2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen SE
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen SE is a fun, practical vehicle to drive that can haul 5 adults in comfort and still have plenty of room to stow gear!
The vehicle
My Sportswagon SE was equipped with heated leatherette seats, automatic up & down windows, Power Steering, ABS brakes, and Navigation. Other features are telescoping and height adjustable steering wheel but the Sportswagon does not have automatic headlights or an electro chromic rearview mirror. Our Sportswagon SE had automatic transmission with the Tiptronic feature that adds a little fun to the driving experience.
The Sportswagon is lacking in electronic tech gadgetry and is somewhat behind times. No controls on the steering wheel and no Bluetooth technology are two items I would like to mention about this vehicle. The Navigations system was antiquated and not up to par with modern technology.
Inside the stereo had a Sirius Satellite radio and an in-dash six-disc changer that can read MP3 CDs. There is an optional iPod interface for MP3 CDs that isn’t very sophisticated.
The stereo display shows the current track name from satellite radio stations or MP3 CDs, the interface is not very techy. With an MP3 CD, you can’t browse a list of folders, merely push a button to go through them one at a time. IPod integration is available, but its interface is very poor, merely letting you choose from your first five play lists or scrolling through one track at a time, with no track display.
The audio system sounds very good. The audio controls are right on the front of the faceplate, with separate knobs for treble, mid, and bass, something you don’t see very often. There are 10 speakers around the cabin, with tweeters in each
The interioris well laid out with seating for five, fold the rear seats down and you’ve got enough storage to take a family on vacation. The interior is a little plain looking but the quality is impeccable but the seats are very comfortable.
Safety features include driver and passenger front airbags, driver and passenger supplemental restraint system, side curtain front and back airbags, 3-point seat belts, and daytime running lights and tire pressure-monitoring system.
Driving and Handling the Sportswagon was an exhilarating experience especially when taking turns. The vehicle is responsive while making sharp turns and makes you feel like you are driving a sports car.
Under the hood
The 2.5-liter 170 HP five-cylinder engine produced enough power to get you to 60MPH. in a respectable 8 seconds. The acceleration was adequate but not exhilarating.
The EPA numbers are a respectful 21-mpg city and 29 mpg for the highway
Design was unique and has some unusual curves and the Sportswagon will stand out in the crowd!
Overall the Jetta SportWagen is far from being high tech with a lack of interior electronics, but the performance was very good.