If you love Volkswagens and think a VW Passat is a little too big - buy a VW Jetta.
Jetta was first launched in 1979 and roughly 10m have been sold since then around the world. New Jetta is a fairly anonymous looking five-seat saloon that goes about its business without drawing too much attention to itself. For many users, especially those in business, this is perfect, but sadly chiropractors won't thank the VW design team, as there won't be any new whiplash injuries coming their way from people doing double takes of the new Jetta.
Jetta is now 90mm longer overall and longer in the wheelbase too, so there is more room inside. The wheelbase is now 74mm longer than Golf's. The boot holds an impressive 510 litres. Jetta is now very much a model in its own right in looks and not just a VW Golf with a boot, although that statement wouldn't exactly be a slur. In truth, Jetta uses most of Golf's underpinnings, albeit modified.
Inside Jetta is pleasant. The trim and switchgear used are stock VW and apart from a slight rattle in the driver's door on my top of the range Highline DSG test model, build quality is good. Jetta is built in Mexico and it is no surprise that it sells very well in the US. European versions get more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension and electric power steering, as VW believes correctly that we're fussier about handling than our US cousins.
Jetta has a new range of efficient engines, with a 105bhp, tax band 'B', 1.2-litre FSI the smallest unit available. A 1.4-litre FSI is the largest petrol-powered Jetta with 122bhp. A 1.6 TDI with 105bhp is the entry diesel unit.
My diesel test car is the top of the range 2-litre TDI (140bhp) and is fitted with the optional DSG (dual clutch automated manual gearbox). It has lots of torque (320nm) and when the gear lever is put from 'D' to 'S' for sport or tipped manually '-' or '+' the Jetta can be fairly lively. The suspension is comfortable, supple and not sporty, so after a while you end up leaving the gear lever in 'D' and just going with the traffic flow. My DSG Jetta is very economical and will average 53mpg (combined), with the manual gearbox version capable of almost 59mpg on average! One thing VW is superb at is paint: The optional metallic pearl black finish on my test car is fantastic.
Three specifications are available: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. All have ESP, iPod aux connectivity and 'Climatic' air conditioning as standard. One glaring omission from standard equipment is Bluetooth.
Prices start at €21,985 and rise to over €30,000. VWs in Ireland are perceived as middle class, so while buyers of the excellent Ford Focus saloon or Mazda3 saloon will enjoy their drive more, the Jetta owner will still feel a little posher and superior, despite having no real reason to feel that way.
Michael Sheridan
