Having a car like the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL is a pleasant if mildly entertaining experience. It’s fairly quick and handles delightfully when pushed. My car’s 170 horsepower 2.5-liter, DOHC, 20-valve inline-5, makes an impressive 177 lbs feet of torque which can come in handy.
It’s a comfortable car, but many people are irritated at VW for cutting corners on the interior and rear suspension to lower the overall price. I like the interior with the exception of the hard plastic dash and thick strips of the same plastic used in the back. I understand what VW was doing and despite the changes, the Jetta is still a Volkswagen.
High altitude (above 5,200 feet elevation) performance pushes acceleration back a bit. I was hitting 60 mph from 0 in about 9 seconds. Meh. Fortunately, that 177 lbs feet of torque is great for passing.
I think the plastics are out of line – but hell; they would have been easy to clean
Is the approximately $25,000 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL with Sport package worth it?
Well, it’s not a bad car by any means and I can attest to its comfort and good performance. Despite my rapid pace, I managed about 25 mpg. It felt good the entire time I drove it and it still has a bit of European feel deep down. —Nathan Adlen
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