A few weeks ago we discussed the new Jetta’s pricing, and everything we learned from Hawaiian Don is correct — the entry-level Jetta S will start at $15,995 ($16,765 with the destination fee), and that price will include a 115 hp 2-liter engine, cloth seats, power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, and electronic stability control.
Alas, there were no S models here in San Fran; the Jettas I drove yesterday were top-of-the-line SEL models with the 170 hp 2.5 liter engine, navigation system, faux-leather interior, keyless entry, four-wheel disc brakes (lower-spec Jettas get rear drums), and an optional sunroof, priced at a more VW-like $23,065 with manual transmission and $24,165 with an automatic. VW says the Jetta TDI turbodiesel will return, as will the 200 hp 2-liter turbo, which will be found in the sporty TDI. And — surprise, surprise! — a hybrid is also on the way for the 2012 model year.
So how did I like the new Jetta? Well… I’m still trying to decide.
In many ways, the 2011 Jetta is a huge improvement over the current car. The back seat is very roomy, the trunk is huge, and the sound from the 5-cylinder motor is better than ever. The new Jetta is eager to be pushed; the motor will happily run wide-open to the redline, the steering is excellent, and the car feels really good in the curves. Inside, the new Jetta has that same easy familiarity I’ve come to expect from Volkswagens, with an excellent driving position and simple, logical controls. And while the Jetta’s schnozz looks disappointingly plain, from other angles it’s a very handsome car.
But the new Jetta has also taken a few steps backwards, most of which have to do with lowering the car’s price point. The new Jetta uses a simpler rear suspension setup than the current Jetta or the new-for-2010 Golf and GTI, and while the handling is good, the ride quality has lost some of that German magic. And the interior feels cheaper than the old car. Granted, the old Jetta was hardly opulent, but the new one uses cheaper materials, including hard plastic in place of the old soft-touch dash, which changes the feel of the cabin. That wouldn’t be as much of a problem for me in a $17,000 Jetta S or a $19,000 Jetta SE, but it just didn’t seem right in the $24,000 Jetta SEL.
Fortunately, my test drive isn’t over. Today, as you read this, VW will be turning me loose in another Jetta, and I’ll have most of the day to wander at will. A few more hours with the Jetta should help me sort out my feelings and opinions — but whether that will be for better or for worse remains to be seen. Look for a full test drive soon.
and here the interior
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