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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Public meetings for Jan. 5-9, 2014 Head first 5 Things to do This Week Get Up & Go: Jan. 4 Drought-plagued reservoirs need the white stuff to recover Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Sheriff's deputies arrest two after pursuit on Table Rock Road Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight Emergency services VIDEO: Wrap Up, week of Jan. 2 Politics and Elections Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change Education Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Seabird die-off puzzles scientists Oregon fans get married Rose Bowl parking lot Earthquake off coast shakes Humboldt County Stranded sea turtle recovers at Oregon aquarium Oregon minimum wage rises to $9.25 Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Philip Richard Lind Howard S. LaMere Carl Grant Kirkpatrick James Carl Hudson Cyriel Howard DeRoo Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories Millsap-led Hawks deal Blazers loss Big rally gives SOU men road triumph Nuggets end skid as behind Lawson Comets pick up MWL victory Setzer, Comets cruise in league opener Varsity 541 College Sports Big rally gives SOU men road triumph No. 13 Beavers beat cold-shooting UCLA Young At Arc Rookie sparks Seton Hall to another big upset Florida rides big plays to 28-20 win over East Carolina Pro Sports Millsap-led Hawks deal Blazers loss Nuggets end skid as behind Lawson Flacco leads Ravens to uspet of Steelers Panthers' defense overwhelms Cardinals Young QBs lead Colts, Bengals today Community Sports Business Latest Stories Irrigation system upgrade gets a forum Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Crosstour Positive Steps Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Real Estate News Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate People In Business Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Opinion Latest Our View: Waiting a little longer for the bus Letters to the Editor, Jan. 4 Eugene Robinson: Economic facts get in the way Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Editorials Our View: Waiting a little longer for the bus Other Views: Oregon's GMO battle is far from over Our View: Meeting in the middle keeps a mill open Our View: Help clear the air for the new year Our View: Caves expansion worth the wait Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 4 Letters to the Editor. Jan. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 1 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 30 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Lifestyle Latest stories Expert offers advice on quake preparedness Becoming terminal all by myself Community blog: Get the New Year off to a Great Start Hobart Bluff offers top-notch views Fishing report: Jan. 2, 2015 Food Community blog: Ring in new flavors with year's last appetizers Food for Thought: Tips for cooking when you have food allergies Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Home and Garden Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Health Community blog: We Don't Have To Conspire Against Good Health HealthStyle: New year, new you Health Watch: Build up your glutes in the off-season Dr. Jeff Hersh: What's a monoclonal antibody? Dr. Murray Feingold: Have a happy and stress-free holiday Hiking Biking Faith Churches start new year with messages of hope (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Little Yaretzi is county's first baby of 2015 Local landowners see no public good in proposed pipeline Pear Blossom queen has open heart surgery Hundreds enjoy Christmas dinner, gifts at St. Vincent de Paul SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Theater Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning Music Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Community Events New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dining Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Waiting a little longer for the bus ... Drought-plagued reservoirs need the white stuff to recover ... Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline ... Our View: Waiting a little longer for the bus ... Drought-plagued reservoirs need the white stuff to recover ... Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline ... Ride & Drive: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Comment By Neal White More Content Now MailTribune.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 9:48 am Updated Dec 29, 2014 at 9:49 AM By Neal White More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 9:48 am Updated Dec 29, 2014 at 9:49 AM » Social News Refined for the 2015 model year, Volkswagen has added a number of new features to the Jetta, one of the best-selling compact sedans in America. In addition to the styling changes and available driver assistance systems, this week I also had the opportunity to test drive the new 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that delivers an EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg city and 46 mpg highway. This is a remarkable engine producing 150 horsepower and 236 lbs.-ft. torque. It is quiet. It is extremely responsive. Best of all, it goes a long way before you have to stop to fill up. Granted, the new 2.0-liter turbo diesel I-4 engine is one of three available powertrains on the 2015 Jetta — four, if you count the Jetta Hybrid. With a base price starting below $18,000, consumers have their choice of the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter I-4 engine. Requiring regular unleaded gasoline, it has an output of 115 horsepower and 125 lbs.-ft. torque. Mated to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, it has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 mpg city, 34 mpg city. There is also the 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4 engine producing 170 horsepower and 184 lbs.-ft. torque. Mated to either a five-speed manual or a DSG dual clutch automatic transmission, it has a fuel economy rating of 25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway. One of the nice things about the five-passenger, front-wheel drive Jetta is there is an abundance of choices. In addition to the 2.0L, 1.8T, TDI and Hybrid engine choices, buyers have the option of S, SE, SEL, Sport and GLI trim levels, as well as Technology, Connectivity and Navigation packages. Although classified as a compact sedan model, consumers will be impressed with the amount of interior room inside the Jetta. The front seats have an abundance of head, shoulder and legroom, with more than ample room to fit three adults in the rear seat. It also provides 15.7 cubic feet of trunk room. While my review this week focused on the TDI, I was extremely impressed with its performance. In addition to exceptional fuel economy, it is very responsive — and quiet. Unless you opened the hood, most folks would never know you were driving a diesel engine. Volkswagen has also added a number of available driver assistance systems to the Jetta, including blind spot monitor, rear traffic alert, forward collision warning system and park distance control. Bi-Xenon headlights and adaptive front-lighting system are also available on select trim levels. For those in the market for a compact-to-midsize sedan, the 2015 Jetta is an absolute must for the test drive list. Neal White has been covering the automotive industry for more than 20 years and is affiliated with the Texas Auto Writers Association. THE NUTS AND BOLTS: MODEL: 2015 VW Jetta 5-seat compact sedan Front-wheel drive Trim packages: 2.0L S, 1.8T SE, 1.8T Sport, TDI S, TDI SE, TDI SEL, 2.0L GLI SE, Hybrid SEL PRICE RANGE: $18,000-$33,000 ENGINE: 2.0L I4 (115 hp/125 T) 1.8L turbo I4 (170 hp/184 torque) 2.0L turbo diesel I4 (150 hp/236 torque) TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed manual DSG dual clutch auto EPA: 25/25/31 mpg city, 37/37/46 mpg highway (2.0L/1.8T/TDI - MT) FUEL: Regular unleaded/Diesel for TDI) STABILITY CONTROL: Electronic stability control BRAKES: ABS LENGTH: 183.3inches WHEELBASE: 104.4 in. WIDTH: 70 inches HEIGHT: 57.2 inches WEIGHT: 2,859-4,431 lbs. TRACK: 60.4/60.3 (front/rear) FUEL TANK: 14.5 gallons TIRES: 15-, 16-, or 17-inch CARGO: 15.7 cubic feet. By Neal White More Content Now MailTribune.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 9:48 am Updated Dec 29, 2014 at 9:49 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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