This car is a lot of fun to drive.Brisk off-the-line acceleration performance is the first thing you notice about the 1.8T. There's a surprising amount of low-rpm torque here, more than enough to spin the front wheels. Traction control steps in when needed to minimize this, enhancing control. Accelerating through the gears, there's no turbo lag. Instead, the power delivery is fluid and linear. This 1.8-liter turbocharged engine is so smooth and it revs so freely that you're encouraged to put the throttle down. In spite of its power, it nets an EPA-rated 24/31-mpg city/highway.
GTI VR6 comes with Volkswagen's VR6, an innovative narrow-angle V6 engine that delivers 181 foot-pounds of torque. It isn't a rocket off the line, but offers good acceleration on the steepest grades.
The 2.0-liter engine offers adequate performance for commuting, but doesn't inspire drivers who enjoy spirited driving. However, the 2.0-liter engine holds its own in traffic, cruising steadily at 80 mph, delivers an EPA-rated 24/31 mpg city/highway. Its relatively low price offers the best value.
If fuel economy is at the top of your shopping list, consider the 1.9-liter TDI, a turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder diesel engine. Diesels have a reputation for being noisy, smelly and slow, but Volkswagen has perfected the design. New emissions systems have cleaned up the exhaust scent, and the TDI is only a shade louder than the 2.0-liter gasoline engine. At highway speeds, you'll barely notice the difference. You sacrifice some performance, but the improvement in mileage is dramatic: it gets an EPA-estimated 42/49 mpg.