Comparing diesel-powered cars' 0-to-60-mph times to gasoline ones is practically irrelevent. Diesels are almost always slower than their gasoline counterparts, however, they tend to feel substantially quicker. That sensation is courtesy of torque, and even with a relatively scant 177 pound-feet, our Jetta feels pretty quick around town or when passing on the highway. However, that 0-to-60 time certainly shows itself should you need to merge onto the same highway from a stop.
As the other testing shows, the Jetta did a pretty commendable job at the track. Remember that this is not only a 2005 model, but a car that was first introduced for 1999 in the United States. As Ms. MacKinnon might say, "not too shabby."
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 52,400 miles
ACCELERATION
0-30 - 3.3 seconds
0-45 - 6.6 seconds
0-60 - 11.0 seconds
0-75 - 17.9 seconds
1/4 mile - 17.3 seconds @ 73.9 mph
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton: "Torque rich idiosyncrasies of the Jetta TDI proved that a gentle, non-spinning launch (unlike the video's run) worked best. In fact, almost stalling it was the quickest 0-to-30 time. Power wanes noticeably above 4,000 so short shifting works."
BRAKING
60-0 - 124 feet
30-0 - 31 feet
Walton: "Despite soft suspension, the Jetta stopped well repeatedly with consistent distances."
SLALOM
65.8 mph
Walton: "Shocking amounts of grip and intuitive steering provides incongruous confidence. On the other hand, I needed every inch of tarmac to get up to speed for a proper entry." (Note him urging the car on in the video)
SKIDPAD
0.80 g
Walton: "Again, lots of body roll, but decent grip. Understeer with squealing tires on the limit."
stephen987 says:
12:17 PM, 02/12/08
What shift points did you use? I recall some posts from the TDIclub website that recommended shifting well before 3000 rpm for best acceleration, but I haven't seen instrumented tests confirming that it's actually faster.
orangutan says:
12:17 PM, 02/12/08
Thanks. :)
joefrompa says:
12:18 PM, 02/12/08
Pretty solid performance considering the age and non-performance bent of the machine. Nice!
That 0-60 of 11 seconds is disturbing. Quarter mile of 18 seconds roughly? Eek.
Can't wait to see some accel. testing of the new Subaru Boxer Diesel and Acura 2.2 liter diesel.
Joe
jriz says:
12:23 PM, 02/12/08
"That 0-60 of 11 seconds is disturbing."
Check out 0-to-60 times for cars sold in Europe. 11 seconds is not uncommon.
Also, check out the 0-30 time, which is a useful number to consider in city driving. 3.3 seconds is only .4 off the time of an Astra, which has a 0-to-60 time of 8.8. Something to consider.
stephen987 says:
12:27 PM, 02/12/08
jriz, your point about the 0-30 time is well taken. Does the car get to 30 in first gear? If not (i.e., if you're already losing time because of the 1-2 shift), would it be faster with extreme short shifting (ca. 2200 rpm)?
stingray454 says:
12:56 PM, 02/12/08
Yeah, diesels are a bit weird with acceleration. They've got unbelievable amounts of torque right off of idle practically, so they really jump off the line, but they have hardly any high end horsepower (relative to the torque anyway).
My diesel Suburban has 430 lbs. of torque at 2,100 RPM, but only 195 hp. Off the line, this torque in combination with 4.10 gears makes this 6,000 lb. truck downright snappy. Just for fun, I raced a riced out Acura Integra at a redlight three times a few months ago. All three times, my Suburban killed him off the line and up until about 35 MPH, by which time my diesel was out of breath, and his VTEC was just waking up. It was hilarious to see a huge SUV taking a riced out sporty car off the line like that. It was also a clear demonstration of the two engine's vastly different power characteristics. They pretty much couldn't be any more opposite.
The diesel is funny at full throttle - it displays all of its power right away, and up to 2,700 RPM. After that, it just makes more noise and seems to go slower! Its one of the few engines where I think you're better off short shifting to keep the RPMs down to keep it in its powerband (unfortunately I can't as its an automatic). It seems the higher you rev it, the less power it makes.
louiswei says:
01:43 PM, 02/12/08
The car feels fast when it actually is slow - high torque
The car feels slow when it actually is fast - high horsepower
I'll take high horsepower with fair amount of torque on any given day over high torque with pathetic horsepower.
Hyrbrids for me...
joefrompa says:
01:52 PM, 02/12/08
I like equal amounts of both....odd, I'm considering a Legacy GT for my wife and a 135/335 for me....
Legacy GT - 243 HP/241 torque
135/335 - ~300 HP and ~300 torque
Seems to be a pattern. Maybe I like cake, icing, and eating both.
Joe
joefrompa says:
01:57 PM, 02/12/08
Hey Jriz,
Just a weird thought...would Edmunds ever consider doing a test using the following methodology:
Acceleration tests from 0-30, 0-45, 0-60, 0-100 using full throttle shifting at 50% of redline for each gear.
Acceleration tests from 20-50, 30-60, 30-80, 50-70, 50-100 using the recommended minimum gear per the manual for each starting speed, and full throttle.
I.e. 20-50 my Civic SI could, reasonably, start out in 3rd gear and go up to-past 50mph in this gear.
I think using half-redline shift points would replicate real-world acceleration and grab that "torque feels faster" reality.
I'd love to see how the Jetta TDI accelerates from 0-60 shifting at half redline vs. my Civic SI...which would more accurately replicate my day-to-day acceleration :)
I remember reading the acceleration times of the BMW 335d (coming to the U.S.) vs the BMW 335. The at-speed in-gear acceleration was unbelievable in the 335d due to the extra ~130 lb/ft of torque.
Joe
karjunkie says:
03:33 PM, 02/12/08
As mentioned in another blog, I can't wait to see what the the comparable numbers are on the new Jetta SportsWagen TDI. The claimed fuel efficiency of the new model is 40 City/60 Highway
stephen987 says:
03:42 PM, 02/12/08
I'm with joefrompa. Go for it!
jdub53084 says:
04:15 PM, 02/12/08
With reading the intro on this vehicle I would have figured that the first stop for this little guy would have been at the detailer, not the race-track.Burnt hair and wet dog!! Yuck!!! Seems weird that a CPO car would be released to a customer without a complete detailing and some repairs. Hopefully the price reflected these faults.
estreka says:
06:06 PM, 02/12/08
This is one of Scorsese's more somber films. Like Forrest Gump.
bimmerjay says:
07:15 PM, 02/12/08
"I remember reading the acceleration times of the BMW 335d (coming to the U.S.) vs the BMW 335. The at-speed in-gear acceleration was unbelievable in the 335d due to the extra ~130 lb/ft of torque."
Yup, and the 335i will scorch the 335d in 0-60 and the 1/4 mile.
vbhoo says:
10:15 PM, 02/12/08
Look at the gearing of the tdi vs the 1.8 t and the 2.0. The diesel is clearly geared for economy, and is only a 1.9 old school heavy iron monster. These new lightweight alloy engines with twin turbos from the germans are light years ahead of that old tdi, and they are being geared for performance (at the price of economy).
dino6 says:
12:30 AM, 02/13/08
I've been driving a stick shift TDI for the last 5 years, and diesel F-350 for the last two as well, in addition to having 3 gas vehicles. You have to change your driving style w/diesels, and makes you a better driver. The key to driving turbodiesels are in a way similar to driving the old gas turbos of years past like the Saab turbos of the 80s (and I had one of those). Anticipation. You have to think ahead w/c also makes one a safer driver and is actually more involving.
Also, instead of going from point A to point B as fast as possible, it's interesting how soon you start playing the new game of how can I get from point A to B while consuming the least diesel fuel while still keeping an acceptable speed. Again, makes you a better driver bec. anticipation is the key, touching the brakes as little as possible. Once got 60 mpg on I-5 between LA-SFO.
0-60 is not really a meaningful test for real world street driving, try 30-50, or 50-70.
An automatic diesel is a better power train match than a manual diesel although you can get max fuel economy w/good driving w/a manual.
dino6 says:
12:35 AM, 02/13/08
I think it's more fun driving a gas car when you're driving 7/10 to 9/10 on the road (irresponsible to drive 10/10 on a public road). But when you're driving 3/10 to 6/10, the torque of a diesel is actually more fun. At 1/10 to 2/10, there's no difference.
opfreak says:
10:36 AM, 02/13/08
i have no idea what dino said.
jriz says:
11:03 AM, 02/13/08
Frank Sinatra said the same thing.
06scooby says:
01:32 PM, 02/13/08
I have to say that the motor sounded pretty decent inside the car. You can't really tell it's a diesel... what about shooting some video of you guys dumping the clutch at 3500 rpms and planting your foot to the floor? I bet that would put those 15's up in a pretty good white cloud!!!
alpha01 says:
08:29 AM, 02/14/08
jriz - ha! your Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin reference made made literally laugh out loud, right here in the office. thanks.
jriz says:
09:42 AM, 02/14/08
I do what I can.