Test drive VW Jetta: so serious

Farther away from the Golf, closer to the Passat: with its larger looks and stylish design, the VW Jetta is aimed at the middle class. Now we can say one thing - the Jetta impresses much more than the spacious trunk typical for the model.

Do you remember the unassuming 1979 Jetta I, about which such ridiculous remarks as “small car in front, container in the back” were regularly heard? Well, now we can forget about the old role of the model, which for many years remained in the minds of most people as "Golf with a trunk". However, it is advisable not to erase from our memories the Jetta II, which our respected former colleague Klaus Westrup wrote about back in 1987, inspired by the special charm of a car that tries to do its job well without showing off to anyone.

Market niche

The new Jetta of the sixth generation can hardly be called a model with a fiery temperament, although it is produced in the hot countries of Mexico. However, the Golf-based sedan has harmonious proportions, clean lines and an elegant body shape, so it can easily compete with much of the middle class produced by the concern in Wolfsburg. In order not to exacerbate internal competition, while the Jetta will be sold with only three engines (105 to 140 hp), front-wheel drive and quite a few auxiliary systems (optional equipment does not include adaptive suspension, not even xenon headlights).

Model 33 TSI with a base price of 990 1.2 BGN for the lowest level of equipment and engine is certainly not the best offer in its class, but its price remains quite reasonable and lower than the Passat. In addition, European Jetta buyers get some advantages over American clientele, such as a multi-link rear suspension and better materials in the interior. Pleasant to look and feel surfaces, high-quality switches, discreet chrome details - the interior of the car inspires a sense of solidity, which is somewhat overshadowed only by a few gaps, such as the lack of upholstery on the inside of the trunk lid.

Wide

The cargo area itself, which once had a capacity of 550, while its predecessor had a capacity of 527 liters, is now 510 liters - this is still one of the best achievements in this category. Folding the rear seats is very easy, so a person can easily get even more luggage space. The difference from the Golf is especially noticeable in the rear seats - the 7,3 cm longer wheelbase gives significantly more legroom. In terms of ease of installation in a car, interior space and seat comfort, the Jetta is close to mid-range standards.

The cockpit is designed in typical VW clean and simple styling, and the center console, which is slightly facing the driver, evokes BMW associations. The screen of the optional navigation system RNS 510 is located with the idea lower than necessary, from now on the functionality does not hide any surprises (except for the surprisingly optimistic speedometer scale up to 280 kilometers per hour).

Modestly, but from the heart

Even though the vehicle's tank only holds 55 liters, thanks to the economical potential of the two-liter TDI, long journeys on a single charge are no problem for the Jetta. This time VW has saved on BlueMotion technologies like start-stop and SCR catalytic converters to meet Euro 6 standards, but the 1,5-tonne car easily achieved an average test consumption of 6,9 L / 100. km, with a more economical driving style, it is not difficult to achieve a value of about five liters per hundred kilometers.

The common rail four-cylinder engine has a maximum torque of 320 Newton meters at 1750 rpm and offers reliable thrust and excellent manners, although it does not react to the explosiveness of its predecessor with pump injector technology. The optional dual-clutch transmission successfully masks slight weakness at the lowest revs and is so fast and flawless that the chances of ever trying manual mode are slim.

Plus / minus

One minor obstacle when traveling is the rear armrest, which is too far between the two front seats, which in practice is unlikely to provide real support for the driver's right hand. Thanks to the generous traction reserve, which requires intermediate acceleration and the calm behavior of the car, long transitions remain almost invisible. Even in the event of a sudden change of direction in an emergency, the Jetta remains safe and controllable. However, compared to the lighter Golf, the car looks a little awkward around corners, and the tendency to understeer is more pronounced.

The steering is also not over-the-top and gives the driver as much feedback as he needs, otherwise it works accurately and reliably. The same can be said for the chassis, which combines good stability with satisfactory comfort, although, especially with 17-inch wheels, some bumps can be difficult to overcome. The noise level in the cabin, as well as the excellent braking system, put the Jetta on a par with the recently updated Passat.

In short, the Jetta remains a classic Volkswagen - a car as serious as its customers. A machine that diligently does its job without being intrusive. From this point of view, we cannot fail to recognize the charm of simple and discreet, but with truly impressive qualities, models such as the Jetta.

text: Bernd Stegemann

a photo: Hans-Dieter Zeufert