© Price as tested $14,960 © Type 4 door, sedan © Layout transverse front engine/front wheel drive © Engine 1588 cc 4 cylinder diesel, SOHC; turbo w/mechanical diesel injection pump ®@ Horsepower 68 @ 4500 rpm © Torque 98 ft.-Ibs. @ 2500 rpm 5 passenger © Transmission 5 spd. manual © Curb weight 1046 kg/2306 Ibs. © Wheelbase 2475 mm/97.4 in, © Length 4362 mm/171.7 in. ® Width 1660 mm/65.4 in. ® Height 1415 mm/55.7 in. ® Trunk space 550 L/19.4 cu.ft. © Fuel economy City 6.4 L per 100 km, or 44 mpg; Hwy 5.0 L per 100km, or 57 mpg @ Warranty Basic 3 yrs/60,000 km Corrosion 6 yrs/ unlimited km VW JETIA TU Fuel economy is car’s strong suit AT BEST, the performance of VW’s diesel-engined Jetta and Golf models can be described as sluggish. VW’s optional 1.6 litre, four- cylinder diesel engine has 52 horsepower, about half that of the standard 1.8 litre gasoline-engine. A turbocharged diesel engine, available only in the Jetta, adds needed pep to this otherwise very good automotile. The tur- bocharger (an air pump driven by THE THRIFTY will appreciate the VW Jetta Turbo Diesel’s excellent fuel economy which averages 5.8 /100 km (49 mpg). Even with the turbo however, straight line acceler- ation with this engine is only adequate, though ‘much im- proved over the regular diesel Ye 1991 Volkswagen Jetta GTX Photos submitted recirculated exhaust gases) boosts maximum horsepower from 52 to 68. That may not sound like a lot, but it improves the diesel Jetta’s performance significantly. Equipped with a 5-speed transmission (no automatic is available), the Jetta Turbo Diesel goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.8 seconds. A Jetta equipped with a standard diesel engine takes a leisurely 17 seconds to go the same distance. For comparison purposes, con- sider that a 1.8 litre gaso- line-engined Jetta has 100 horse- power and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds. The extra power provided by the turbo comes on between 2,700 and 4,500 rpm. Thus, perfor- mance in city use is not much dif- ferent from the regular diesel, but accelerating onto the freeway and going up long hills is much better. The big advantage of owning a Jetta Turbo Diesel is its excellent fuel economy. It averages 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres (49 mpg), remarkable economy for a five passenger, compact sedan weighing 1,046 kg (2,306 !bs.). In addition, diesel fuel is currently priced about 63 cents per litre at the pump, about six cents less than gasoline. Like most diesels. the Jetta Turbo Diesel is fairly noisy, mak- ing that familiar clattering sound at idle. Once under way, the noise is not too intrusive with the win- dows up. Vibration from the engine is noticeable, but not un- comfortable. Unlike a lot of diesel engines, this one is fairly clean. I noticed very little smoke from the exhaust pipe and diesel fumes were minor. Starting the Jetca’s diesel engire in cold weather is a little different than with a gasoline engine. The driver must first pull out a choke lever (located to the left of the steering wheel) to adjust the idle speed and injection advance devices in the fuel injection pump. After turning on the ignition, the driver must wait about 10 se- conds before a glow-plug light on the dash goes out. Glow-plugs, incidentally, help to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders when the engine is cold. But when the engine is warm, Greg TEST DRIVE its very high compression ratio (23 to 1) heats the mixture enough to cause combustion. Apart from its diesel engine, the Jetta Turbo Diesel is the same car as its gasoline-engined counter- part. The Jetta is notable for its excellent handling, ride, and straight-line tracking. Independent front McPherson strut suspension and _ semi- independent rear suspension with coil springs, telescopic shocks and beam axle make this one of the best handling cars in its class. The interior has a well-finished tweed-cloth interior and there’s adequate room for four or five adults. Outward visibility is very good. The trunk is simply huge; how- ever the rear seat does not fold forward to increase cargo space. Power steering, tachometer, and an AM/FM stereo cassette player are standard equipment. My test car was equipped with optional seat heaters which were much ap- preciated. The Jetta Turbo Diesel is avail- able in base or GL trim levels with two or four doors. Base price of the two door model is $13,680, while a GL four-door model starts at $16,060. The whole car is covered by VW’s three year/60,000 km war- -ranty, and a six year Guaranteed Mobility program which offers free roadside assistance in case of a breakdown, The Jetta is available locally at Wetmore Motors, 2203 Marine Drive, West Vancouver and at Capilano Volkswagen, 1151 Marine Drive, North Vancouver,