What is it that elevates a premium car to a level worthy of OverDrive’s Premuim Car of the Year accolade? The said car has to make you feel good about yourself. Last year the award was won by the Volkswagen Jetta and OverDrive now welcomes it into their long term fleet.

Things have begun on a particularly good note say OverDrive testers (March ’09) and every day they discover little little new things to keep them interested in the car.

The OverDrive test Jetta is in the top-of-the-line Comfortline specification (a pricey 17 lakh) which can be specified with either beige-black or full black leather interiors (which they have). It also has the most extremely comfortable seats with perfect side and thigh support. Safety has been accorded top priority and she has a total of 8 airbags front and rear put together.

But we do have a few critical observations. For its price, the Jetta really should have electric seat adjustment, xenon headlamps and parking sensors. Also there is no auxiliary or USB input for iPod’s.

Like the Skoda Laura, the Jetta too is powered by the 1.9-litre PD diesel engine that makes 105PS of power and 250Nm of torque and is mated to the fabulous DSG twin-clutch automatic. During spirited driving you really have to work the ‘box because the engine, like all pumpe duse engines, has serious lag issues says OverDrive (March ’09). Nothing much happens until the turbo spools up and then power comes whooshing in. she is plenty quick on the highway but because of the on-off nature of the engine, it is not the easiest car to drive smoothly in traffic and takes some getting used to.

But the upside is seriously impressive fuel efficiency. It’s just been two weeks since the OverDrive (March ’09) team got the Jetta and the fuel gauge doesn’t seem to have budged from the half mark. So till next time…