When the second or third generation Volkswagan Jetta was launched, it was popular in Ireland but not in the UK. I recall asking an English motoring journalist at the time if he had driven it and his answer went something like “Ah mate, it’s as well known over here as Sly Stallone’s brother”. You see the English loved the Golf but didn’t see the point in what they regard as a boring booted cousin.
Now, the latest generation Jetta has made its Irish debut last month. While instantly recognisable as a Volkswagen and with the new brand front end styling like the very popular Passat, the fresh look at the sides is a little too plain for me, especially with darker colours like black, dark grey, dark blue, and brown.
Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen Design, has adopted clean simplistic lines to give an uncomplicated exterior design. If the lessons of the big selling Comfortline Passat version with the chrome lift is ignored, then I think Herr Bischoff may have taken the new design language just a chapter too far.
While every panel, both inside and out, is new to the Jetta, as I referred to previously, the front end has the similar new VW family face as the new Passat.
Styling inside is similar to the Golf, with a new centre console, entertainment and climate control systems and steering wheel design among the updates.
In addition, the new Jetta has grown in length by 90mm with its wheelbase extended by 70mm. The benefit of this is experienced with an increase in rear legroom over the outgoing model.
The Jetta retains its reputation of being well-built, and Volkswagen say that it will prove as reliable and consistent as the version it succeeds. As with the outgoing Jetta, the new car combines the practicality of being able to seat five adults with a large, boot and a comprehensive range of standard safety features including six airbags, and Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP ).
The sixth generation Jetta offers greater efficiency and fewer emissions. Powered by a range of advanced and fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines, from a 1.2 TSI 105 bhp to a 2.0TDI 140 bhp, both within VRT Band B.
However, the biggest seller will be its most fuel efficient engine, the new 1.6 TDI 105 bhp, as found in the new Passat. Official fuel economy figures for a combined cycle is 63 mpg or 4.5 Litres per 100 km. The 1.6 TDi sits within VRT and road tax Band A, with 119g/km of CO2 emissions.
The new Jetta is available in three trim levels, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, with the aforementioned entry prices for the 1.2 TSI starting from €21,985, and the 1.6 litre diesel starting from €23,725.
The standard specification includes Climatic air-conditioning, a multi-function leather steering wheel (three-spoke ) with aluminium decorative inserts, a multi-function display Plus, electric windows front and rear, and ESP.
The second level trim, the Comfortline has a price tag of €25,095. For me the new Jetta does everything it says on the tin but after experiencing the new Passat 1.6 TDi, I would go for the bigger brother in Comfortline for €2,260 more.
Mind you, it is very disappointing that mobile phone Bluetooth is only available as an optional extra (circa €280 ) on all trim levels of both the Jetta and the Passat.
The Passat is a better looking, bigger car that I believe will also have that much or more of a better residual value in three years than the Jetta will provide. Getting back to my English media colleague, don’t Volkswagen need to give buyers as many reasons as possible to go for a Jetta, rather than have it squeezed between two giants such as Golf and Passat. Check the Jetta out for yourself and see whether you agree.
New VW Golf Cabriolet here in August
The new Golf Cabriolet will be available in Ireland from August, with pricing to be announced nearer to the launch date.
Volkswagen describe the four-seater as a versatile, year-round cabriolet thanks to its practical features and the sophisticated design of its soft top which automatically opens in full in 9.5 seconds. This can also be done on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h.
Volkswagen say that with the roof up, it is one of the quietest cars of its kind. In addition, the Golf Cabriolet offers one of the most spacious interiors in its class and full use of the boot-space and its 250 litres of cargo capacity, even with the top down.
The body of the Golf Cabriolet offers maximum all-round safety thanks to its extremely fast rollover protection system that deploys in milliseconds, a reinforced windscreen frame and numerous other structural modifications.
In many respects, the styling of the Golf Cabriolet matches that of its hardtop counterpart, but its new rear section, lower roof line, and swept-back windscreen frame also give it a high degree of independence. VW say that this results in a level of sophistication that is otherwise only offered in significantly more expensive cabriolets. And that the Golf sets itself apart from many other convertibles in the compact class in one key interior attribute: the windscreen frame is refreshingly short, optimising the cabrio feeling.
Available in just one trimline, the Golf Cabriolet can be customised by various option packs. The entry vehicle already offers very extensive standard features including leather steering wheel, 16” alloy wheels, hill hold control, cruise control, multifunction display, LED rear lights, GTI/GTD style rear bumper, fully automatic hydraulic soft top, ESP, electric window front and rear, and climatic air-conditioning.
Energy saving BlueMotion technologies are available across all three engines in the range (similar to the new Jetta ), one petrol and two diesel, from 1.2 TSI 105 bhp, 1.6 TDI 105 bhp and 2.0 TDI 140 bhp.
Volkswagen is continuing a great tradition with the Golf Cabriolet. On the past three models - produced between 1979 and 2002 - over 680,000 drivers worldwide chose the cabriolet version. For a time, it was the world’s most successful cabriolet. Adam Chamberlain, head of sales and marketing at Volkswagen commented, “The new Golf Cabriolet has the potential to continue the impressive history of its predecessors and we have been anticipating its arrival to Irish shores with great excitement. Combining the award winning aspect of the Golf, a firm favorite with Irish drivers, with its own unique features, we are sure the new Golf Cabriolet will make quite an impression.”
