Test drive Volkswagen Jetta
Test Drive

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

Only gasoline engines, an exclusively classic automatic machine and soft suspensions - we find out for whom and why the Volkswagen Jetta is changing so dramatically in its fortieth year

In the arrivals hall of Cancun Airport, there is a huge poster of a bright green skull with flowers in its eye sockets. Having caught a glance at the word muerto, I have time to realize that the propaganda is dedicated to the recent Day of the Dead, which is celebrated here a day after the more familiar to us Halloween. Although the holiday itself is rooted in the traditions of the Indians and has nothing to do with Christianity.

On the street warm and very humid air hits the head at once. The breath immediately goes astray from the incredible stuffiness. It seems that there is not enough oxygen in the atmosphere, and this is in almost winter November. Neither drinking plenty of fluids nor swimming in the sea will save you from such weather. But I didn’t come to the Mexican resort in order to plunge into the hot haze.

It's good that a test Volkswagen Jetta of local production is almost at the door. The cars were brought directly from a Mexican enterprise, where they are produced for sale in the Latin American market, and it is from here that they will now be delivered to Russia. And right now they seem to be the only salvation from the heat and humidity.

I sit down in the test Jetta and immediately turn on the climate control to the minimum temperature. Suddenly quickly, cold air begins to blow into the deflectors, and a colleague sitting next to him already asks to raise the degree so as not to catch a cold. How quickly the climate began to pump the cold is a bit surprising. After all, under the hood of our Jetta there is a rather modest motor: there is a 1,4-liter "four" here.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

However, with efficiency and efficiency, she always had complete order, since this is the already familiar engine with the abbreviation TSI, which produces 150 hp. with. and 250 Nm at 5000 and 1400 rpm, respectively. The Mexican Jetta is equipped with only this power unit so far. But next year, when the car reaches Russia, a 1,6-liter MPI aspirated with a capacity of 110 hp will also be available on it. with., which is now produced at the Kaluga plant Volkswagen.

In Latin America, our atmospheric engine is no longer there. But there is another nuance associated with Mexican localization. Unlike the related Golf VIII, here the Jetta is equipped exclusively with a six-speed "automatic" and in the same form will be delivered to Russia, where the DSG box, even after a number of upgrades, is not very good reputation.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

The temperament of a sedan with such a pair is not the same as that of the previous Jetta with a DSG “robot”, but this car cannot be called quiet either. The sedan is confidently picking up speed from a standstill, and even when accelerating from cruising speeds, it does not think for a long time. Despite the fact that part of the thrust gets bogged down in the bowels of the torque converter, the spurt up to a hundred is kept within 10 seconds, and the “automatic” itself is very lively and clearly goes through the gears.

In Sport mode, the transmission is even more pleasing. The gearbox allows the motor to spin properly and give more thrust, while in the switchings there is no hint of harshness and nervousness.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

Smoothness is the main characteristic of the new Jetta. The machine is based on the current version of the MQB platform, but here only a conditionally basic version with a twisting beam on the rear axle is used instead of a multi-link. On the one hand, this solution seems quite simple and affordable for a large and solid golf class sedan. On the other hand, the new beam is 20 kg lighter than the structures of the previous multi-link, so there are fewer unsprung masses on the rear axle.

In addition, the dampers and springs themselves are tuned so that the Jetta seems to roll on a water mattress. Neither road trifles, nor bumps, let alone large pits and potholes annoy passengers. Even when approaching speed bumps, of which there are an incredible number of different shapes and sizes in Mexico, the suspensions rarely act in a buffer, transmitting any shock loads to the cabin.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

And on large waves of asphalt, due to the softly tuned suspensions, although there is a noticeable longitudinal swing, it does not cause much discomfort. In this sense, the Jetta is a typical Volkswagen: it keeps an exemplary course and does not stray from it, even if a shallow track appears under the wheels.

Controllability? Here it is no worse than on a car of the previous generation. Yes, maybe the Jetta dives into corners not as eagerly as the nimble and precise Golf with a sharp steering wheel, but in general it copes very well. Only occasionally, when he really went too far with speed, the car rests and begins to creep out with a weighty muzzle outside the turn. At the same time, the steering wheel provides such transparent feedback that it is impossible to reproach the sedan for laxity. There is a new electric power steering mechanism right on the rail, which gives the steering wheel a fairly light and unobtrusive effort.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

But the potential owner of such a machine is unlikely to complain about the lack of solid effort. People who choose such sedans are much more concerned about functionality, interior and trunk volume, and in this sense, the Jetta is completely true to itself.

The front panel, although it has acquired a new architecture, is still executed in the familiar cabinet style. In fact, the main governing bodies were only rearranged here. The center console is slightly turned towards the driver, its upper part is now occupied by the media system screen, and the ventilation vents have moved down.

Even lower is the climate block with "live" buttons. Everything is conservative here: no sensors. The main reminder that Jetta still belongs to the second decade of the 10st century is virtual instruments. Instead of analogue scales, there is a XNUMX-inch display on which you can display any information up to the map of the navigation system.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

Finishing materials are quite typical for the brand without any allowance for Mexican origin. Above - soft and pleasant to the touch plastics, below the waist line - hard and non-marking with the texture of a tarpaulin boot. The only thing that is depressing is the not very high-quality nap with which the luggage compartment is trimmed. But the trunk itself holds a good 510 liters and has a giant underground, where a full-size spare wheel can easily fit instead of a stowaway.

In general, the sedan of the new generation leaves a very pleasant impression. Yes, the character of the car has changed, but it certainly did not get any worse. And taking into account the Russian specifics of operation, we can say that all the changes will only benefit him, since they will appeal to our conservative public.

Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

The only question is how much this car will cost. In the current realities of the market, an imported sedan, by definition, cannot be available. But if the price is not prohibitive, then the Jetta can be quite successful in its segment due to solid design and rich equipment. It will be possible to find out all the details in about a year - sales of the model in Russia are promised to begin no later than the 2020th quarter of XNUMX. And it will be very important to look at how quickly the Mexican Jetta will not only cool, but also warm its spacious interior.

Body typeSedan
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm4702/1799/1458
Wheelbase, mm2686
Curb weight, kg1347
engine's typeGasoline, R4 turbo
Working volume, cubic meters cm1395
Max. power, l. with. at rpm150/500
Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm250 / 1400-4000
ТрансмиссияAKP, 7 st.
Drive unitFront
Acceleration to 100 km / h, from10
Max. speed km / h210
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle), l / 100 km6,9
Cargo space, l510
Price from, $.Not announced
 

 

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