The front suspension utilizes McPherson struts, and the rear carries a multilink system with gas shocks, with stabilizer bars both front and back.
Naturally, being a product from a German manufacturer, that familiar European feeling is always present. Anyone who has ever driven a VW, Audi, or even a BMW, knows exactly what I mean by that. The ride is firm but friendly, and always inspires confidence in the build quality.
There was however, one thing which troubled me slightly on my drive in the Jetta Wagon, and that was the steering. VW has fitted an Electro-Mechanical assisted unit to the vehicle, which we know aids fuel economy and works perfectly fine most of the time. However, on the highway, I found it to be a little vague and I couldn't help feeling that I was forever correcting the position of the steering wheel. At first I thought that it was possibly due to high winds, but a quick look at the stillness of passing trees confirmed that was not the cause.
To be fair, for the rest of the time, the steering was nearly perfect, but I couldn't help feeling that on a long highway trip, this could become tiring and annoying.
Mind you, having said that, when you consider that was the only item I could fault with on the entire vehicle, I'd say that VW was batting a pretty good average.
I see nothing but good news coming for VW and its new Jetta Wagon. It has the looks, the cargo capacity, the right price, and with the news that a TDI version shall be following along later in the year, I'd say that we are going to be seeing a lot of these on the road.
So ok, George doesn't want to take any notice of me, but maybe he should have a chat with the people at Volkswagen, because they seem to know how to do things right!
photo:Kevin Corrigan
Naturally, being a product from a German manufacturer, that familiar European feeling is always present. Anyone who has ever driven a VW, Audi, or even a BMW, knows exactly what I mean by that. The ride is firm but friendly, and always inspires confidence in the build quality.
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| The Jetta Wagon is available in three levels. The Trendline or base, the Comfortline, and at the top of the range is the Highline. |
There was however, one thing which troubled me slightly on my drive in the Jetta Wagon, and that was the steering. VW has fitted an Electro-Mechanical assisted unit to the vehicle, which we know aids fuel economy and works perfectly fine most of the time. However, on the highway, I found it to be a little vague and I couldn't help feeling that I was forever correcting the position of the steering wheel. At first I thought that it was possibly due to high winds, but a quick look at the stillness of passing trees confirmed that was not the cause.
To be fair, for the rest of the time, the steering was nearly perfect, but I couldn't help feeling that on a long highway trip, this could become tiring and annoying.
Mind you, having said that, when you consider that was the only item I could fault with on the entire vehicle, I'd say that VW was batting a pretty good average.
I see nothing but good news coming for VW and its new Jetta Wagon. It has the looks, the cargo capacity, the right price, and with the news that a TDI version shall be following along later in the year, I'd say that we are going to be seeing a lot of these on the road.
So ok, George doesn't want to take any notice of me, but maybe he should have a chat with the people at Volkswagen, because they seem to know how to do things right!
photo:Kevin Corrigan
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