Volkswagen gave the sixth-generation Jetta a major overhaul and lowered its price. That is surely going to lure otherwise reluctant buyers into showrooms to give the 2011 model a spin. If so, it will continue a trend whereby 60 percent of Jetta buyers trade in cars from other automakers.
Volkswagen has never been a huge player in the U.S. market, but is edging up. In 2010, the automaker had 3.1 percent of the U.S. market share, up from 2.9 percent in 2009, according to MarketWatch. VW’s long-term goal is to boost U.S. sales volume to one million vehicles by 2018, with 200,000 of those cars from the Audi brand. The automaker now sells about 300,000 vehicles a year in the U.S., with Audi accounting for about 100,000 of those.
“Volkswagen and Audi will become leading brands in the USA. … It’s not a dream. It’s a plan,” Volkswagen’s sales chief Christian Klingler told reporters last year.
| 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL |
| » Engine: 2.5-liter, 170 horsepower 5-cylinder engine |
| » Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic gearshift and sport mode (as tested) or 5-speed manual transmission |
| » MSRP: starting at $21,395 (for SEL, other models start at $15,995) |
That plan includes boosting the appeal of the Jetta.
That was done by giving the exterior a polished look that has more than a bit of resemblance to its Audi cousins. That, of course, means a mature look designed to appeal to young professionals.
So far so good, but there’s a downside when you slide into the cockpit. It’s not that there isn’t plenty of technology including high-end audio, navigation and connectivity. The tilting, telescoping steering wheel and extra leg and headroom are also terrific, providing plenty of comfort.
The problem is that the interior materials seem, well, cheap. There’s plenty of shiny, hard plastic all around. Add to that some less-than-friendly features — think tug-of-war with the seat adjusters — and you see the downside.
Add to that a less-than-stellar defroster system and a tiny center armrest and you begin to see some of the downsides.
Those seem like minor points, but VW has built its reputation on high-end interiors. This Jetta doesn’t meet the standard.
The good news is that the Jetta is a solid performer with agile handling and plenty of power. The braking isn’t as responsive as you might expect, but it performed adequately on both dry and wet surfaces.
Sure, the Jetta has some downsides but there’s a lot to like, too. The positives include a retail price starting at $15,995 and fuel economy of 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Those in the market for a new sedan owe it to themselves to take a test drive.
