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Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI Sport (A) Review
08 Sep 2011|122,175 views
In the past six months, Volkswagen has found themselves aligned to be more of the peoples' car than ever before. Achieving a total sales figure of 1,817 (total from Jan'11 to July '11) as opposed to Toyota's 2,257 during the same period. The German car manufacturer has leapfrogged its way to the top of the sales chart by virtue of the unique situation created by diminishing COE quota.
With prices of local favourites like the Toyota and Nissan being thrust to within striking range of the continental makes, consumers have been hardpressed to stick with the less equipped Japanese makes when cars like the new Jetta beckon with better build quality and onboard equipment.
The previous Jetta was often overshadowed by its more illustrious hatchback sibling and often referred to as the booted Golf, the latest Jetta was designed from the ground up as a separate model line up from the Golf.
With prices of local favourites like the Toyota and Nissan being thrust to within striking range of the continental makes, consumers have been hardpressed to stick with the less equipped Japanese makes when cars like the new Jetta beckon with better build quality and onboard equipment.
The previous Jetta was often overshadowed by its more illustrious hatchback sibling and often referred to as the booted Golf, the latest Jetta was designed from the ground up as a separate model line up from the Golf.
 |
Off the blocks, the new Jetta is aimed squarely at taking a major chunk of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla sales figures. But still keeping some of that European sensibility and flair that we've come to associate with Volkswagen.
Exterior
On first glance, the Jetta retain the same neutral styling cues as most of its competitors in this segment. The front is dominated by the new corporate identity grille that is shared with the rest of the current Volkswagen range.
While the last Jetta was still considered a compact sedan, the latest version has grown significantly in size. Stretching out to 4644mm from nose to tail. This increase in girth is especially evident when viewing the new car from the side profile.
 |
In the rear, things are kept neat and tidy with more than a passing resemblance to the current B8 Audi A4. Mostly due to the similarly shaped teardrop tail lights on the Jetta. That however isn't a bad thing if I'm honest. Volkswagen has shod the Jetta with the five spoke 16 inch alloys across the board though we feel that 17 inchers would've suited the Jetta's stance better.
On a whole, the Jetta while not visually stimulating, still presents itself as a sedan with style and a sense of executive decorum that puts it above what the Japanese makes have to offer.
On a whole, the Jetta while not visually stimulating, still presents itself as a sedan with style and a sense of executive decorum that puts it above what the Japanese makes have to offer.
Interior
With the car aimed squarely at the Japanese makes, the Jetta's interior is one the most convincing push factors for consumers. Everything inside is simple and uncluttered, something that has been a Volkswagen trademark for some time. A few knocks around the dashboard will be rewarded with a solid report.
Soft touch plastics are abound in the interior. While some might find the choice of interior colour and paneling a tad too somber, I happened to find that it adds to the sedan's simplicity and purpose driven mantra of German design.
Settled into the driver's seat, the seats are supportive in the right places which made the long journeys I took in the Jetta during the 72 hour period a rather pleasant experience. Once adjusted to my optimum position, the driving ergonomics was faultless with the steering and pedals exactly where I would expect and want them to be for a relaxed and comfortable driving position.
With the car aimed squarely at the Japanese makes, the Jetta's interior is one the most convincing push factors for consumers. Everything inside is simple and uncluttered, something that has been a Volkswagen trademark for some time. A few knocks around the dashboard will be rewarded with a solid report.
Soft touch plastics are abound in the interior. While some might find the choice of interior colour and paneling a tad too somber, I happened to find that it adds to the sedan's simplicity and purpose driven mantra of German design.
Settled into the driver's seat, the seats are supportive in the right places which made the long journeys I took in the Jetta during the 72 hour period a rather pleasant experience. Once adjusted to my optimum position, the driving ergonomics was faultless with the steering and pedals exactly where I would expect and want them to be for a relaxed and comfortable driving position.
 |
The Drive
Despite being built for a mundane purpose, the Jetta gets the company's brilliant award winning 1.4-litre TSI twin charged powerplant. This being the same unit used in the peppy Polo GTI we tested just a couple of weeks back.
With 160bhp at 5800rpm supplanted with 240Nm of torque at 1500-4550rpm, the Jetta seems to possess a lot more grunt than the figures on the brochure suggests. Acceleration is brisk with robust shove available throughout the rev range thanks to the combined forces of the supercharger at low speeds and the turbocharger at higher engine speeds.
Coupled to the 7-speed dry clutch DSG transmission, the Jetta combines these two elements to achieve an incredible 16.6km/L economy. If the numbers are to be believed, this would translate to a range of more than 900km on a single tank.
Despite being built for a mundane purpose, the Jetta gets the company's brilliant award winning 1.4-litre TSI twin charged powerplant. This being the same unit used in the peppy Polo GTI we tested just a couple of weeks back.
With 160bhp at 5800rpm supplanted with 240Nm of torque at 1500-4550rpm, the Jetta seems to possess a lot more grunt than the figures on the brochure suggests. Acceleration is brisk with robust shove available throughout the rev range thanks to the combined forces of the supercharger at low speeds and the turbocharger at higher engine speeds.
Coupled to the 7-speed dry clutch DSG transmission, the Jetta combines these two elements to achieve an incredible 16.6km/L economy. If the numbers are to be believed, this would translate to a range of more than 900km on a single tank.
While we are unable to attest that to range, we can however share that despite driving in a less than economical fashion, the Jetta hardly sipped its fuel over the 250km distance covered.
Steering weight is good in the Jetta compared to the feather light weighing that some Japanese makes have adopted. The Jetta though isn't as well connected to the front wheels as one would expect from a close relative of the Golf. That aside, the Jetta reigns in body lean well in the corners.
Conclusion
At just $129,800 for the flagship Jetta Sport model tested here, this Volkswagen is threatening to put another dent in the sales figures of certain Japanese makes.
Filled to the brim with equipment such as onboard navigation, auto lights, cruise control and auto wipers. The Jetta is a very tantalizing value for money option for potential buyers.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Steering weight is good in the Jetta compared to the feather light weighing that some Japanese makes have adopted. The Jetta though isn't as well connected to the front wheels as one would expect from a close relative of the Golf. That aside, the Jetta reigns in body lean well in the corners.
Conclusion
At just $129,800 for the flagship Jetta Sport model tested here, this Volkswagen is threatening to put another dent in the sales figures of certain Japanese makes.
Filled to the brim with equipment such as onboard navigation, auto lights, cruise control and auto wipers. The Jetta is a very tantalizing value for money option for potential buyers.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
In the past six months, Volkswagen has found themselves aligned to be more of the peoples' car than ever before. Achieving a total sales figure of 1,817 (total from Jan'11 to July '11) as opposed to Toyota's 2,257 during the same period. The German car manufacturer has leapfrogged its way to the top of the sales chart by virtue of the unique situation created by diminishing COE quota.
With prices of local favourites like the Toyota and Nissan being thrust to within striking range of the continental makes, consumers have been hardpressed to stick with the less equipped Japanese makes when cars like the new Jetta beckon with better build quality and onboard equipment.
The previous Jetta was often overshadowed by its more illustrious hatchback sibling and often referred to as the booted Golf, the latest Jetta was designed from the ground up as a separate model line up from the Golf.
With prices of local favourites like the Toyota and Nissan being thrust to within striking range of the continental makes, consumers have been hardpressed to stick with the less equipped Japanese makes when cars like the new Jetta beckon with better build quality and onboard equipment.
The previous Jetta was often overshadowed by its more illustrious hatchback sibling and often referred to as the booted Golf, the latest Jetta was designed from the ground up as a separate model line up from the Golf.
|
Off the blocks, the new Jetta is aimed squarely at taking a major chunk of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla sales figures. But still keeping some of that European sensibility and flair that we've come to associate with Volkswagen.
Exterior
On first glance, the Jetta retain the same neutral styling cues as most of its competitors in this segment. The front is dominated by the new corporate identity grille that is shared with the rest of the current Volkswagen range.
While the last Jetta was still considered a compact sedan, the latest version has grown significantly in size. Stretching out to 4644mm from nose to tail. This increase in girth is especially evident when viewing the new car from the side profile.
|
In the rear, things are kept neat and tidy with more than a passing resemblance to the current B8 Audi A4. Mostly due to the similarly shaped teardrop tail lights on the Jetta. That however isn't a bad thing if I'm honest. Volkswagen has shod the Jetta with the five spoke 16 inch alloys across the board though we feel that 17 inchers would've suited the Jetta's stance better.
On a whole, the Jetta while not visually stimulating, still presents itself as a sedan with style and a sense of executive decorum that puts it above what the Japanese makes have to offer.
On a whole, the Jetta while not visually stimulating, still presents itself as a sedan with style and a sense of executive decorum that puts it above what the Japanese makes have to offer.
Interior
With the car aimed squarely at the Japanese makes, the Jetta's interior is one the most convincing push factors for consumers. Everything inside is simple and uncluttered, something that has been a Volkswagen trademark for some time. A few knocks around the dashboard will be rewarded with a solid report.
Soft touch plastics are abound in the interior. While some might find the choice of interior colour and paneling a tad too somber, I happened to find that it adds to the sedan's simplicity and purpose driven mantra of German design.
Settled into the driver's seat, the seats are supportive in the right places which made the long journeys I took in the Jetta during the 72 hour period a rather pleasant experience. Once adjusted to my optimum position, the driving ergonomics was faultless with the steering and pedals exactly where I would expect and want them to be for a relaxed and comfortable driving position.
With the car aimed squarely at the Japanese makes, the Jetta's interior is one the most convincing push factors for consumers. Everything inside is simple and uncluttered, something that has been a Volkswagen trademark for some time. A few knocks around the dashboard will be rewarded with a solid report.
Soft touch plastics are abound in the interior. While some might find the choice of interior colour and paneling a tad too somber, I happened to find that it adds to the sedan's simplicity and purpose driven mantra of German design.
Settled into the driver's seat, the seats are supportive in the right places which made the long journeys I took in the Jetta during the 72 hour period a rather pleasant experience. Once adjusted to my optimum position, the driving ergonomics was faultless with the steering and pedals exactly where I would expect and want them to be for a relaxed and comfortable driving position.
|
The Drive
Despite being built for a mundane purpose, the Jetta gets the company's brilliant award winning 1.4-litre TSI twin charged powerplant. This being the same unit used in the peppy Polo GTI we tested just a couple of weeks back.
With 160bhp at 5800rpm supplanted with 240Nm of torque at 1500-4550rpm, the Jetta seems to possess a lot more grunt than the figures on the brochure suggests. Acceleration is brisk with robust shove available throughout the rev range thanks to the combined forces of the supercharger at low speeds and the turbocharger at higher engine speeds.
Coupled to the 7-speed dry clutch DSG transmission, the Jetta combines these two elements to achieve an incredible 16.6km/L economy. If the numbers are to be believed, this would translate to a range of more than 900km on a single tank.
Despite being built for a mundane purpose, the Jetta gets the company's brilliant award winning 1.4-litre TSI twin charged powerplant. This being the same unit used in the peppy Polo GTI we tested just a couple of weeks back.
With 160bhp at 5800rpm supplanted with 240Nm of torque at 1500-4550rpm, the Jetta seems to possess a lot more grunt than the figures on the brochure suggests. Acceleration is brisk with robust shove available throughout the rev range thanks to the combined forces of the supercharger at low speeds and the turbocharger at higher engine speeds.
Coupled to the 7-speed dry clutch DSG transmission, the Jetta combines these two elements to achieve an incredible 16.6km/L economy. If the numbers are to be believed, this would translate to a range of more than 900km on a single tank.
While we are unable to attest that to range, we can however share that despite driving in a less than economical fashion, the Jetta hardly sipped its fuel over the 250km distance covered.
Steering weight is good in the Jetta compared to the feather light weighing that some Japanese makes have adopted. The Jetta though isn't as well connected to the front wheels as one would expect from a close relative of the Golf. That aside, the Jetta reigns in body lean well in the corners.
Conclusion
At just $129,800 for the flagship Jetta Sport model tested here, this Volkswagen is threatening to put another dent in the sales figures of certain Japanese makes.
Filled to the brim with equipment such as onboard navigation, auto lights, cruise control and auto wipers. The Jetta is a very tantalizing value for money option for potential buyers.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Steering weight is good in the Jetta compared to the feather light weighing that some Japanese makes have adopted. The Jetta though isn't as well connected to the front wheels as one would expect from a close relative of the Golf. That aside, the Jetta reigns in body lean well in the corners.
Conclusion
At just $129,800 for the flagship Jetta Sport model tested here, this Volkswagen is threatening to put another dent in the sales figures of certain Japanese makes.
Filled to the brim with equipment such as onboard navigation, auto lights, cruise control and auto wipers. The Jetta is a very tantalizing value for money option for potential buyers.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Also read our comparison article on:
Forte K3 1.6 (A) vs Corolla Altis 1.6 (A) vs Jetta 1.4 (A)
Car Information
Volkswagen Jetta Sport 1.4 TSI DSG (A)
CAT B|Petrol|16.6km/L
Horsepower
119kW (160 bhp)
Torque
240 Nm
Acceleration
8.3sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Volkswagen Jetta
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