Infiniti Luxury, Volkswagen Value

By Casey Williams – www.car-data.com

For nearly $44,000 loaded, the 2008 Infiniti EX35 is a great touring wagon with the performanceof a sport sedan with space for five and an enormous amount of luggage. Interior materials are toprate, complementing exquisite design inside and out. It offers a power moonroof, XM SatelliteRadio, electronic stability control, keyless entry, large analog gauges, and smooth-shiftingautomatic transmission.

The Infiniti is a great car, but if you only have about $20k less, check out the 2008 VolkswagenJetta SportWagen.

The front half of the ‘Wagen looks like a Jetta with its sleek nose, chrome grille surround,clear lens headlamps, and large VW logo.

Typical of Volkswagens, the car looks expensive and refined.

Looking down the side, one sees what makes this Jetta different – a long wagon rear section.From the back, wrap-around tail lamps could just as easily come from Mercedes as VW.

Leather-lined Wagen interiors look and smell great, but there’s also nothing wrong with versionsequipped with a rubber three-spoke sport steering wheel and faux leather seats. Few people willrealize the high-quality vinyl is not actually leather – especially when they crank up the heatedcushions. Skip the available navigation system and you’ll still enjoy sweet tunes from the 6-discchanger and iPOD input. As with every other Jetta, the Wagen is easy to drive hard with largeblue-lit analog gauges, simple controls, and thickly bolstered seats. Safety is enhanced with sidecurtain airbags.

Auto up/down power windows are convenient, but the dual glass pane roof takes the Wagen intoluxury garages. Rear passengers sit up high on a firm, but comfortable, bench with large centerarmrest and cupholders.

But, having the skylight makes them feel as special as front occupants.

When one needs more space for bicycles, surfboards, or stuff from the home store, they can folddown the rear seats and open up a cargo compartment that rivals those from SUVs.

At the heart of the wagon is a 20-valve, DOHC, 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that generates 170horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque

- all connected to the front wheels through a standard five-speed manual transmission oroptional six-speed automatic. If that’s not enough, ask for the available 2.0-litre turbochargedfour-cylinder with 200 horsepower.

Either way, you won’t want for performance. The five-cylinder pulls the car from 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds with the turbo-four taking it down to 6.9 seconds. Turbo models can reach 127-mph.Fuel economy is rated 21/29-MPG city/highway.

Even with the base engine, plenty of power is available.

You don’t feel a big whoosh off the line, but the acceleration is solid past triple digits.Driving at higher speeds instills confidence as the suspension keeps you in touch with the road,steering tightens, and the automatic transmission gives you just the right amount of downshiftthrough a throttle that allows you to step down with precision. You can almost think a downshiftof one, two, or three speeds and conjure them up with your big toe. Four-wheel anti-lock discbrakes and electronic stability control deploy the parachute if traffic stops suddenly or if slickroads put you counter to your intended path.

Volkswagen will bring much-appreciated improvements to the Jetta SportWagen for 2009. Givenhigh gas prices, the 2.0-litre clean diesel engine, producing 140 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. oftorque, can’t come soon enough. Electronic stability control and free scheduled maintenance forthe first 3 years or 36,000 miles will be standard.

Rear seat passengers get thorax side airbags like the front.

There are many luxurious touring wagons on the market from not only Infiniti, but also Cadillac,Mercedes, Chrysler, Saab, and BMW.

They’re all great for a price. With the Jetta SportWagen, you get the secure handling of a fineGerman sedan with the utility of an SUV, and with much appreciated space and features that comewith the high dollar wagons.

Base prices for the Jetta SportWagen range from $18,999 to $27,090, depending on trim andpowertrains. The 2009 TDI will start at $23,Dodge.