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25/08/2011
REVIEW by MURRAY HUBBARD
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Volkswagen has launched what it calls an ‘independent’ Jetta. Meaning that for the first time, it shares no body components with the closely technically-related VW Golf.
Volkswagen trimmed a significant $4500 from the price of the entry-level model in comparison with the superseded Jetta .
The latest Volkswagen Jetta is 190 mm longer than the old, with a longer wheelbase. Because of this it has significantly more rear-seat leg room. Boot space has grown to a family-friendly 510 litres, making it larger than a Holden Commodore.
New Jetta is now just under the size of the VW Passat sedan: 25 mm shorter (Passat 4769 mm to Jetta 4744 mm), 42 mm narrower, 17 mm shorter and with a wheelbase 78 mm shorter. The effect of the changes makes Jetta look wider and gives it a more aggressive road prescence. Visually Jetta has a close family resemblance to Passat.
The bottom line is impressive – the Jetta starts at just $26,490 for the 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine model, undercutting many competitors’ medium-size sedans, including the Hyundai i45 and Mazda6.
The first thing the driver will notice is the silver-framed round instruments similar to those of the Passat CC. In between these dials is the trip computer display. There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel with multifunction keys. The centre console has been re-designed and now slightly faces the driver. The parking brake lever has also been repositioned allowing more room for dual drink holders. Headroom remains about the same but the front pews now have six-way adjustments.
The rear seat is designed for three and the legroom has been increased by 67 mm. This seat has a 60/40 split and these seats fold to increase the already significant 510 litres of cargo space.
While Jetta has shed its visual links to Golf under the skin it’s a different story with Jetta retaining Golf drivelines. The entry-level 1.4 TSI with 118 kW is both turbocharged and supercharged and when combined with a six-speed manual gearbox has a combined fuel consumption of 6.5 L/100 km. The 0-100 km/h sprint is covered in 8.3 seconds.
As an option this engine is also offered with a seven-speed DSG transmission. Volkswagen mates the seven-speed DSG to small torque engines and the six-speed DSG to higher torque output engines.
The highest output engine for Jetta is the turbocharged 2.0 TSI with 147 kW in the 147 TSI Highline variant. This engine is also found in Golf GTi, where it produces and extra 8 kW. Torque is an impressive 280 Nm which takes the Highline from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds via a standard 6-speed DSG transmission.
The diesel variant uses the 2.0 TDi common rail engine which produces 103 kW of power and from a low 1750 rpm and develops a maximum torque of 320 Nm through to 2500 rpm. The variant covers 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and uses diesel at the rate of 5.5 litres/100 km.
On the road, the Jetta 147 TSI Highline is not quite a Golf GTi, but nor does it have the Golf’s jiggles over the rough stuff, thanks to the longer wheelbase. As a car aimed at families Jetta does not need to handle as sharply as Golf, but the the good news is that it does.
With turbocharged cars you always look for some lag down low in the revs, but Jetta exhibits little of this turbo curse and is responsive off the mark.
Jetta has excellent NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) damping making the car feeler smoother and quieter inside.
Jetta comes standard with six airbags: two front, two front side and a curtain airbag for front and rear. In addition Jetta has a new special sensor system called crash impact sound sensor (CISS) for detecting crash intensity and igniting the airbags. Using ‘palpable’ and ‘audible’ signals the CISS airbag sensor system gets faster and immediate idea of the crash intensity. This allows the technology to adapt the deployment of the airbags and belt tensioners to the individual crash situation.
To prevent you having to try the airbags for yourself, the new Jetta has the latest generation electronic stability program (ESP).
We look forward to doing a full Volkswagen Jetta road test and review in the not too distant future.
MODELS AND PRICES
118TSI Comfortline $26,490 (auto $28,990)
Engine: 1.4-litre turbo and supercharged petrol four-cylinder
Power: 118kW at 5800rpm
Torque: 240Nm at 1500-4000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual (7-speed dual-clutch auto),
Weight: 1317kg (1337kg)
Fuel use and emissions: 6.5L/100km and 150g/km CO2 (6.2L/100km and 144g/km CO2)
103TDI Comfortline $34,990
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder
Power: 103kW at 4200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1750-2500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto,
Weight: 1487kg
Fuel use and emissions: 5.5L/100km and 143g/km CO2
147TSI Highline $37,990
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder
Power: 147kW at 5100rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1700rpm
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto,
Weight: 1393kg
Fuel use and emissions: 7.9L/100km and 183g/km CO2 |
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