Volkswagen Jetta - New and more compelling Jetta

The Jetta from Volkswagen has become one of their most popular models. It started life as a Golf/Rabbit with a trunk added on the back. The cabin and therefore cabin space was identical but the vehicle was longer.


Over time, the Jetta became a somewhat larger vehicle and more clearly differentiated from the Golf/Rabbit hatchbacks. It was one of the few VW vehicles that was not originally designed for the German home market but rather was conceived as an American model. With the introduction of the totally new 2011 model, the car takes another evolutionary step forward.

The new Jetta has several powerful cards in its hand. First, it has superior styling and it exudes class and presence. Though technically, it is in the same class with Civics and Corollas, it looks much more substantial and grown up. It looks much larger and pricier than it really is.

Second, it retains its European driving dynamic. That’s been one of the ongoing appeals of any VW, the fact that they are so engaging and fun to drive. The new Jetta is not a sport model but it still drives very responsively and gives the driver control of the car.

Third, the value proposition on this car is very strong. Vehicles that are imported from Europe have become very expensive because of currency shifts. The Jetta is assembled in Mexico giving VW a powerful pricing advantage compared with other European sedans. Additionally, this new 2011 Jetta is about $1,750 less than the 2010 model. When you compare the base price of the Jetta with other cars, you soon discover that you get a lot of car for the money.

As part of the redesign, VW stretched the car to give it a large 15 cubic foot trunk and 3 inches more rear leg room. On the flip side they simplified the rear suspension and some of the interior trim. As it turns out, the new Jetta was not designed with just the American market in mind, but this model is also headed for China. Considering the lower price, most will applaud the changes.

The Jetta comes in 4 trim levels, the S, SE, SEL and the TDI diesel model. My personal preference is the model with the TDI turbocharged clean diesel engine and the DSG 6 speed automatic transmission. The car is very enjoyable to drive, attractively priced and delivers 30 city and 42 highway MPG. Real world numbers are often higher than that.
Compared with other vehicles in this class and other vehicles in this price range, the new Jetta is a strong competitor. It’s a compact sedan with large car attributes.

By Kelly Foss - MyCarData