNET 12:37PM (2/03/2008)
Personally I like it. Pricing is always higher on VW's, but you're paying for a very premium interior, excellent handling/driving dynamics and style (subtle, of course - and its always subjective).
50mpg diesels are nice too!
Reliability, well - I guess I'll just have to learn my VW's.
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DKB_SATX 12:38PM (2/03/2008)
For $24,500 it should be powered by the 2.0T, because it doesn't offer THAT much more cargo room than a 5-door GTI which bases at $23,230 and has sport suspension. I like wagons and wouldn't consider the 2.5 over the 2.0T even at competitive prices, I certainly wouldn't pay MORE for the 2.5 and slightly more cargo space.
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zamafir 12:40PM (2/03/2008)
I did some digging, for those interested. Currently the only VW confirmed pricing we have for north America on the TDI Sportwagen is the Canadian pricing which lists the TDI Sportwagen as starting at $26,975 (Canadian). Considering the base Jetta in Canada starts at $23,475 and the base Passat starts at $30,975, I wouldn't be too surprised to find the new generation of TDIs NOT commanding the premium they did when the MKIVs rolled out, and instead arriving cheaper (relative to the non TDI) then they did - especially as the 2004 TDI Wagon started at $28,205 with many of the MKV's standard features as options (side curtain airbags, MFD, MFSW, etc).
All in all, I look forward to the Sportwagen TDI's North American pricing announcement, it'll surely be the most relevant iteration of the sportwagen.
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zamafir 12:43PM (2/03/2008)
I have yet to find any convincing information that VW hasn't made great strides in reliability with their new MKV platform, we've been over this dozens of times in these comment sections, and for ever dozen owners of an MKV we find chiming in, there's perhaps one with some issue covered under warranty. Though I'll be sure to chime in when any of my VWs fail to start or do whatever else the old wives tails of previous generations being applied to the current dictate.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:00PM (2/03/2008)
I see no convincing evidence VW HAS made great strides in reliability. Yeah, there's no coil pack scandal or windows dropping down into doors reported lately, but just because they didn't make any HUGE screwups doesn't mean the general problem with them buying crappy subassemblies (like the window switchs in my Audi) has been fixed in general.
Besides, American car companies shaped up 10 years ago and they're still paying the price. It takes time to regain trust, is VW supposed to be an exception?
"Old wives tales". That's hilarious. VW had an official coil pack replacement policy. Why did VW get caught up in "old wives tales". Shouldn't they have known better?
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news03/vw_coils.html
zamafir 12:44PM (2/03/2008)
^ that was in reference to MemphisNET, looks as though the reply is broken yet again.
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:54PM (2/03/2008)
And with the weight of this vehicle, the Prius will KILL it in the city and the overall. And that's before you count the fact that Diesel uses 15% more oil (contains 15% more energy) than gas.
And the Prius is the cleanest car on the road for smog-producing emissions, this car is in the highest bin, making it the highest smog-producing non-truck you can buy.
All in all, I'm for wagons. I'm for fuel-efficient vehicles. I'm not really for vehicles that pollute this much, but I guess that's the way the ball bounces.
In the end, it'll be the price that keeps this car down, VWs just don't have the panache they used to. Used to be every teen owned an Integra and wanted a Jetta or Golf, just couldn't afford it. And so when they got a better job they often stretched to get one. It's not that way anymore, and at $30,000 you have a lot of other great options.
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zamafir 1:09PM (2/03/2008)
re reading my comment a dozen times it is readily apparent i used the term old wives tails in conjunction with the MKV platform, not the MKIV, in essence questioning why coil pack recalls from 2003 which you linked to, in engines which are not currently used in north american products, on platforms which are no longer used, are relevant to the current platforms/engines etc. I'm not ignorant to the coil pack issues, I owned a 1998 1.8T A4 quattro. Kindly illustrate where I excused the coil pack issue and where i didn't go to lengths to imply those issues are not affecting CURRENT products en-mass. I don't bitch about GM's current quality referencing the absolute dog shit S10 based blazer I owned in 1998 and am unsure why it's fashionable to do so with VW as you have. If you want to explain what kinds of issues you've experienced on a 2006 or newer MKV based VW I'd be happy to hear.
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:37PM (2/03/2008)
'the old wives tails of previous generations'
The previous generations had problems, it was not just old wives tales.
And again, I don't care if you do think after 2 years with a new Golf that VW has this licked, I don't agree, and there is no convincing argument that they do have it licked. And even if they do, it's going to take time to regain people's confidence. Once bitten, twice shy.
Currently owning a 2000 Audi A6 2.7T, I'd have to be as dumb as they come to buy another VW right now. Even if I like it, it's been a mechanical disaster. And it is a premium car, and it was made in Germany.
Wow, the Audi superbowl ad is on right now. It's awful, except maybe the last 10 seconds. And I DO remember the Godfather.
deshpak 1:25PM (2/03/2008)
I've had my 2001 Jetta GLX running just fine for the past 7 years. Apart from scheduled maintainence, 4 recalls covered under warranty and replacement of consumables I have put 95,000 trouble free miles on the car. The recalls were troubling but VW took care of them right away and I was never without my car for more than 1 day at the dealership. I bought the car new for $24,500 with all options and I don't think I could come close to finding another car with similar features for under $30K today. VWs require more maintainence and they don't handle neglect very well but the payback in performance, ride/handling and comfort are worth it in my opinion. That being said, I am not a fan of the 2.5 nor the 2.0T. The VR6 was and still is a sweet engine. So this new "wagen" will not be on my shopping list. The SAAB sportwagon looks pretty interesting to me (V6 turbo).
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