Part of the reason for this incredible fuel economy is that this model year the Jetta TDI got a new engine that now makes 150 hp (as opposed to 140 hp) and 236 lb-ft torque, and it gets improved fuel economy compared with last year’s TDI. It’s those characteristics — the power combined with the superb fuel economy — that distinguish a diesel-powered vehicle from a hybrid, for instance, which may have great fuel consumption but typically offers lacklustre acceleration (until you get to the premium models, that is). They also distinguish it from a gasoline powered vehicle that may have the same horsepower, won’t match the torque and won’t, in real world driving, match the frugal fuel consumption.

Also new in the Jetta this year (this is not an all-new version; it’s what the industry calls a mid-cycle refresh) are a revised and more aerodynamic front grille and fascia, the obligatory LED headlight accents and an interior that includes a new instrument panel and vent bezels, along with ambient lighting, and chrome and piano black accents.. Inside, it’s classier looking than the 2014 model; outside, a mini Passat, I guess.

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The 2015 Jetta TDI Highline gets an array of driver assists, too, including rear cross-traffic alert, park distance and blind spot warning, active headlights and frontal collision alert. Right now, these features are only available on the Highline; Volkwagen’s considering adding them to “lower” line versions as well. Ours also featured a nice Fender-branded audio system and a navigation system with weather reports, traffic information and comprehensive information on each restaurant or other place of interest that you may encounter. Still no automatic headlights, though.

The controls are conventional in the Jetta, basically buttons that you push, knobs you turn and options selected via the touch-screen display. The latter, however, can be fussy and distracting to use. In my opinion, you need big icons and a bigger display if you’re going to use touch-screen inputs as the actual interface. This one’s small, its surface soft and it can take several tries to get a reaction. Voice activation is available, but I must confess that while normally affable on a long trip, I haven’t become used to talking to my car (other than swearing at it on occasion when it responds with dumb questions). I wonder how many people regularly use voice activation in their vehicles…

After uneventfully crossing the George Washington Bridge and making our way across the top of Manhattan Island, we headed along Harlem River Drive all the way from 174th Street, which turns into FDR Drive as you proceed south. The stop-and-go traffic didn’t phase our fuel consumption which now showed an astonishing 5.2 L/100km.

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