Streamlined look sets new Jetta apart
Design goes from dull to fetching
ADURHAM, N.C. fter having left the outgoing Jetta hanging on the vine for seven long years, the next-generation model arrives wearing Volkswagen’s latest design language. The new look is dominated by a large grille flanked by C-shaped LED daytime running lights — it is an expressive face that shifts the Jetta from dull to fetching. From there and back, the fastback-like roofline and swaged character lines — the Tornado line, in VW-speak — add an upscale visage to the seventh-generation sedan.
Perhaps the biggest change is the fact the new Jetta rides on the company’s MQB platform, which it shares with the likes of the Atlas. Consequently, it is now wider, longer and lower than the outgoing model and there’s a welcome 35-millimetre stretch in the wheelbase, now measuring 2,686 millimetres.
The reworked interior mirrors the exterior’s new-found swagger — it marks a big step forward in terms of quality and available amenities. There are now some very nice, soft-touch materials and an equal measure of technology packed into the cabin. The amount varies according to trim — Comfortline, Highline and Execline, with the sporty R-Line package ($1,700) being offered on the Highline.
On the Execline model tested, Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit instrument cluster gives a reconfigurable display and the ability to put the navigation system’s map front and centre. Other techy items include an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and VW’s MirrorLink connectivity. On the base car, it works with a 6.5-inch touch- screen; the Execline gets a larger eight-inch display with GPS navigation. Perhaps the only letdown is the “leatherette” in the Highline; it is better than some faux materials, but it still lets the side down considering the work that went into giving the interior a renewed sense of luxury — the cloth in the base car is a better choice. Conversely, the leather on the Execline is supple, heated and cooled.
From the driver’s seat, the low dashboard and narrow A-pillars give a clean, uncluttered view of the road ahead. Likewise, the standard backup camera eases that chore. As for comfort, the front seats are now more accommodating than the outgoing units and there is a ton of rear seat space with enough width to accommodate three adults with relative ease, although the back of the centre console does eat into the middle rider’s knee room.
Behind that is a large, 399litre trunk.
Another of the smart moves is the availability of important safety equipment — blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on all but the base Comfortline. Available on the Highline and Execline is the Driver Assistance package ($995). It includes forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and lane departure warning with keep assist.
The new Jetta continues with the previous 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, with 147 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft of torque. The power is relayed to the road through the front wheels and either a six-speed manual or eightspeed automatic transmission, both of which are new and offered on all models. Interestingly, both offer the same fuel economy rating of 7.0 L/100 kilometres.
On the drive, the Jetta with the automatic proved to have ample pep. No, it is not going to set your heart aflutter, but the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly, and always found the right gear to make the most of the strong low- and mid-range torque. In somewhat of a surprise, the tester produced an average of 6.6 L/100 kilometres on the drive route. The combination also proved to be very quiet at highway speeds. There is virtually no engine noise, and both wind and road noise is equally muted. It’s Lexus-like in its serenity. As for the performance, an impromptu dash saw the Jetta run from rest to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, which is par for the course in the segment.
The new platform works wonders for the ride and handling characteristics — a spirited drive hammered home the improvements. The body remained flat and it hunkered down nicely through a fast corner, and there was also much less of a tendency for the back end to chatter out of line when broken pavement was encountered at the midpoint. On the drive, it proved to take a lot to get the Jetta to misbehave, especially when it’s wearing the Execline’s model’s 17-inch wheels and lower-profile P205/55 tires. The latter’s effect is such it is worth upgrading to the R-Line package if you are shopping the mid-range Highline.
The top-spec Execline allows the driving characteristics to be tweaked to suit the tone of the drive — Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom. This is a big plus; in anything but Sport, the steering feels too light. In Sport, it firms nicely. It is here Custom mode comes into its own; put everything the engine and transmission in Normal and pick Sport for the steering. Now the shifts are right for the city, the gas-in not as edgy, yet the steering feels the part.
The latest Jetta takes some significant strides forward in every area. It has sharper looks, a swanky interior and the quietest ride in the segment. The performance is up to snuff, but those wanting more should wait for the upcoming GLI — it’s the GTI of the Jetta genre.
Pricing starts at $20,995 for the manual Comfortline and $22,395 for the automatic — the only option is a block heater — and tops out with the Execline at $27,695 and $29,095 for the manual and automatic versions, respectively. Each model is more affordable than its outgoing equivalent when the increased content is factored into the equation. The 2019 Jetta is in British Columbia dealerships now.