Econo Pricing Nets Euro Driving Dynamics
In-expense in the City
Volkswagen is offering Canadian buyers a treat of sorts. The City Jetta is a Euro-inspired alternative to domestic and Asian originated econo-boxes. With an entry price tag of just $16,700, the City Jetta is set to battle with some of the most inexpensive compact sedans on the market. For that paltry sum, owners will acquire a Brazilian-built German sedan featuring tremendous solidity and terrific handling--not to mention a smooth ride and decent fuel economy. What they won't get is a centre armrest and a lot of unnecessary doodads.
I love the front seats in this week's tester; they were heated and provide wonderful support. (Heating is optional) Too bad there wasn't a centre armrest to complete an otherwise excellent driving environment. Just how expensive is an armrest anyway? My City Jetta was equipped with an optional $540 Convenience Package (power windows, mirrors, remote locking and cruise control) and an optional $1,600 Luxury Package (power sunroof and 15-inch alloy wheels), yet it didn't rate an armrest!
Familiarity in the City
If the 2007 City Jetta looks familiar, it should. It's based of the previous generation of Jetta sedans not the wedge-shaped replacement, which debuted in 2005. Personally, I admire the symmetrical, clean lines of the City Jetta over the elongated, sportier wedge shape of the latter version. I also prefer the City's interior architecture to the theme more recently adopted in the VW family. Maybe I'm anti-modernist but I find the previous Jetta iteration, which appeared in 1999 and exhibits outstanding build quality, far more timeless in appearance and design.
Power in the City
In the spirit of Henry Ford, you can have any engine you want in the City Jetta, provided you want a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre SOHC four-banger producing 115 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 122 pound-feet of torque at 2,600 rpm. Greater decision making applies to the City's transmission choices, which consist of a five-speed manual gearbox or a conventional four-speed automatic stick.
My tester was equipped with the autobox. This powertrain is suitable for most applications but don't expect neck-snapping performance; in fact VW assigns 12 leisurely seconds to a run from nada to 100kph. The manual transmission shaves-off 1.6 seconds, resulting in a more acceptable duration of 10.4-seconds. As one might correctly assume, passing power on the highway is not a strength of the automatic City Jetta, yet the car scoots about town just fine.
In-expense in the City
Volkswagen is offering Canadian buyers a treat of sorts. The City Jetta is a Euro-inspired alternative to domestic and Asian originated econo-boxes. With an entry price tag of just $16,700, the City Jetta is set to battle with some of the most inexpensive compact sedans on the market. For that paltry sum, owners will acquire a Brazilian-built German sedan featuring tremendous solidity and terrific handling--not to mention a smooth ride and decent fuel economy. What they won't get is a centre armrest and a lot of unnecessary doodads.
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| $16,700 is quite a bargain for this german car. |
I love the front seats in this week's tester; they were heated and provide wonderful support. (Heating is optional) Too bad there wasn't a centre armrest to complete an otherwise excellent driving environment. Just how expensive is an armrest anyway? My City Jetta was equipped with an optional $540 Convenience Package (power windows, mirrors, remote locking and cruise control) and an optional $1,600 Luxury Package (power sunroof and 15-inch alloy wheels), yet it didn't rate an armrest!
Familiarity in the City
If the 2007 City Jetta looks familiar, it should. It's based of the previous generation of Jetta sedans not the wedge-shaped replacement, which debuted in 2005. Personally, I admire the symmetrical, clean lines of the City Jetta over the elongated, sportier wedge shape of the latter version. I also prefer the City's interior architecture to the theme more recently adopted in the VW family. Maybe I'm anti-modernist but I find the previous Jetta iteration, which appeared in 1999 and exhibits outstanding build quality, far more timeless in appearance and design.
Power in the City
In the spirit of Henry Ford, you can have any engine you want in the City Jetta, provided you want a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre SOHC four-banger producing 115 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 122 pound-feet of torque at 2,600 rpm. Greater decision making applies to the City's transmission choices, which consist of a five-speed manual gearbox or a conventional four-speed automatic stick.
My tester was equipped with the autobox. This powertrain is suitable for most applications but don't expect neck-snapping performance; in fact VW assigns 12 leisurely seconds to a run from nada to 100kph. The manual transmission shaves-off 1.6 seconds, resulting in a more acceptable duration of 10.4-seconds. As one might correctly assume, passing power on the highway is not a strength of the automatic City Jetta, yet the car scoots about town just fine.
 |
| You can have any engine in the City Jetta so long as it is a 2.0 litre SOHC four-banger. |