2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen SE
Sportwagen comes up short in DogCars agility test
Sun, Feb 22nd 2009
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 2 door, hatchback, 2wd |
| msrp | $21 |
| trans | manual |
| gas mi. | 21mpg/29mpg |
| rating |  |
Volkswagen likes to label the 2009 Jetta SportWagen (nobody says station wagon anymore) as "The Wagon that thinks it's a Sports Car."
That should give you a hint as to the model's DogCar capabilities as well.
Typically, there are few sports cars that fit the needs of a serious dog-loving family. Use of the word "sport" in this case, doesn't mean agility trials, flyball fun or even dog mushing. It means car racing. And while I love a good, down-to-the-wire Indy 500, it does little to help us get the dogs from Point A to B in safety and comfort.
The Jetta wagon's exterior design clearly conveys a sporty style and sophistication. The cool blue interior lighting of the instrument panels support this sport theme as well. However, the pickup seems to be anything but sporty, even when pushing the manual transmission into overdrive. I continually was underwhelmed when trying to find the power to pass on a two-lane road.
That sporty, sloped rear design looks great on the road, but reduces the usable crate space by up to 14 inches. Interior dimensions of the cargo area measure 69 inches from front seats to tail; 29 inches from floor to ceiling, and a disappointing 39 inches between the wheel wells. All of which could be overcome if the seats folded completely flat, but they don't.
But don't banish the Jetta to the dog house just yet. Folks with small to medium-size dogs might find the SportWagen a good fit for their four-legged family members as the 60/40 split rear seats offer decent canine and cargo flexibility. The Jetta's low-to-the-ground clearance makes for easy in-and-out access for pups who otherwise have to be helped into higher vehicles.
-- Keith Turner
Carguy Comments: The 2009 Jetta SportWagen comes in four trim models: the five-cylinder S and SE 2.5 liter (170 horsepower), the four-cylinder turbo 2.0T that produces 200 horsepower and the new TDI, a clean diesel engine that is compliant in all 50 states. Cargo volume with the rear seats folded is 66.9 cubic feet.
BARKING LOT BANTER: The 2009 Jetta SportWagen offers easy entry for low-to-the-road dogs, but falls short in overall DogCar dimensions for large canines.
Comments
I own a 2005 Passat TDI. This has been a great dog vehicle! I run a dog hiking service and have had lots of dogs in my car. With a barrier behind the front seats and the back seats flat, I have tons of room. This car has hauled as much as any pick up might brag about. And with roof racks and hard top carrier, we’ve gone camping for a family of five and three dogs! One paw less for the cost of maintenance compared to my other cars. Something about foreign cars seems to increase the repair bills. Great fuel efficiency.
2010-05-27 08:25:20
I have a 2010 TDI with the DSG transmission and I have no problem in keeping up with traffic in and around Chicago. The back seat is very easy to fold flat and I have more than enough room for two German Shepherds. The A/C could cool a small house. I get a easy 38 to 42 miles to the gallon a 75 to 80 mph with the A/C blasting.
2010-05-23 19:02:54
What is the largest size crate anyone has found to fit, two side by side in the rear? I’m looking to accommodate two Golden Retrievers.
2010-03-24 23:19:53
I bought a 2009 TDI SportWagen in August 2009. I have a 90lb German Shepherd and a 65lb Chow, both of whom fit comfortably in the cargo area. My in-laws came to visit and they fit in the back seat comfortably, while the dogs were in the cargo area and my husband and I were in the front seats. I’m the shortest of the bunch, at 5’10, and we all had plenty of leg room. The dogs had room to lay down, stand up, turn around. I’m averaging 38 miles per gallon right now, and I’ve put 15k miles on the car in the last six months. VW does make a pet barrier to keep your pets in the cargo area.
Our other car is an SUV, and my SportWagen has just as much cargo space. The SUV doesn’t even get 16mpg, which is why the fuel economy offered by the TDI was such an important factor.
2010-03-22 17:13:10
I actually have the smaller version of this car, the Rabbit. It’s %99.9 the same, but the rear cargo area is shorter making it more of a hatchback than a wagon. Anyway It works great for taking our single 50lb dog to the dog park, beach, lake, etc. If my Rabbit works for those tasks and our dog, I’m sure the Jetta Sport Wagon would work even better. I find the power adequate (16 second 1/4 mile) and handling great (for a commuter class car). The interior is also a notch or two above it’s price point, something VW has been known for in recent years. By the way, fold flat rear seats are in fact offered on higher trim levels. Anyway, I think my Rabbit is great for folks with medium / small dogs that don’t want too large of a vehicle and don’t need to carry tons of gear. The sport wagon is the same, just with a deeper hatch for more room.
2010-03-01 20:27:35
You missed the SEL model. Overall, this article is loaded with misinformation. There is no secret to folding the rear seats flat. You simply pull the bottom seat cushion forward against the front seat and flatten the seats. I can fit a large crate for my Golden with 60% of the seat flat and the other 40% up. The sportwagen has more cubic feet with the rear seats folded down than most SUVs and wagons.
2010-02-28 16:24:12
What size crates are you getting in? Does a vari 500 fit? Does a vari 500 AND a 2nd crate fit?
2009-12-01 10:09:00
I have the Jetta Sportwagen TDI (Diesel). Not only can it hold two medium size crates in the way back, but I get 35mpg in town and 40 to 45mpg on the hwy. As someone else said, the seats DO fold flat if you know the trick.
2009-09-16 16:40:26
Skewed review from Turner. Compare to Mini Clubman review where the reviewer practically drools over the car. FACTS: Clubman = 32.8 cubic ft cargo with seats DOWN. Sportwagen = 32.8 cubic feet with SEATS UP, 66.9 cubic feet with SEATS DOWN. ACCELERATION: thanks to previous post for pointing out that one must downshift, not upshift for more passing power. Also, the TDI has better MPGs and torque, no trouble with acceleration, passing power, or range on a tank of gas. Drive and compare, and decide for yourselves. Don’t believe everything you hear.
2009-07-24 11:34:15
We have a TDI and its a great vehicle. Drives like a dream and very fuel efficient.
The only thing keeping it from 5 paws in my book is we measured it for my 2 side by side SUV crates and its was 2” too narrow. That said with the seats down we can get one crate in the back and a second in the backseat area to haul multiple Dalmatians if needed.
2009-07-21 13:28:11
Wonderful car. The SEL 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo is FAST. The rear seats DO, in fact, fold flat. Pretty sloppy review if you can’t even figure that out. The rear hatch angle does cut down on the usable cargo space somewhat. Keep in mind that the Jetta is a COMPACT car. No amount of rear hatch angle is going to get around that. We get 26 mpg by the way.
2009-07-18 13:36:47
I have a Jetta Seportwagen and I love it. The rear seat does actually fold flat, but there is a trick to it. I never travel with more than one or two small to medium sized dogs, so it has all the room I need and forces me to leave extra, unnecessary junk at home. The gas mileage is great and it’s a lot of fun to drive.
2009-06-30 13:13:44
“However, the pickup seems to be anything but sporty, even when pushing the manual transmission into overdrive. I continually was underwhelmed when trying to find the power to pass on a two-lane road.”
There’s your problem. When you pass, you’re supposed to downshift. Since overdrive is the top gear, you were upshifting, which sabotaged your desired acceleration.
2009-04-09 10:41:56
“However, the pickup seems to be anything but sporty, even when pushing the manual transmission into overdrive. I continually was underwhelmed when trying to find the power to pass on a two-lane road.”
There’s your problem. When you pass, you’re supposed to downshift. Since overdrive is the top gear, you were upshifting, which sabotaged your desired acceleration.
2009-04-09 09:48:48
Aww was hoping that this would get more paws…Since my eldest is going away to college and I am now down to two (don’t tell the Cairn’s that they are) small dogs I was hoping to trade my Voyager in for the TDI version of this wagon. Since I really want the fuel thriftness of a small car…but must have haulage space to get to various shows and trials.
2009-02-25 12:22:12
We are a couple who loves running and hiking with our 2 y/o grandson and our two terrier mix rescues (combined weight < 40lbs) Our 2009 TDI fits the bill for our active lifestyle (human and canine alike) The baby jogger goes on top in a canvas thingie, the baby squeezes into the carseat in the back seat, and we had the cargo guard thingie installed for our dogs, and everyone is happy and ready to go. I do wish there was better ventilation in the back for the dogs (hence the 4 paws), and I do wish the back seat was more spacious (but we don’t sit back there anyways) The spunky diesel pick up power; the clean burning diesel; the great mileage; the styling; lots of “pukas” for putting doggy bags, water bowls, extra leashes, and even collapsible emergency crates; and going “back to the future” to the make of car I was weaned on makes this baby a keeper.
2010-06-15 10:46:18