Test bench | Volkswagen Jetta: drive without counting too much

The “people’s car” that does not underestimate the pragmatism of consumers.

Eric LeFrancois
special collaboration

Facade modesty

Within the Volkswagen range, the Jetta is increasingly isolated. Apart from the very confidential Arteon, it is up to the Jetta alone to defend the colors of the Wolfsburg brand in the automobile department. And what’s more, in a segment that, even yesterday, was the favorite of Quebec consumers: compacts. The Jetta fulfills its mission with seriousness, but also a certain timidity.

Barely a decade ago, any generalist brand had to offer a reference model, a standard that no one disliked and towards which buyers had to converge. However, the wave of medium utilities – more trendy and more expensive – has shattered this foundation.

In comparison, the Jetta never gained such notoriety among the mass of motorists, but for a long time it was, on the other hand, a car for insiders. A car that only reveals itself to those who take the wheel. But this assessment is also from another era, unless of course you opt for the GLi version, more biting (it benefits from a 2 L engine) and more refined. The Jetta of Mr. and Mrs. Everybody relies on a modest – but oh so frugal – 1.5 L to drive its front-wheel drive.

This 1.5 L four-cylinder supercharged by turbocharger identical to the one that powers the Taos is a little soft at low revs, but quite determined when it comes to taking turns. And particularly economical too. More noisy than melodious when it is requested for good, this thruster which lacks a bit of flexibility and a shorter response time (the effect of the turbo manifests itself rather abruptly).

Manual offered

Once is not custom, Volkswagen always offers the choice between a manual transmission and an automatic. The first has six gears, while the second has eight. Usually, we recommend the automatic, because it facilitates resale (still true), but also, and above all, because it notoriously lowers consumption. Except in this case. Indeed, the gap between the two boxes is like a thimble. The manual, despite its rubbery guidance, remains the most fun and allows you to become more one with this sedan.

The “road feel” is nothing exceptional, but the car is both reassuring and reassuring. The steering is light – pleasant in low-speed maneuvers – but imprecise, and the suspension is American-inspired, which is to say a tad too soft.

Erased and discreet

We will quickly understand that the Jetta is aimed at buyers who do not easily give in to the crush and rather favor very down-to-earth features. Consequence: no need to add on the exterior style or the originality of the architecture. In this regard, Volkswagen is risking nothing and relies on a proven platform that has reached a stage of development that is difficult to surpass.

Without being heavy, the lines are strict and seek less to express sportsmanship or social status than to inspire confidence. The interior finish is very well made, but a notch below the tenors of the category in this area.

Things go wrong if we consider either the perceived quality, but the atmosphere of the passenger compartment – ​​a little sinister – inherited from another age, and its black patterns. There is therefore a lack of cheerfulness, especially if your choice stops on the entry-level livery (Trendline and Comfortline). For a little color (see our photos), you have to make an appointment with the Highline.

That said, among Volkswagen’s proposals, the Comfortline version appears to be the most balanced of the three. Like the top-of-the-range model, it benefits from Volkswagen’s digital cockpit. This allows you to configure the instrumentation block and benefit from an infotainment screen whose size is not similar to a postage stamp. In addition to including a real spare wheel and not a tire sealant, dual-zone air conditioning and other goodies associated with modern life.

The driver can easily adjust his position thanks to the amplitude of the adjustment of the steering wheel and the seat. The Jetta can also count on its roominess in the front and rear seats as well as on its trunk, which has an impressive capacity. The trunk, of an abyssal depth, can also be modulated since it is possible to fold down all or part of the seat backrests.

While the German manufacturer Volkswagen has been shining more lately in the utility category while accelerating its transition to all-electric, the Jetta carries the torch of the “people’s car”.

Technical sheet

Engine

• Turbocharged 1.5L DOHC L4
• 158 hp at 5500 rpm
• 184 lb-ft of torque at 1750 rpm

Performance

• Weight: 1322 kg
• Maximum towing capacity: not recommended
• Aerodynamic drag coefficient: 0.28

Gearboxes

• Standard: 6-speed manual
• Optional: 8-speed automatic
• Drive mode: traction

Tires

• 205/60R16 (Trendline)
• 205/55R17 (Comfortline and Highline)

Tank capacity, gasoline recommended

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 2686mm
• Length: 4738mm
• Height: 1465mm
• Width: 1799 mm (exterior mirrors excluded)

Seven generations are watching you

“A Rabbit (Golf) flanked by a trunk”, this is in summary how the Jetta was received when it debuted in 1980 in Canada. Offered as a coupe (two-door) and a sedan (four-door), the Jetta quickly became the best-selling European car in North America. Over the course of the developments, the Jetta has raised its hood with several mechanics, including an entirely electric one. This was produced in very small quantities as the Jetta CityStormer and had a maximum range of 250 km.

Another sedan on the horizon

Presented last summer in China, Volkswagen’s ID.Aero concept is an all-electric sedan only slightly longer than the current Jetta. Volkswagen’s Canadian management confirms its arrival in Canada during the 2024 model year. However, it does not disclose any other details on this model, except that it will not be offered with a manual transmission. .. More seriously, this sedan will probably replace the Arteon and not the Jetta in the brand’s catalog. It will be based on the MEB architecture, which will incorporate a battery (77 kWh?) likely to give it a range of some 500 km.