When talking about the Volkswagen Jetta, in our collective consciousness we’re on the verge of a luxury vehicle. The car that slotted in between the fuel-efficient Golf and the larger Passat played a key role in the automaker’s ascension, offering a middle ground between the two. Which, sadly, was evidenced by a slightly exorbitant price tag.
Volkswagen’s vision changed, though, and the Jetta became more affordable. This time, and this is the case in 2011, the all-new Jetta is looking to make off with a larger market share, offering base versions well under $20,000 as well as higher end variants, namely diesel, much closer to the $30,000 mark. But the TDI version and its clean diesel mill is the one that really stands out.
Bringing all this to the table, on top of the signature German manoeuvrability in every model, the Jetta is once again assured success.
Brand new style
The new car has nothing in common, physically, anyways, with the Jetta we used to know. VW made it bigger, gave it new lines and a novel profile not dissimilar to that of the Passat CC, for example, while maintaining certain key elements of the big four-door coupe.
The delicate grille, the headlamps that line up like eyes under the sun and the slanting hood give it a more dynamic and sporty edge that what we’ve been used to.
Inside the cabin, which was intended as a more spacious environment (which explains the larger proportions of the small sedan), Volkswagen sings its familiar tune. Fit and finish are beyond reproach, though a little bland on the base models.
Ergonomics are great, however. The controls are as usual intuitive, and depending on the version, more or less abundant. The seats are comfortable and offer more than reasonable support, though they can be a little tricky to set up, especially the back rest, and sometimes it’s hard to find a good driving position. You’ll have to fiddle around with them a bit to get the right fit.
Volkswagen’s vision changed, though, and the Jetta became more affordable. This time, and this is the case in 2011, the all-new Jetta is looking to make off with a larger market share, offering base versions well under $20,000 as well as higher end variants, namely diesel, much closer to the $30,000 mark. But the TDI version and its clean diesel mill is the one that really stands out.
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| VW made the Jetta bigger, gave it new lines and a novel profile not dissimilar to that of the Passat CC, for example, while maintaining certain key elements of the big four-door coupe. (Photo: Volkswagen) |
Bringing all this to the table, on top of the signature German manoeuvrability in every model, the Jetta is once again assured success.
Brand new style
The new car has nothing in common, physically, anyways, with the Jetta we used to know. VW made it bigger, gave it new lines and a novel profile not dissimilar to that of the Passat CC, for example, while maintaining certain key elements of the big four-door coupe.
The delicate grille, the headlamps that line up like eyes under the sun and the slanting hood give it a more dynamic and sporty edge that what we’ve been used to.
Inside the cabin, which was intended as a more spacious environment (which explains the larger proportions of the small sedan), Volkswagen sings its familiar tune. Fit and finish are beyond reproach, though a little bland on the base models.
Ergonomics are great, however. The controls are as usual intuitive, and depending on the version, more or less abundant. The seats are comfortable and offer more than reasonable support, though they can be a little tricky to set up, especially the back rest, and sometimes it’s hard to find a good driving position. You’ll have to fiddle around with them a bit to get the right fit.
 |
| Inside, the fit and finish are beyond reproach, though a little bland on the base models. (Photo: Volkswagen) |