First of all, I have to confess one thing: I never really liked family wagons, both in terms of styling and utility. Aside from a few rare exceptions, I always thought that the big lump in the back (also referred to as the cargo hold) significantly affected the vehicle's design. The rear wheels look and feel undersized, taking away any ounce of sportiness left.
Beyond its wagon personality, this Jetta proves to be pleasant and basically identical to the sedan from the B-pillars forward. Two irritants remain: the chrome-clad grille which is highly prone to dents and scratches as well as the odd fit between the hood and headlights. Everything else is typical German build quality. The assembly is beyond reproach. The bodywork effectively hides some elements that are visible on many competitors, particularly the windshield wiper mechanism.
The passenger compartment of the Jetta Wagon lives up to Volkswagen's reputation for designing high-quality interiors. While the layout is simplistic, the various materials wonderfully fit together to create a solid, extremely well-executed package. The list of features in my tester was not really extensive. Sure, there was an onboard computer with mileage and temperature data, but nothing too sophisticated. The instruments are commendably positioned and thus quite easy to read. Of course, the familiar electric blue backlighting is a Jetta staple. Reddish orange is used for most of the controls.
The trunk is huge and pretty convenient. It may be part of the reason why front occupants don't enjoy as much room as most people think. Oddly enough, rear passengers benefit from greater headroom. Obviously, the high roofline over the cargo area has a lot to do with it.
The buckets are accommodating and offer good thigh support. German cars are known for their firm seats and the Jetta is no exception. However, comfort is never compromised; you can drive for long hours and not feel any pain. What's more, finding a good driving position is easy thanks to the telescopic steering wheel.
Unfortunately, the level of noise coming from the road, tires and engine is unacceptable. It's so bad that you have to crank up the volume of the stereo several notches to be able to enjoy your favorite tunes.
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| The bodywork effectively hides some elements that are visible on many competitors. |
Beyond its wagon personality, this Jetta proves to be pleasant and basically identical to the sedan from the B-pillars forward. Two irritants remain: the chrome-clad grille which is highly prone to dents and scratches as well as the odd fit between the hood and headlights. Everything else is typical German build quality. The assembly is beyond reproach. The bodywork effectively hides some elements that are visible on many competitors, particularly the windshield wiper mechanism.
The passenger compartment of the Jetta Wagon lives up to Volkswagen's reputation for designing high-quality interiors. While the layout is simplistic, the various materials wonderfully fit together to create a solid, extremely well-executed package. The list of features in my tester was not really extensive. Sure, there was an onboard computer with mileage and temperature data, but nothing too sophisticated. The instruments are commendably positioned and thus quite easy to read. Of course, the familiar electric blue backlighting is a Jetta staple. Reddish orange is used for most of the controls.
The trunk is huge and pretty convenient. It may be part of the reason why front occupants don't enjoy as much room as most people think. Oddly enough, rear passengers benefit from greater headroom. Obviously, the high roofline over the cargo area has a lot to do with it.
The buckets are accommodating and offer good thigh support. German cars are known for their firm seats and the Jetta is no exception. However, comfort is never compromised; you can drive for long hours and not feel any pain. What's more, finding a good driving position is easy thanks to the telescopic steering wheel.
Unfortunately, the level of noise coming from the road, tires and engine is unacceptable. It's so bad that you have to crank up the volume of the stereo several notches to be able to enjoy your favorite tunes.
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| The cockpit of the Jetta Wagon lives up to Volkswagen's reputation for designing high-quality interiors. |