Test drive Volkswagen Jetta

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Jetta's main sales markets are far from Europe, America and Asia. It is for the American market that a leading German brand has developed and built the latest Jetta. That is why it will be on sale for the first time in September this year.

Only later, next spring, will it appear in Europe and China. As one of the select European media outlets, Auto magazine had the opportunity to try it out at a world presentation, of course in America.

The new Jetta story will be very complex. The fact that it retained the Jetta name is due to the American market, where it was also called some intermediate car generations, which at that time were known in Europe as Venta or Boro. In addition to the Americans, the Chinese are also honored to produce a total of over 9 million vehicles, of which the Jetta has also proven itself and even attracted young people ...

In addition to the old Bore range, Volkswagen is selling another version in China adapted to the requirements of the currently largest market in the world (Lavida).

In terms of design, the Jetta is the harbinger of Volkswagen's new, simple and elegant design direction, which was announced in a New Compact Coupé (NCC) study in Detroit this year.

The Jetta is the sedan version of the coupe that got so much attention in Detroit that in the future, perhaps in a year or so, we can expect a production coupe (which will probably be associated with the Golf, not the Jetta).

The typical Volkswagen radiator grille in the Jetta is complemented by very simple lines that also give the car a rather mature look.

The new Jetta is nine centimeters longer than its predecessor. The wheelbase is also seven centimeters longer, which also technically proves that the Jetta is moving away from the Golf (and that today's design advances can more easily withstand the increase in wheelbase).

Even the Jetta's interior, along with the dashboard, said goodbye to the Golf clone. Of course, it still retains all those qualities that are so prized by sworn Volkswagens: everything is in place! Interestingly, however, the interior will vary depending on which continent the new Jetta goes on sale.

In the US version, which we tested on the roads of San Francisco, the quality of the plastic trims is at a much lower level than promised for Europe and China.

This is the difference between hard plastic and its nobler and softer version, which not only looks different, but also "exudes" a much better quality that will be used by buyers in other countries.

Thanks to the longer wheelbase, there is much more space in the cabin, so passengers will love it, especially in the rear seats. Enough on your knees and here we can already talk about the situation typical for the Passat. However, the volume of the luggage compartment has not increased, but this is not a cause for concern, given the amount of more than 500 liters.

The worldwide presentation of the Jette meant getting to know him as he would be known and controlled by the Americans. This also means less demanding chassis design! For the US market, the goal was primarily to reduce manufacturing costs and equate the car with competitors such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Both Japanese brands offer Americans versions of limousines that are rather poor compared to what Europeans get under the same name. Volkswagen's recipe is still the same: hard plastic and a semi-rigid bridge! And of course something else, like two versions of the engine only for the American market, a four-cylinder 2-liter and a five-cylinder XNUMX-liter, which will be complemented by a two-liter TDI.

But the simplicity and cheapness (to manufacture) of both gasoline engines allows the Jetta to go on sale in the US for as little as $ 16.765 from October in base trim, with a two-liter engine and, of course, with the engine. five-speed manual transmission.

The goal has been achieved and Volkswagen will be able to offer American buyers a car at a competitive price, which has been the biggest obstacle to gaining market share for the largest European manufacturer on the other side of the Atlantic so far.

So how do you look at the new Jetta, which in the first issue turns out to be an “unfinished” tale of European taste? Going back to a building past behind the wheel of the new Jetta is nothing to worry about. Satisfactory comfort and solid road holding in terms of driving performance should be emphasized;

In terms of road behavior, the inclusion of conventional power steering in the new Jette's fuel-saving recipe is questionable. Especially compared to the European version, which of course we also drove, they have handling both day and night, the Jetta is (will be) a completely different car for Europe.

However, a few words can be said about the five-cylinder petrol engine, especially when combined with an automatic transmission. By far, this will be the most massive selection of American buyers. The 2-liter five-cylinder engine surprises with good response and satisfactory power (5 kW / 125 hp).

Of course, even on American roads, both the European engines that were available, the 1.2 TSI and 2.0 TDI, have a different character, especially in relation to the dual-clutch transmission, the Jetta seems like a grown-up car.

Whether he will be able to work so well on our roads is difficult to predict. The shape of the Jetta is definitely a fresh breeze. We can certainly support some of the American media's assertion that its simplicity is attractive. The second is the case design.

Will European taste change and will buyers be looking for classic mid-range sedans again in the future? With its increased passenger compartment, the Jetta has already invaded the current Passat. It will soon be replaced by a new one, which will arrive in Europe even earlier than the new Jetta.

Since we can expect the caravan version to join in a few months, the European understanding of it could be greatly improved.

However, the Jetta's path will be more important for Volkswagen in non-European markets than it has been so far, and the sixth generation, at least from an aesthetic point of view, is a new milestone.

Jetta will evolve

Volkswagen has already announced that in addition to the current engines, it will also fit a plug-in hybrid drive to the Jetta in the future, which it first unveiled in a study similar to the Golf. This one will be especially in demand in the US and China market. For the United States, it was announced at the beginning of 2012.

The Jetto will also be offered in the US with a more demanding multi-link rear axle from next spring, when it will be available in the GLI (European GTI) version with a 200 horsepower turbocharged engine.

In China, the Jetta will also debut just next spring and will be positioned with more expensive (European) content as VW offers the Lavido for less demanding customers.

Tomaž Porekar, photo: plant and TP