New Volkswagen Jetta - complete road test!
29 Aug 2011 11:45 PM by
Bunny Punia
in
Single review,
Introduction
The old Jetta was a wonderful car , but only at the time when it was launched. The competition eventually seemed to better it in almost all areas and this started reflecting in its sales figures. Infact , in this year itself , the Jetta’s sales dropped from 247 in January to 201 and 205 in February and March respectively. The following months of April and May too weren’t really hot with just 162 and 101 units respectively. The old Jetta had now started looking dated in the wake of modern rivals. Once a modern , high quality and feature laden cabin now looked dated and under-equipped. Ditto for the diesel engine that failed to excite enthusiasts. Well , all those shortcomings are things of the past as Volkswagen has given more than just a face-lift to their D segment offering.
The new Jetta is an all-new product that sits on a longer wheelbase with a complete change of design , both inside and outside and a far more powerful diesel engine. The new feature list is impressive and so is its pricing. So , the big question here is if the new Jetta can steal away the lime-light and sales from the top two selling cars of this segment , the Toyota Altis and the Chevrolet Cruze? The answer lies with Bunny Punia who drove this German offering from Udaipur to the hills of Kumbhalgarh and back. Read on…
Design and looks
Dimension wise , the new Jetta might not really command massive road presence – after all it might be the longest car in its segment but at the same time , it is the third widest only. However , what sets it apart from the other five D segment offerings is the sharp and modern design language. It does carry over the same design philosophy , thanks to VW’s ‘design DNA’ , as say the Vento , especially from the front but that’s pretty much about it. Take a complete walk around and you are bound to be impressed. The front end is sharp , with the narrow grille flanked by dual reflector headlamps (these also have the day time running lights) on either side. The bonnet has prominent flared lines that run across the length of it.
See the Jetta side on and you realize that it is infact 90mm longer than its predecessor. Unlike the Vento , the execution of the rear end has been done in a much better way in the Jetta though we do seem to see a hint of Audi A4’s rear end treatment here. The wide and coupe like rear window offers good visibility and further emphasizes the Jetta’s dynamic lines. The top end Jetta (Highline) gets gorgeous looking 16-inch “ Atlanta” alloys wheels while the lower Comfortline and Trendline has to do with slightly sober looking 16-inch “Navarra” design ones.
On the whole , the new Jetta is a huge step forward over the older version as far as aesthetics are concerned.
Interiors and cabin
The first thing that strikes you once you are inside the new Jetta is the sheer amount of new found space. Due to the use of extended wheelbase , there is significantly more passenger space , allowing for seating for five adults without much drama. Further , the seats have been completely redesigned and surely felt very comfortable during our stint with the vehicle. The top end model gets a 12-way electrical seat adjustment for the driver. The rear is 60/40 split and adds to the practicality. Apart from the extra space and comfort , the design of the fascia and console is changed too. VW has made sure these aren’t very drastic and infact familiarity with the VW family remains. Interiors get the two tone color treatment and once in the driver’s seat , everything looks very familiar. The steering (gets paddle shifts for DSG option) , speedometer console , audio system etc , all this reminds of One or the other model from the Audi Group family. Quality of plastics and other materials is top notch and ergonomically , the Jetta is spot on. Attention to detail is Superb , for example , the speedometer console gets white instrument lightning with red needles and looks fantastic once it gets dark. At 510 litres , the boot space is impressive , if not the best.
The Highline variant that we tested comes loaded with 8 airbags , 12-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat , park distance control for front and rear , RCD 510 touch screen system while features like ESP , hill hold control and rear AC vents are standard across the range.
Engine and performance
One of the biggest changes in the new Jetta is the power plant. It gets the latest common rail direct injection system and most importantly , unlike the Skoda Laura , gets the same amount of power in both manual and automatic (DSG) transmissions. This is a 16 value four cylinder diesel unit that generates 140PS of power at 4200rpm with an equally impressive 320Nm of torque from 1750rpm to 2500rpm. This is more than both the Renault Fluence and the Toyota Altis and the Jetta finally gets new found agility. We drove both the manual and DSG versions and were mighty impressed with the performance. For starters , in the 6-speed manual version , the low end punch is terrific. The Jetta can easily ponder around in slow moving traffic without bothering the driver and picks up speeds from as low as 1500rpm without a protest. Give it some open space , let it stretch its legs and you are rewarded to multiple ear to ear grinning moment. The DSG transmission is in a league of its and responds to driver’s inputs perfectly. Be it downshifts or up ones , this DSG ‘box is the best in this segment.
On the way back to the airport we were running late and the Jetta turned out to be a fantastic mile muncher. The four lane and well laid NH76 saw the fully loaded Jetta with four people on board along with luggage cruise happily at over 140km/h and hit 160km/h plus without a jiffy. All this performance doesn’t come at the cost of economy as the manual Jetta proudly wears an ARAI certified fuel economy of 19.33kmpl while the DSG option has an ARAI certified figure of 16.96kmpl. The 6-speed gearbox is easy to use and has positive and direct shifts.
Suspension
The earlier Jetta was known for its near perfect combination of ride and handling and this one is no different. We drove over all kinds of driving terrains including broken patches , paved sections of the GQ as well as City roads and the Jetta turned out to be a very commendable and comfortable companion. Even with the full load , the suspension never bottomed out. Infact , at occasions , we had to negotiated treacherous sections , thanks to monsoons , but never did the Jetta touch its underbelly even once! The ability of the suspension to absorb bad stretches without transferring it to the passengers is remarkable.
Our test route also had a fair bit of mountain roads and i drove the car both with a full load as well as alone and it seemed to have a near perfect feedback from the steering. The Jetta , unlike some of the rivals , pesters you to drive fast around a set of mountain roads and responds back positively. Dynamically , it’s a very stable car and the potent brakes along with electronic gadgetry like ESP makes you feel confident at the back of your mind!
The steering effort is another noteworthy point here. It is light , a boon for city usage , while at the same time doesn’t become vague at highway speeds. The Jetta is one of the those D segment cars that are pretty ease to drive in congested city traffic as well.
Final Verdict
Of the current lot of diesel sedans in the D segment , the new Jetta has the highest entry level price tag. At Rs 14.12 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Trendline version , the Jetta might seem expensive. However look deeper into the details and you appreciate the finer points. Apart from the punchy , refined and efficient 140PS engine , you get six airbags , ESP , hill hold control , rear AC vents etc. The car looks fabulous and rewards its driver with a good drive and passengers with a comfortable one! The top of the line version with all the bells and whistles retails for Rs 17.86 lakh. Further , we believe that this Jetta is what the earlier one should have been. The Highline DSG might be Rs 1.3 lakh more than its own cousin , the Skoda Laura L&K AT but drive both vehicles back to back , consider the brand value and suddenly the new Jetta seems like a tempting package. Sometimes , good packages in life do come at a slight premium and this premium is completely worth every penny!
Content courtesy: 
Introduction
The old Jetta was a wonderful car , but only at the time when it was launched. The competition eventually seemed to better it in almost all areas and this started reflecting in its sales figures. Infact , in this year itself , the Jetta’s sales dropped from 247 in January to 201 and 205 in February and March respectively. The following months of April and May too weren’t really hot with just 162 and 101 units respectively. The old Jetta had now started looking dated in the wake of modern rivals. Once a modern , high quality and feature laden cabin now looked dated and under-equipped. Ditto for the diesel engine that failed to excite enthusiasts. Well , all those shortcomings are things of the past as Volkswagen has given more than just a face-lift to their D segment offering.
The new Jetta is an all-new product that sits on a longer wheelbase with a complete change of design , both inside and outside and a far more powerful diesel engine. The new feature list is impressive and so is its pricing. So , the big question here is if the new Jetta can steal away the lime-light and sales from the top two selling cars of this segment , the Toyota Altis and the Chevrolet Cruze? The answer lies with Bunny Punia who drove this German offering from Udaipur to the hills of Kumbhalgarh and back. Read on…
Design and looks
Dimension wise , the new Jetta might not really command massive road presence – after all it might be the longest car in its segment but at the same time , it is the third widest only. However , what sets it apart from the other five D segment offerings is the sharp and modern design language. It does carry over the same design philosophy , thanks to VW’s ‘design DNA’ , as say the Vento , especially from the front but that’s pretty much about it. Take a complete walk around and you are bound to be impressed. The front end is sharp , with the narrow grille flanked by dual reflector headlamps (these also have the day time running lights) on either side. The bonnet has prominent flared lines that run across the length of it.
See the Jetta side on and you realize that it is infact 90mm longer than its predecessor. Unlike the Vento , the execution of the rear end has been done in a much better way in the Jetta though we do seem to see a hint of Audi A4’s rear end treatment here. The wide and coupe like rear window offers good visibility and further emphasizes the Jetta’s dynamic lines. The top end Jetta (Highline) gets gorgeous looking 16-inch “ Atlanta” alloys wheels while the lower Comfortline and Trendline has to do with slightly sober looking 16-inch “Navarra” design ones.
On the whole , the new Jetta is a huge step forward over the older version as far as aesthetics are concerned.
Interiors and cabin
The first thing that strikes you once you are inside the new Jetta is the sheer amount of new found space. Due to the use of extended wheelbase , there is significantly more passenger space , allowing for seating for five adults without much drama. Further , the seats have been completely redesigned and surely felt very comfortable during our stint with the vehicle. The top end model gets a 12-way electrical seat adjustment for the driver. The rear is 60/40 split and adds to the practicality. Apart from the extra space and comfort , the design of the fascia and console is changed too. VW has made sure these aren’t very drastic and infact familiarity with the VW family remains. Interiors get the two tone color treatment and once in the driver’s seat , everything looks very familiar. The steering (gets paddle shifts for DSG option) , speedometer console , audio system etc , all this reminds of One or the other model from the Audi Group family. Quality of plastics and other materials is top notch and ergonomically , the Jetta is spot on. Attention to detail is Superb , for example , the speedometer console gets white instrument lightning with red needles and looks fantastic once it gets dark. At 510 litres , the boot space is impressive , if not the best.
The Highline variant that we tested comes loaded with 8 airbags , 12-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat , park distance control for front and rear , RCD 510 touch screen system while features like ESP , hill hold control and rear AC vents are standard across the range.
Engine and performance
One of the biggest changes in the new Jetta is the power plant. It gets the latest common rail direct injection system and most importantly , unlike the Skoda Laura , gets the same amount of power in both manual and automatic (DSG) transmissions. This is a 16 value four cylinder diesel unit that generates 140PS of power at 4200rpm with an equally impressive 320Nm of torque from 1750rpm to 2500rpm. This is more than both the Renault Fluence and the Toyota Altis and the Jetta finally gets new found agility. We drove both the manual and DSG versions and were mighty impressed with the performance. For starters , in the 6-speed manual version , the low end punch is terrific. The Jetta can easily ponder around in slow moving traffic without bothering the driver and picks up speeds from as low as 1500rpm without a protest. Give it some open space , let it stretch its legs and you are rewarded to multiple ear to ear grinning moment. The DSG transmission is in a league of its and responds to driver’s inputs perfectly. Be it downshifts or up ones , this DSG ‘box is the best in this segment.
On the way back to the airport we were running late and the Jetta turned out to be a fantastic mile muncher. The four lane and well laid NH76 saw the fully loaded Jetta with four people on board along with luggage cruise happily at over 140km/h and hit 160km/h plus without a jiffy. All this performance doesn’t come at the cost of economy as the manual Jetta proudly wears an ARAI certified fuel economy of 19.33kmpl while the DSG option has an ARAI certified figure of 16.96kmpl. The 6-speed gearbox is easy to use and has positive and direct shifts.
Suspension
The earlier Jetta was known for its near perfect combination of ride and handling and this one is no different. We drove over all kinds of driving terrains including broken patches , paved sections of the GQ as well as City roads and the Jetta turned out to be a very commendable and comfortable companion. Even with the full load , the suspension never bottomed out. Infact , at occasions , we had to negotiated treacherous sections , thanks to monsoons , but never did the Jetta touch its underbelly even once! The ability of the suspension to absorb bad stretches without transferring it to the passengers is remarkable.
Our test route also had a fair bit of mountain roads and i drove the car both with a full load as well as alone and it seemed to have a near perfect feedback from the steering. The Jetta , unlike some of the rivals , pesters you to drive fast around a set of mountain roads and responds back positively. Dynamically , it’s a very stable car and the potent brakes along with electronic gadgetry like ESP makes you feel confident at the back of your mind!
The steering effort is another noteworthy point here. It is light , a boon for city usage , while at the same time doesn’t become vague at highway speeds. The Jetta is one of the those D segment cars that are pretty ease to drive in congested city traffic as well.
Final Verdict
Of the current lot of diesel sedans in the D segment , the new Jetta has the highest entry level price tag. At Rs 14.12 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Trendline version , the Jetta might seem expensive. However look deeper into the details and you appreciate the finer points. Apart from the punchy , refined and efficient 140PS engine , you get six airbags , ESP , hill hold control , rear AC vents etc. The car looks fabulous and rewards its driver with a good drive and passengers with a comfortable one! The top of the line version with all the bells and whistles retails for Rs 17.86 lakh. Further , we believe that this Jetta is what the earlier one should have been. The Highline DSG might be Rs 1.3 lakh more than its own cousin , the Skoda Laura L&K AT but drive both vehicles back to back , consider the brand value and suddenly the new Jetta seems like a tempting package. Sometimes , good packages in life do come at a slight premium and this premium is completely worth every penny!
Content courtesy: