In a market awash with crossovers, does anybody still build a solid, stylish wagon that’s also fun to drive? That answer is yes, and the vehicle is the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen. This special car waits for you at the intersection of fun, value and safety.

Crossovers may offer practicality and, if the crossover is the outstanding Volkswagen Tiguan, driving fun. But VW knows that wagon buyers want wagons, period. Today, they also want style and sporty driving. With an MSRP starting at just $20,195, the 2012 Jetta SportWagen also happens to be the best value in wagons today.

 

A key reason for buying a wagon is roominess, and the 2012 Jetta SportWagen comes with plenty. Fold down its 60/40-split/folding rear seats and you have 66.9 cubic feet of carrying space. Just for reference, the Acura TSX wagon, with an MSRP of $31,360, has 66.2 cubic feet. Wagon buyers demand safety, and the 2012 VW Jetta SportWagen delivers with an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick” rating.

 

Any wagon owner will tell you, it’s not just about how much room the car offers, but also how that room is used. Even with the back seats up, the VW Jetta SportWagen provides a generous 32.8 cubic feet of usable space in its fully-carpeted cargo area. A standard roll-out shade covers the area for security and can of course shield valuables from the sun. For even more security, a lift-up panel in the floor reveals a full-width compartment that can stow a laptop. Conveniently, this compartment can also carry a large pizza box.

 

The 2012 Jetta SportWagen offers the choice between a peppy-yet-frugal powerplant and a peppy-yet-super frugal powerplant. The standard 170-hp 2.5-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine in S and SE trims makes the Jetta SportWagen a fun driver. Volkswagen, in addition to still catering to the wagon buyer, also still caters to the driving enthusiasts that prefer to “row their own” with a five-speed manual transmission. You can also choose the six-speed automatic, which pairs Tiptronic^® manual shifting capability and Sport mode to keep the fun factor high.

 

With the stickshift and the 2.5-liter engine, the 2012 Jetta SportWagen returns 33 mpg on the highway. The automatic offers 31 mpg in highway driving, and that’s on regular-grade fuel for the best value.

 

For super frugality, no other wagon can beat the 2012 VW Jetta SportWagen TDI^® (Turbocharged Direct Injected) and its 2.0-liter TDI^® Clean Diesel engine, at 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway with a six-speed manual. This smooth-running clean-diesel engine delivers a whopping 236 lb/ft of torque at just 1,750 rpm, giving the car effortless acceleration in everyday driving.

 

With the advanced 2.0-liter TDI^® engine, you can choose between the six-speed manual and a six-speed DSG^® dual-clutch automatic transmission. Are there two drivers in your household, one who prefers a stickshift and another who prefers an automatic? Get the DSG^® and keep the peace. Acclaimed by automotive media, the DSG^® gives you the snappy shifts of an expertly shifted manual, but with the smoothness and convenience of an automatic. A DSG-equipped Jetta TDI^® SportWagen returns 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.

 

The value also shows in the brand’s no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program, which covers all scheduled maintenance for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

With either powertrain, the Jetta SportWagen underscores the “sport” in its name with four-wheel independent suspension. This well-tuned configuration gives the Jetta SportWagen outstanding agility and a comfortable ride.

 

The TDI^® comes equipped comparably to the SE SportWagen trim line, which includes a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces and a 10-speaker sound system with in-dash CD changer, HD Radio, iPod capability and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The TDI^® also adds a 115-volt power outlet.

 

Both the SE and TDI^® trims take this sporty wagon’s crisp design further upscale with 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome front grille, chrome exterior window trim and an upgraded instrument gauge panel. And, what better way to take advantage of that long wagon profile than with a panoramic glass sunroof? It’s included in an option package that also installs sporty-looking 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels. The TDI^® offers a touch-screen navigation system in a package that also includes keyless access with push-button start.

 

Come in and see the 2012 Jetta SportWagen, the best-performing best value around.