2011 Volkswagen Jetta engine options include a non-turbo 2.0L I4, a 2.0L diesel, and a 2.5L I5. The 2.5L motor provides the best performance, but the turbocharged direct-injection 2.0L diesel garners the best fuel economy.
Key Points
- Three engines are available for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta: a naturally aspirated 2.0L inline-four, 2.5L inline-five cylinder, and 2.0L turbocharged diesel.
- Both 2.0L engines are pretty slow, registering 10 seconds to 60 mph, but the 2.5L finds a happy medium between fuel economy and performance.
- The 2.0L diesel offers excellent fuel economy at 32 mpg average between city/highway. Turbocharged Direct Injection models with a manual transmission can get almost 40 highway mpg.
- The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta has 11 recalls and five investigations, including for issues with the engines.
Standard 2.0L I-4 Produces Just 115 Horsepower and Doesn’t Provide Great Fuel Economy in Return
Volkswagen’s base engine for the 2011 Jetta is a naturally aspirated SOHC 2.0L inline-four. The engine is only available in the base S trim sedan and offers a meager 115 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. The result of having so few horses is that the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta S has a seriously slow zero to 60 mph time of 10.8 seconds.
Where the 2.0L engine falls short in terms of performance, it tries to make up for it with decent fuel economy. The EPA estimates that 2011 Jetta S models equipped with the five-speed manual transmission get 28 mpg between city and highway. However, choosing a Jetta S with the Tiptronic automatic transmission will cost you five mpg on the highway, resulting in an EPA estimate of 25 mpg combined.
The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta racked up 11 recalls, five investigations, and nearly 600 complaints with the NHTSA, but none of the major recalls involve this engine. One recall does apply to the 2.0L, but it was caused by an aftermarket water pump that only affected 50 vehicles.
VW’s 2.5L Five-cylinder Engine Offers 170 Horsepower and a Healthy Balance of Performance and Fuel Efficiency
The most common engine you will find in the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is the 2.5L DOHC inline-five cylinder. The 2.5L is standard equipment for the SE and SEL trim levels and develops 170 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. All that extra power helps this Jetta’s performance, improving the zero to 60 mph time to 7.7 seconds.
Surprisingly, despite the extra displacement, the fuel economy for the 2.5L stays broadly the same as the base 2.0L. According to the EPA, 2011 Volkswagen Jettas equipped with the 2.5L and a five-speed manual get a combined 26 mpg. This time around, choosing the automatic transmission improves fuel economy over the manual, offering a combined 27 mpg.
2.5L Engine’s Common Problems Include Ignition Coil Failure and Vacuum Pump Leaks
Once again, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta has numerous recalls but none of them directly involve the 2.5L engine. A few common problems you might encounter with the 2.5L are ignition coil failure, vacuum pump leaks, and premature wear of the serpentine belt rollers. These issues are more maintenance items (due to wear) rather than outright problems.
This Volkswagen’s 2.5L inline-five cylinder has been around since 2005 and is generally regarded as one of the company’s most reliable engines.
2.0L Turbo Diesel Gets 32 mpg Combined but is Haunted by a ‘Diesel Gate’ Emissions Scandal that Cost VW Billions
The final engine available for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is the 2.0L turbocharged I4 diesel. This engine is only available in the Jetta TDI trim level and offers 140 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. That might sound like a lot, but with diesel engines, that higher torque number does not always translate to better performance. For example, the 2011 Jetta TDI goes from zero to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, which is two seconds slower than the 2.5L that has almost 60 fewer lb.-ft. of torque.
What you give up in performance actually pays you back at the pump this time. The EPA estimates a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI equipped with either of the available transmissions gets 32 mpg combined. If you spend a lot of time on the highway, definitely consider the six-speed manual transmission, because it will get almost 40 mpg on the highway.
There were two investigations conducted by the NHTSA regarding the 2011 Jetta TDI engine, which resulted in one recall. The recall resolves an issue where the engine’s diesel fuel injection lines could leak onto the exhaust manifold and start a fire. The risk of fire is always a huge safety concern, and Volkswagen recalled almost 170,000 vehicles as a result.
‘Diesel Gate’ Causes Huge Fines for Volkswagen and Sheds Light on Deceptive Practices
Any discussion about Volkswagen’s diesel engine is not complete without mentioning the emissions scandal. The Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as “diesel gate,” refers to a lawsuit brought against VW by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2015, the EPA found that Volkswagen had intentionally equipped certain diesel engines with a defeat device. This mechanism was used to alter the engine management system to fool emissions testers. As a result of Volkswagen’s deception, the company had to pay billions of dollars in fines and modify all affected vehicles to meet regulations.
The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is directly affected by this scandal and can be bought pretty cheaply as a result. The majority of the 2011 Jetta TDI models can be found for less than $10,000 and still offer great fuel economy. If you’re looking to pinch pennies between fuel stops, the 2011 Jetta TDI is still a great option, despite its scandalous past.
2011 VW Jetta Has an Engine to Suit Most Budgets and Offers Respectable Reliability Across the Board
Overall, all three engine options for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta are reliable. If fuel economy is your top concern, consider a Jetta TDI and forget all about that pesky international investigation that resulted in a high-level executive going to prison. The base 2.0L is slow but will get you where you need to go. The 2.5L, on the other hand, provides some fun on the way there, which is why it’s the engine option we’d recommend for the 2011 model year Jetta.
Photos: VW
