We are with the VW Jetta.
In the past couple of weeks I have analyzed the new Megane Sedan and Civic Sedan and shared them with you.
You have watched and wrote favorable comments, for that I thank you all very much.
In your comments you have asked why there is no VW Jetta test and that it is the time now, lots of times.
Now that day is today, the Jetta is standing next to me and we are beginning to analyze it without losing a second...
We all know that the Jetta is not as new as its current rivals.
It was sold like this in our country around 5 years.
A short time ago it had a small facelift and the face had an esthetic change.
The Jetta with this way looks as if it resembles its big brother the Passat a bit more.
When we observe the car from the side, as no change has been implemented here, you see no difference.
Its axle span is a bit shorter than its rivals, in other words it has 2 meters 65 cm axle span,
this naturally brings to mind that the interior of the Jetta to be narrower, let’s see if in reality is it actually so?
As a matter of fact, it is nothing of the kind because as you see the knee room is about a hand span.
The seat, as always is adjusted to my ideal driving position and I am 178 cm tall.
I have to specify that the knee room is very good.
If I have to mention the headroom, it is in a similar level as the headroom’s of the Civic Sedan and Megane Sedan.
Namely, not very specious but satisfy the expectations.
In the rear seats, very good living space is offered to two adults.
Alright, what kind of living space is offered to the third adult? Let’s find out.
First of all, there is a big transmission hump here and as the air panels of the armrest is too much astern, a place to put your feet here is rather limited.
That is to say, it is out of the question for an adult to place his feet here.
Therefore, you have to place them around here and this shows that when compared to its rivals the living space in the rear seats of the Jetta is a bit restrictive.
The rear of the Jetta has been changed after the facelift but it is not much and it still has conservative lines in comparison to its rivals.
I have told you that the reason for the Sedans to be chosen is the big boots.
In the Jetta, 510 liters loading capacity is offered here.
It is in rectangular form and you are able to load your articles very easily.
Furthermore, to have netting on both sides and this extra separated part increases the practicality of the Jetta’s boot.
Another feature that its rivals do not have is this handle that inclines the rear seats when pulled,
but unfortunately when you pull this seats do not incline automatically.
You have to come here and incline the seats, which have their locks released, forward.
What are we doing now? We are closing the boot and start the driving features of the Jetta.
Come on...
I am behind the steering wheel of the Jetta.
There is not much change in the interior of the Jetta after the facelift.
To tell the truth, the first thing that grabs my attention as soon as I entered here was the steering wheel here, which is also used, in the current VW models.
The new design of the steering wheel in my opinion please the eye.
It has three-spoke design and it fits to the hands well.
There are no great changes in the other places.
The instrument panel is the panel that we are familiar with from the old generation, it is eligible and it has a trip computer in its centre.
In the center of the mid console there is a touch screen multimedia and under it, easy to use two area A/C controls is positioned.
The appearance of the Jetta’s cockpit is not too colorful and too playful.
It has plain design and it appears demure.
When you consider the quality of the materials used, soft plastics are used on the top
but at lower levels and on the doors the materials used are low quality than the rivals in its class.
For that matter, Jetta is a bit behind even the Golf that we can call as its brother.
Let me explain the reason of this to you, Jetta’s is not manufactured in the VW factory in Germany.
Their manufacturing place is Mexico and therefore there are quality and style differences.
In the cockpit of the Jetta, lots of places for your small items are offered.
There is an area in front of the gear lever for your wallet and mobile phone.
Behind the gear lever there are two cup-holders and mid size armrest.
The seats are very comfortable and lateral support is very accomplished.
With the Comfortline equipment level you get the seats with leather bound sides and fabric middle.
Let us consider the engine and the driving features of the Jetta.
No diesel alternative is offered at the Jetta now.
That is to say, if you want to own a new Jetta then it has to be either 1.2 TSI or 1.4 TSI versions.
The 1.4 liter versions can be purchased with two different HP as 125 or 150.
But the one I am testing at the moment is not that version.
This car is 1.2 TSI petrol engine version, the one you are all curious about and have been inquiring.
This 4-cyliders 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol engine develops 105 HP and 175 Nm of torque.
These values are not very high numerically.
Therefore, I know that most of you have in your mind if this engine will carry this body or not and I should immediately give you this answer.
This engine certainly is not weak...
You can buy this engine, depending to your expectations, with 6-speed manual gearbox or with 7-speed double clutch DSG automatic gearbox.
In the car I am driving has DSG automatic gearbox.
Even though the engine is small capacity, due to the turbo charge it has responsive quality.
It succeeds to offer you very good power values from low rpm onwards.
Due to this, you are able to drive the Jetta in the city very easily.
When you drive on the highway, it is able to offer you fluent driving features.
But when you want to accelerate suddenly or overtake then 175 Nm of torque can be a bit weak on those moments.
Therefore, by being a bit patient, the performance you wish or expect can be reached.
The gearbox with its fast working construction by downshifting in the necessary situations ensures your easy acceleration.
If I have to summarize my thinking’s about the engine, I think this engine answers the expectations very well and I like it very much.
Especially, when the out of date, naturally aspirated engine of the Honda Civic comes to mind,
the technological construction of this engine is, in my opinion more suitable to the expectations of today’s drivers.
Now is the time for the driving features of the Jetta.
As Jetta has been on the roads for many years, it does not share the same infrastructure with the new VW Golf.
In other words, The VW’s MQB platform it uses in the current Passat, Tiguan and Golf is not used in this car.
Namely, the simple answer is that the infrastructure of this car is the same as the previous Golf.
That is to say that it has to be accepted that the driving features of this car is not as refine as Golf.
But still I think the driving features of the Jetta are quite good.
When the suspensions are compared to its rivals and especially to the current Renault Megane, it is rather firm,
but this should not be considered as uncomfortable as the shocks are absorbed very well and the no discomfort is given to the passengers.
The steering wheel’s outlook as well as fitting to the hands is good and its answers to the wishes of guidance are sufficient.
Due to the firmness’s well-adjusted suspensions and distinctly working steering system, the Jetta succeeds to hold on the roads very well.
And when you want performance, it is enough to step on it because it is not possible to intervene manually from behind the steering wheel in this car.
You can only do this from the gear lever but there is no need because the DSG does its job very well
and 1.2 TSI engine answers the expectations fully and you are able to reach the high speeds this way.
Jetta’s insulation is good, you do not have any bother in the city.
On the highway drives there is definitely no distress concerning road and wind noises while at normal speeds
but at high speeds naturally some of the road noises penetrates to the interior.
Finally let us consider the fuel consumption of Jetta.
I have been driving this car for 3 days and have covered 345 km.
Two thirds of this drive was on no traffic and out of the city.
At the moment the trip computer indicates to me 7.2 litres fuel consumption averages.
If you ask me this value is very satisfactory.
VW Jetta appears to be more conservative and a bit workout against its renewed rivals.
As a matter of fact it now has no diesel alternative as well
but this definitely does not mean that Jetta is a model to be underestimated
because when petrol engines are the subject then Jetta succeeds to be a step ahead of its rivals.
The 65.000 TL to 93.000 TL price range, if you ask me, shows that Jetta is still a competitive model.
See you...