Jetta Sportwagen Makes Its Mark at the New York International Auto Show

April 6, 2007 – 8:55 am by Dan Volkens
Filed under Volkswagen Jetta

I may be overreacting to the design, but this thing just does not have Volkswagen lines to me. When I first glance at it I get the impression of Hyundai, or maybe a little Subaru. Not in a good way either, mind you.

I’m sure that the new waggy will be very utilitarian, and I am considering a wagon for family-hauling in the near future. But I’m actually turned off enough by this thing to forego VW wagons altogether. Well, I do really like the Passat wagon, but that’s the next step up. I’m not sure I’ll be in the financial bracket for the Passat. What to do, what to do.

I have a couple pics from Volkswagen’s media site below along with some PR info. Be your own judge.

* From Volkswagen Press Release

The Jetta SportWagen, a sporty and dynamic wagon version of Volkswagen’s top-selling model, made its U.S. debut today at the New York Auto Show. The Jetta SportWagen mixes practicality with European style and balances both elegance and sportiness. Its exceptional ride and handling and segment-leading safety features, along with its design are perfect for those with an active lifestyle.

Delivering performance and value, the Jetta SportWagen will be offered with three engine variations. The Jetta SportWagen will launch with an upgraded 2.5-liter, five cylinder engine that now produces 170 horsepower. The 2.5L Jetta SportWagen arrives in dealers this August, and will be followed with the 2.0T, four cylinder engine that produces 200 hp. In early 2008 the Jetta SportWagen will be available with a 2.0L clean diesel engine.

Aside from offering the sporty feel and fun to drive performance of a Jetta, the SportWagen opens up a new world of possibilities in the way of usable cargo room— 32.8 cubic feet to be exact, or an even more impressive 66.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. For those whose active lifestyle requires even more room, there is an optional fold-flat front passenger seat that provides additional cargo space. Fold-flat front passenger seat is available with “V-Tex” leatherette seating.

Like the Jetta, the SportWagen continues the Volkswagen tradition of offering a long list of standard equipment. Some of the many standard features include: air conditioning, anti-theft vehicle alarm, cruise control, CD player, traction control, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, eight-way adjustable front seats with height, angle and lumbar support adjustments, and a height-and-telescoping steering wheel. Available as an option on the Jetta SportWagen is a panoramic sunroof. The panoramic sunroof offers its passengers an impressive 12.7 square feet of either daylight or starlight, providing them an open air connection with the outdoors.

The Jetta SportWagen also enjoys a long list of standard safety features such as, driver and front passenger front airbags, driver and front passenger side thorax airbags, Side Curtain Protection®, and rear-impact optimized head restraints on driver and front passenger seat.

Jetta Sportwagen Makes Its Mark at the New York International Auto Show
April 6, 2007 – 8:55 am by Dan Volkens