When I was in high school, people who drove the first generation Volkswagen Jetta were either prom-queen-types or guys who kept their collar up, stank of “Polo” cologne and listened to Duran Duran. Younger folks liked its power, handling, sporty looks and snoot value. Oh sure, I miss the 80s – but I never enjoyed the early generation Jettas as they looked like the regrettable Volkswagen Fox.
Click HERE to watch a first drive video of the new 2011 VW Jetta.
Later generations improved vastly and the past ten years have been nothing short of a revelation with design and power (the VR6 was especially good). Problems with quality, passenger room and a price that kept it out of contention with the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra and Mazda 3.
The little fox has aged gracefully, without addressing those issues – until now.
She may be bigger inside, but she’s lighter, more commodious, cheaper and still has an appetite for fun days with younger folk. She’s a cougar! Indeed, the folks at VW wanted to distance themselves from the high snoot image the former Jetta personified because – and let’s be honest – placing yourself on a plateau in this category won’t help sales.
So, here are the good details:
• The new Jetta’s base price is extremely competitive (about 16K).
• (Most) power plants are competitive – 115 horsepower base engine not withstanding. The best engine thus far is the 170 horsepower 2.5 liter 5-cylinder (yes, five) that cranks out 177 pounds of torque.
• The excellent TDI will return soon.
• Trims are the same (S, SE, SEL and TDI), but the packaging/options are much easier to work with.
• All 4 windows are auto-down.
• Finally, a back seat big enough for adults, kids, groceries or necking.
• iPod/MP3 connection is standard.
• Still feels like a Jetta, a bigger Jetta.
• The new look is (better in person) very attractive
.• Quality is said to be up and there is the 3-year covered free maintenance that will save you a bundle.
I personally recommend the SE model with the Sport package (and a manual transmission, because I’m a real man!).
Here’s the not so good:
• Making a car cheaper and lighter means cutting a few corners.
• The plastic materials used on the dashboard and door-panels look good, but feel hard and cheap.
• The back seat has a two inch strip of plastic that runs underneath the shoulder belts at rest (bordering the side of the seat and the door). It is the same, hard and cheap plastic used up front.
• Rear suspension is now a semi independent, torsion-beam setup (it used to be a multi-link) – so it’s not as sophisticated as some of its competitors.
• Only the higher level models get 4-wheel disc brakes.
• No choices available for interior colors and no real leather (although I like the “leatherette” feel quite a lot).
• It’s still a Jetta, but it lost a little bit of its playful character.
Those issues aside, I can honestly say that this is a great little car.
It does everything brilliantly for a car in this class and I don’t miss the old rear suspension as much as I thought I would. In fact, this car feels so much more substantial than the one it replaced – I think it deserves a different name. I would have called it, “The Demi Moore.”
Ya’ dig what I’m saying?
Volkswagen truly wants to take the fight to Honda – who makes one of the best small cars in its segment. Now, if you want a real choice and are looking for something more comfortable and commodious than the Honda Civic – the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is well worth your attention.
Add additional “Cougar” pun here ________________________
I should mention that I was testing the new Jetta with David E. Davis Jr. the first day (he is to automotive journalism what Elvis is to rock and roll). He liked it too. Now, considering the 40-ish years between the two of us, and the fact that we liked this car speaks volumes for Volkswagen’s efforts.
Automotive media, racing, vehicle evaluation, wrecking yards, and car
sales are just a part of Nathan Adlen’s vehicular past. He writes out
of high octane passion! To read more reviews by Nathan Adlen or just to
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