VW, IRS and diesel form a persuasive trifecta

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Is the sun starting to shine on motorists once more? After a minor dip in crude oil prices and a slightly healthier dollar comes Volkswagen’s announcement that buyers of its Clean Diesel-powered 2009 Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen are eligible for a $1,300 federal income tax credit. The Internal Revenue Service has confirmed that these cars qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle credit.

Even with diesel being more expensive than gasoline at the pump, $1,300 still buys quite a bit of it. And third-party certifier AMCI reports real-world Jetta TDI consumption of 38 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway (that’s comparable to a hybrid). To sway potential buyers even further, VW puts in the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard, as well as a Carefree Maintenance Program offering free scheduled maintenance for the duration of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Jetta TDIs are legal in all 50 states and hit the showrooms in this month.

-- Colin Ryan