2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Not much has changed for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen's 2011 model year; it's almost an exact carry-over from the 2010 car, which is a good thing. Editors of Edmunds.com prefer the wagon to the all-new Jetta sedan, saying the 2011 VW Jetta SportWagen is "the all around better Jetta" with an "upscale cabin and sophisticated ride." The only change from 2010 is a revised base engine, and the new 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder delivers better fuel economy. For a detailed analysis of this wagon, visit our full report on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (*Est. $19,075 to $23,870).

Coupled with the standard five-speed manual transmission, the 2.5-liter engine will deliver 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway for a combined rating of 27 mpg according to EPA estimates, besting the previous engine by one, three and two mpg, respectively. An available automatic transmission also delivers improved economy over the 2010 edition: 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. Buyers interested in the best possible mileage should consider the diesel-powered 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (Base MSRP: $24,995), which delivers 34 mpg in combined driving.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the VW Jetta SportWagen a 2011 Top Safety Pick, which means it gets the best rating of Good in all the organization's safety tests. When we checked, the 2011 Jetta SportWagen had gone though only rollover-resistance testing in government trials and came away with a 4-star rating in that category. Front, front-side and curtain airbags are standard, as are antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control. Buyers can opt for rear side airbags too.