Volkswagen has a new model for 2009 that aims squarely at the heart of the US car market with two major features that American consumers have been loathe to embrace. Station wagons have been out of favor in North America since the early 1970s. Aside from a brief surge in the early 1980s following the second oil shock, light duty diesels have never really been more than a small niche of the American market. That means the Jetta TDI Sportwagen has its work cut out for it to succeed.

The latest Jetta Sportwagen debuted in spring 2008 with a choice of four and five cylinder gasoline engines. The new TDI clean diesel started arriving in dealers over the summer and went on sale in September. We had a chance to drive the TDI sedan around that time in Southern California, but for those with a need for a vehicle with more utility, the Sportwagen is the clear choice.

In typical wagon fashion, the VW designers have basically extended the sedan's roof back and added a tailgate. Unlike some traditional examples of the breed, the rear end doesn't have the squared off look of wagons like the Volvo V70. Instead the rear glass has more of a forward slope that adds a dash of style at the expense of a bit of theoretical cargo volume.  The difference is only appreciable if the cargo area is loaded up above the vehicle belt-line.

From the B-pillar forward the 2009 edition of the Jetta Sportwagen is identical to the sedan variant including the bold chrome grille that has been a hallmark of Volkswagen styling for the past several years. Starting with the Europe only Scirocco coupe that debuted last year, Volkswagen has gone back to a more subdued grille design that will debut in the US this fall with the 2010 Golf and Jetta wagon. The 2010 sedan will retain the current front fascia for at least another model year.

Since at least the mid-1990s Volkswagen like its more premium Audi brand have generally been considered to have among the best interiors of any mainstream cars. The materials and fit and finish have been a cut above competitors at a similar price point and the current Jetta is no exception. Both the sedan and wagon TDIs come with a standard trim that is equivalent to the mid-range SE level on the gas engined models. That means that instead of cloth seating surfaces the TDIs come standard with something called V-Tex leatherette.

This synthetic vinyl actually looks and feels more like real leather than the hides found some more expensive cars. It's attractive and should wear well. The seats themselves are well shaped and the side bolsters on the seat back are firm supportive. One complaint that American consumers have long had about German cars are the rotary knobs to adjust the seat-back angle. While those knobs offer more precise adjustment of the angle, ergonomically they are more difficult to use. Because of the price point that the Jetta sells at, Volkswagen doesn't include full power adjustable seats. However, they have addressed the seat-back adjustment issue with a hybrid approach. The fore-aft position, height and lumbar support are manually adjustable. However a switch on the outside of the front seats allows for power adjustment of the seat-back, a very reasonable compromise.

The rest of the driver's environment is just as attractive, starting with the leather wrapped steering wheel, parking brake handle and shift lever. The two tone finish of the Art Gray interior helps break up the sombre monochromatic finish that comes with the black. Unlike the beige interior, the darker gray should also do a better job of hiding dirt.

The instrument cluster is large and legible with pleasant easy on the eyes blue back-lighting at night. A driver information center between the speedometer and tach can be toggled between a variety of displays with a switch on the right hand column mounted stalk including average and instantaneous mileage.  Our test car had the optional in-dash navigation system which is better than past versions from Volkswagen, but the interface is still not as good as Ford's current system.

For a relatively compact car the Jetta has roomy back seat with plenty of space for two adults. The TDI also comes standard with a 110V AC power outlet at the back of the center console. On the day that the car was delivered my colleagues and I were returning from a video project we had worked on. The front passenger seat and the rear were occupied by three people working on laptops with plenty of room. Although the rear seat does feature a third seat-belt, adding a third passenger is definitely a squeeze laterally except for shorter trips.

Our test car was also equipped with the panorama power sunroof. This allows the rear passengers to share in the sunshine when the roof is open. Rather than the typical solid shade that covers the underside of the sunroof, the Jetta has a mesh covering that can be closed even when the sunroof is open. This allows fresh air to get in on nice days while reducing buffeting from the wind. Behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seat, the Sportwagen sports its biggest difference from the sedan. With the seats up, the Jetta can soak up 32.8 cubic feet of stuff which expands to 67 cubic feet with the seat-backs folded down. By way of comparison that beats the 31.4/64 cubic foot numbers for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, a mid-sized crossover or even the 31/71 cubic feet of VW's own Touareg.

It's what is under the hood that really matters for the Jetta TDI. This is the first new light duty diesel to pass the new Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions regulations for all 50 states. VW has even managed to do that without using a urea injection system. The 2.0L four cylinder diesel is rated at 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque which is sufficient to get to 60 mph in about 9 seconds. Like other modern four cylinder engines, this one runs smoothly and relatively vibration free. Unlike the diesels those of us over the age of 40 might remember from the early eighties, there is no smoke or smell from this one. Only when the engine stone cold is there a hint of the old clatter.  However, as soon as the engine warms up that disappears and the TDI is as quiet as any contemporary gas unit.

Volkswagen offers two transmission choices, a 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual clutch unit. Our test car had the manual which has a smooth clutch takeup and low effort shifting. With a healthy foot on the accelerator, the diesel quickly hits its moderate 5,000 rpm red-line but the shifter never balks allowing the driver to keep up with the engine.

Making the best of the engine, also requires a good chassis and the Jetta is also up to the task in this respect. Following in the path of nimble handling Golf, Rabbit and Jetta predecessors, this car earns the Sportwagen appellation. In spite of its front weight bias, the Jetta feels well balanced with mild understeer as it approaches its limits. Over the rough pavement that comprises most Michigan roads, the body motions are well controlled with an excellent compromise between handling and comfortable ride.

The primary reason for choosing a diesel over a gasoline engine is the enhanced fuel efficiency. While the base 2.5L five cylinder gas engine gets an EPA rating of 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, the 6-speed manual TDI is rated at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg on the highway. During our test of the TDI Sportwagen we averaged 35 mpg with a 70/30 mix of city and freeway driving. Our test car which almost every available option was priced at $28,300 and is eligible for a $1,300 federal tax credit. Given how much fun this car is to drive and how little it costs to operate, it could change American buyers minds about both station wagons and diesels.