the best way to describe the drivetrain is punchy. The Jetta TDI moves away from lights and passes quickly. There wasn't lag at any point and it always felt like there was more power on tap. The Jetta TDI's performance distinguishes it from other compact cars. In order to have any fun in them some compacts force you to stand on the gas and wait for the engine to get to its top speed while others give you everything they've got immediately leaving nothing on tap farther down the road. The Jetta TDI feels different. That's partly because diesels make more torque than gas engines: There are 236 pounds-feet in the TDI versus 177 pounds-feet in a comparable top-of-the-line gas-powered Jetta SEL. You can get higher horsepower figures from the 2.5-liter gasoline engine but as gearheads say you drive torque. The steering is another success though it does require more effort than most compact cars. The payoff is that it also gives you more feedback and you feel more connected to what the car is doing. I enjoyed it especially because the steering wheel is thick enough that you can get a good grip on it and it's sculpted in the proper places so it's comfortable to hold. It's my favorite steering in this car class. Finally the Jetta's handling is very good. It feels planted to the road and the suspension and chassis are well-tuned. The Jetta doesn't squat or roll as much as others in this segment do so it feels level going through turns. The suspension absorbs bumps very well for a small car and that gives you a sense of security at high speeds. The road doesn't beat up and toss the car around