Jetta to Get New Turbocharged Engine

Volkswagen AG will offer a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine in its 2016 Jetta compact car.

The new direct-injection powerplant will replace a 20-year-old naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-banger in the entry-level Jetta S and a turbocharged 1.8-liter turbo in the Jetta SE. The larger turbo mill will be available in the Jetta Sport.

Featuring variable-valve timing and a dual-overhead-cam design, the new 1.4-liter aluminum engine produces 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the outgoing 2.0-liter single-cam engine produces 115 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque.

When mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 1.4-liter Jetta is rated in the U.S. at 39 mpg on the highway. This is 13% more efficient than the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter mill's 34 mpg rating and is 7% better than the 1.8-liter turbo's 37 mpg. Buyers of the 2016 model also can opt for a 5-speed manual transmission.

The 1.4-liter turbo is part of VW's EA211 series of small-displacement engines. The company predicts that vehicles equipped with downsized turbocharged engines to account for virtually all its U.S. sales in coming years.