2012 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews

Volkswagen Golf, a solid and sensible German car, is a major player in the European car market and in the last decade has made its mark in Australia as well.Those who need a practical car, but who enjoy driving will find the Golf goes a long way towards meeting each of these conflicting needs. Golf is a pleasant car to drive with good handing and sharp steering feel to let you get involved in what the car is doing, and with plenty of road grip even when pushed hard.These cars remain comfortable even on rough bush roads, though they are more at home in the suburbs than the far outback. These days Golf is a medium-sized car, having grown in size over the years, mainly to provide the extra space needed for occupant crash protection.There's some more interior room as well. In Europe, Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it’s not unusual to see them carting four large adults about.Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with preteen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney you may need nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf to fill all your motoring needs.Golf is sold as a three- or five-door door hatchback. A ‘Golf’ four-door sedan was called the Bora from 1999 until the launch of the fifth generation model in 2005, when it was renamed Jetta. Boot space is substantially better than in the hatches and the four-door models are certainly worth consideration.VW Golf Cabriolet was sold until 2003. It has good roll-over protection for an open-top car and still offers a reasonable amount of space in the back seat. Access to the boot is difficult due to the odd location of the hinges. The Cabriolet was replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW reintroduced the Golf Cabriolet in 2012.Engines come in various guises: petrol and diesel; with four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Four-cylinder petrol engines are the most common, coming in capacities of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The 1.6 will suit most drivers, but those who like to drive hard may find it a bit dull. The 1.4-litre is a brilliant, relatively recent, design and the little turbo unit provides performance with economy.Volkswagen in Australia started a big push in the diesel field several years ago and these engines are now far more common than in the past. With capacities of 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 litres they provide plenty of grunt and turbo lag isn’t too bad.Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it’s rapidly becoming regarded as a classic in the Australian hot-hatch market.Then there's the Golf R range of extreme hotshots. These traditionally had a large V6 engine – 3.2 litres in a smallish car gives plenty of performance. These are tagged as Golf R32. The latest model, launched in 2011, takes a different tack, going for 2.0 litres and a high-pressure turbo. Disguising the smaller size of the engine is the change of name to simply Golf R.Six-speed manuals arrived with the fifth-generation Golfs in 2004 and are popular on the used scene. The DSG gearbox, also launched in 2004, is a self-shifting manual gearbox. It provides far better performance than the old-style four-speed automatics used until 2004.This VW is a relatively easy car to work on and spare parts are not overly expensive. The dealer network has expanded from a low point during the mid-1990s and nowadays we hear very few complaints about parts availability or servicing.Insurance charges are about average for an imported European vehicle on most Golf and Jetta models. The high-performance Golf GTi may attract higher premiums, the Golf R32 and Golf R almost certainly will.Interiors generally stand up well, but some older Golfs that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from sun-dried dashboard tops. Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels.Look for scrapes on the bottom edges of the front mudflaps, they will often drag on the ground if the car has been cornered hard. New mudflaps could be a suspicious sign. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward engine noises, especially when it’s cold.Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn’t crunch on fast downchanges.Check that dual-clutch transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't hesitate too much at very low speeds. Be sure the brakes pull the car up evenly. If ABS is fitted you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard stops.Rust isn’t common in Golfs and is more likely to be the result of bad crash repairs than vehicle design. If you do come across any have the car inspected professionally or pass it up for another one.If there’s a problem in a used car get it fixed before you buy it. Don’t fall for the sales persons’ trick of saying you can bring it back later and everything will be sorted out then. It can be a lot harder then...

GOING it alone should pay dividends for the shyest of the Volkswagen family, the Jetta. No longer is it simply a Golf with a boot. It now comes as a standalone sedan in its own right. New from the wheels up, and longer and taller than a Golf, the Jetta has smooth, unobtrusive lines and balanced proportions that resemble a scaled-down Passat, which is just 25mm longer. On the road it is not as engaging to drive as a Golf but performs with undemanding maturity, poise and discipline. The interior looks and feels bigger than a Golf. It has its own dash design and layout, although it retains familiar controls and instruments.It has a huge boot and a full-size spare on most models.VALUEThere are now five models, instead of seven, and three engines, instead of five, including one manual and four with direct shift gearboxes.They are the 118TSI manual at $26,490 (auto seven-speed DSG $28,900), the 118TSI Comfortline with DSG at $32,490, the 103TDI Comfortline with six-speed DSG at $34,990 and the 147TSI Highline six-speed DSG at $37,990.The 118 comes with six airbags, stability control, airconditioning, Bluetooth, USB connection, cruise control, multi-function display, multi-function steering wheel, day lights, heated mirrors with indicator lights, six-way driver's seat adjustment, 16-inch steel wheels and a full-sized spare.It also has CISS, a crash impact sound sensor system that "hears'' the sound waves of an impact and speeds up airbag inflation. The 103TDI Comfortline adds 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, auto headlights and wipers and folding mirrors.TECHNOLOGYThe entry level model, a 118TSI, is about $4500 less than the previous range-starter, the less powerful 77TDI. On test were the manual 118TSI and automatic 103TDI. The manual brings out the best in the 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol power plant. It is a cracker of an engine, armed with such instant and linear thrust that it feels much bigger in capacity. Output is 118kW and 240Nm, comparable to a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine. Acceleration from rest to 100km/h is a claimed 8.3-seconds in the manual and auto. Yet it is miserly on fuel, returning 6.5l/100km on the combined cycle, using 95 RON fuel.The gearshift is slick and, although the clutch uptake could be more progressive, it does come with a hill holder. Well proven in a long line of VWs, the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel is strong and willing and all but silent on the move. Output is 103kW and 320Nm and is perfectly matched to the six-speed DSG, which is more refined than earlier versions, with less hesitation when engaging drive and reverse. A determination to shift into the tallest gear as early as possible helps deliver frugal fuel use of 5.5l/100km.DRIVINGThe interior, like the exterior, is understated but is comprehensively equipped and flawlessly finished, with quality soft-touch dash trim and clear and logical instruments and controls. No gimmicks or flashy styling, it is just elegant, warm and inviting. The longer wheelbase gives the Jetta a firm yet more compliant ride than its predecessor and handling that is confident and composed with high levels of grip. Steering is accurate and nicely weighted. Seating is firm and supportive and best for four -- although three slim adults will squeeze into the rear at a pinch. Head room in the rear is ample and the visibility through the side glass is unimpeded, as is rear vision for the driver. There is ample storage in the centre console, doors and cup holder slots. The rear seat has a fold down armrest with cup holders and a ski port. The backrests split fold, although not to a flat floor, and the opening through to the deeper boot is partially restricted by the bulkhead.  While the Jetta is not styled to startle in a competitive market, it is a polished performer with plenty of intrinsic value.VOLKSWAGEN JETTAPrice: From $26,490 to $37,990Warranty: Three years, unlimited kmEngines: Supercharged and turbocharged 1.4-litre (118kW/240Nm), 2.0-litre  turbodiesel (103kW/320Nm), 2.0-litre turbo petrol (147kW/280Nm)Body: Four-door sedanTransmission: Six-speed manual (1.4 only), seven-speed DSG (1.4 only) six-speed DSG (2.0-litre diesel and petrol engines)Thirst: 6.5 litres/100km 150g/km (1.4-litre petrol manual), 5.5 litres/100km, 143g/km CO2 (2.0-litre diesel), 7.9 litres/100km 183g/km (2.0-litre petrol)weeklytimesnow     Mat Watson road tests and reviews the VW Jetta.   

After years as a Golf with a boot, Volkswagen's just-released 2012 Jetta has come of age with its own longer-wheelbase platform, handsome new styling, more standard features and pin-sharp pricing.PRICES AND DRIVETRAINSOffered in entry-level Jetta guise as well as Comfortline and Highline specifications, pricing kicks off at $26,490 (down $2500 on its predecessor) for the 1.4-litre 118TSI six-speed manual version, $28,990 buys you the seven-speed DSG automatic version and the seven-speed DSG Comfortline is $32,490.When mated with a six-speed manual gearbox, the cracking little 118kW/240Nm turbocharged and supercharged engine delivers a combined fuel-consumption of 6.5 litres/100km and just 6.2 litres/100km with the optional DSG transmission. The sprint time to 100km/h is 8.3 seconds.The petrol range-topper  the 2.0-litre 147kW/280Nm 147TSI with its six-speed DSG transmission — is $37,990 and VW claims a combined fuel figure of 7.9 litres/100km.The $37,990 103kW/320Nm 103TDI Highline DSG can sprint to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds and achieve a miserly 5.5 litres/100km.EQUIPMENTStandard Jetta safety kit includes a clever new crash-impact sound-sensor system, electronic stability program, brake-force distribution and differential locking as well as anti-slip regulation, six airbags, anti-whiplash front head restraints and three height-adjustable head restraints in the rear.Standard entry-level goodies include heated exterior mirrors, remote central locking, air conditioning with a dust and pollen filter, an eight-speaker audio system, cruise control, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and six-way front-seat adjustment.Move up to the 118TSI and 103TDI Comfortline versions and you gain 16-inch alloys, parking sensors, central armrests, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone "air," and sexier chrome air-vent surrounds.The range-topping 147TSI gets all the fruit including 17-inch alloys, sportier suspension, a six-CD changer/touch-screen audio system with, a headlight-cleaning system, more exterior chrome highlights, leather upholstery, heated sports front seats, handy under-seat storage drawers, interior-trim features, front fog lights and static-cornering lights.DRIVINGOut on the road during the Jetta's national media launch, the car proved to be another example of why VW is doing so well here and around the world. It is beautifully put together in Mexico as it happens and it has exterior and interior style to match. It is also a quiet, refined car with impeccable on-road manners.The engines and their performance and fuel efficiency are one of the new model's strong points and the new electro-mechanical steering works a treat.The car turns in accurately with no hint of understeer and while the top-spec Highline's sports suspension is set-up 15mm lower than its siblings, it is not harsh and it certainly enhances the car's overall driving dynamics as it rides on a MacPherson-strut front-suspension set-up and a multi-link rear arrangement.Like all Volkswagen vehicles, the seats in the entry-level- and Comfortline models are excellent  and the sports versions in the Highline are even more excellent.VOLKSWAGEN JETTAPrice: $26,490-$37,990Warranty: Three years, unlimited kmEngines: Supercharged and turbocharged 1.4-litre (118kW/240Nm), 2.0-litre  turbodiesel (103kW/320Nm), 2.0-litre turbo petrol (147kW/280Nm)Body: Four-door sedanTransmission: Six-speed manual (1.4 only), seven-speed DSG (1.4 only) six-speed DSG (2.0-litre diesel and petrol engines)Thirst: 6.5 litres/100km 150g/km (1.4-litre petrol manual), 5.5 litres/100km, 143g/km CO2 (2.0-litre diesel), 7.9 litres/100km 183g/km (2.0-litre petrol)