The 2014 Jetta SportWagen has more in common with the Volkswagen Golf than with the current Jetta sedan. You’ll find a high-quality interior with many features that set the SportWagen apart from other hatchbacks and small crossover SUVs. Cargo space is comparable or even greater than many of those compact crossovers.
What's New for 2014
The SportWagen carries over into this year essentially unchanged from the 2013 model.
Choosing Your Volkswagen SportWagen
The most important decision you’ll need to make is about the engine, because the SportWagen offers two very different choices.
- One possibility is a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower that comes with two transmission choices. There’s a five-speed manual that is standard for the S trim level only and a six-speed automatic with manual and sport modes. Both achieve fuel economy of 26 mpg in combined driving.
- The other engine option is a 2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel with a maximum output of 140 horsepower. You can choose either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission with manual and sport modes. The manual’s fuel economy estimate is 34 mpg in combined driving while the automated transmission comes in with an estimate of 33 mpg combined.
There are three basic trim levels to choose from:
Several options are also available for all SportWagen trims including such items as a rear hatch spoiler, rear and side window shades and a body styling kit to give your wagon a sportier look.
The SportWagen TDI is the most popular model, so you find limited availability of other trims without the diesel engine—that's fine, as far as we're concerned, since the TDI is our pick of the lineup.