What’s the difference between the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI and four-door Golf TDI?
You’ll find twice as much cargo room behind the Jetta SportWagen’s rear seat compared with the Golf, which is the major advantage to the Jetta — 32.8 cubic feet versus 15 cubic feet. Surprisingly, the two cars stack up equally in other areas, though the Golf is the little sibling to the Jetta in VW’s lineup. The extra cargo room doesn’t come free, though, and the Jetta SportWagen TDI starts at $24,615 compared with $22,760 for the Golf TDI four-door hatchback, not including destination charges. For the TDI models of each, gas mileage ratings are identical at 30/42 mpg city/highway for automatics and 30/41 mpg for manuals. Of the Jetta and Golf TDI models we’ve driven, both have a sporty driving character and firm ride. You’ll sacrifice cargo room with the Golf, but its overall length is shorter so if you’re a city dweller, this could help in urban parking and maneuverability. It’s still a four-door hatchback, so cargo versatility is still very good.
