2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Exterior

The new Jetta is a significant departure from the old model, but its styling is far from revolutionary

A quick glance at the compact is enough to notice that Volkswagen has put a lot of effort in redesigning the Jetta. Almost eight years old, the previous Jetta was pretty dated and obviously boring design-wise, especially when compared to the company’s more recent products. But while the new Jetta is a significant departure from the old model, its styling is far from revolutionary. Much like Audi, VW has taken the "same sausage, different lengths" route in recent years and the Jetta is no exception from this rule.

Now sporting a clean look with angular lines front and rear, the Jetta is obviously inspired by the larger Passat, and I can even spot some Arteon cues in there. But this isn’t a bad thing, as all these new styling cues make the new Jetta sexier than ever. On top of that, it’s very elegant for such a small four-door and sportier than expected, even without the sleek R-Line package.

It has a new, bold front fascia with one of the largest grille ever seen on a Volkswagen

It has a new, bold front fascia with one of the largest grille ever seen on a Volkswagen. The angular headlamps give the car an angry look, despite seeming a bit too large for the design. Slimmer light would’ve been perfect. The look is completed by a sculpted bumper with big daytime running lights at the corners and a wide intake placed just above the splitter.

The profile is also surprisingly sporty, blending a coupe-like roof, short overhangs, and a protruding beltline. The latter isn’t very original, as it resembles the character line of the BMW 3 Series, but it’s a cool addition and a big improvement over the previous, featureless Jetta.

The rear fascia is fresh and sporty, but it looks an awful lot like the Audi A4

But there’s a bigger issue around back. While the rear fascia is fresh and sporty, it looks an awful lot like the Audi A4. The long and slender, two-piece headlamps, the trunklid spoiler, and big license plate recess are only mild interpretations of those seen on the premium A4. Even the bumper configuration is similar, with the thin, red lights placed just above the large exhaust pipes. Granted, some A4 models have round tips, but I’ve seen a few with trapezoidal units as well. The huge amount of A4 details prevent me from enjoying the Jetta as much as I should. It’s a shame that Volkswagen wasn’t able to come up with a more original design, although I have a feeling that this won’t bother the usual customers too much.

The sedan is also longer and wider, with the short overhangs providing a longer wheelbase too. Finally, full LED lights are standard front and rear, an exclusive feature in this segment. Yes, Volkswagen is moving the Jetta closer to the premium market again.

Interior

The seats and door panels have been redesigned and come wrapped in new upholstery colors

While not yet dated, at least when compared to other vehicles on the market, the outgoing Jetta’s interior was incredibly boring. Sure, the same was available for almost every other affordable compact a few years ago, but the Jetta needed a drastic makeover to bounce back. And Volkswagen delivered by creating a modern, fresh-looking cockpit for a four-door that’s supposed to tackle the upper market of the affordable compact segment.

The dashboard is no longer flat, now employing various angular lines and a more pronounced two tier design. The new infotainment display sits at the top, with the trapezoidal HVAC vents moved lower in the center stack. The control layout is much cleaner, while the new storage console is large enough to fit a standard iPad. The instrument cluster area feels sportier. The steering wheel is the only element that remained unchanged, with just minor upgrades to the control section.

New options include 10-color ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats

The seats and door panels have been redesigned too and come wrapped in new upholstery colors. Volkswagen claims that it used higher quality and softer materials in the new Jetta. While this is evident in the photos, I can’t say it’s on par with other compact premium cars.

New options include 10-color ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, power driver’s seat with memory function, leather upholstery, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The infotainment screen is also new, making all vehicle information easily accessible. The Driver Personalization setting with up to four driver setting is standard and includes setups for driver seat memory, driver assistance system preferences, temperature, Volkswagen Digital Cockpit arrangement (if equipped), ambient lighting color, radio presets, and navigation view.

It's the only Volkswagen available with a 400-watt audio system in the U.S.

The new Digital Cockpit instrument cluster is optional on the base model and standard on SEL and SEL Premium trims. It comes with a reconfigurable display and the possibility to position navigation data in front of the driver. Features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink integration, as well as the 400-watt Beats Audio sound system are optional. The latter makes the Jetta the first Volkswagen in the U.S. to offer such a powerful audio system.

There’s bigger news in the driver assistance department, with new technology available. The rearview camera is standard on every model, while the options list includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Control, and Lane Departure Warning.

Drivetrain

The big news under the skin is that the Jetta adopted the flexible MQB platform

The big news under the skin is that the Jetta finally ditched the old PQ35 platform, used since 2005. The sedan will now ride on the flexible MQB platform, shared with the Audi A3, Volkswagen Arteon, Atlas, T-Roc, and Polo, among other vehicles.

Volkswagen didn’t have much to say about the drivetrain, but it did confirm that the new compact uses a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. The unit cranks out 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. That’s a three horsepower decrease compared to the outgoing 1.4-liter mill, but it keeps the Jetta at the top of the compact class output-wise.

The 1.4-liter unit cranks out 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet

But while the engine didn’t change much, it mates to a new six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic is offered optionally on the base model and standard on the higher trims and includes a start/stop system for improved fuel economy. There aren’t any EPA estimates yet, but the new platform, the revised engine, and the new transmissions should make the new Jetta more efficient that the previous model. The outgoing sedan returns 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, so it’s safe to assume that the redesigned model will surpass the 40-mpg mark on the highway.

Prices

The new Volkswagen Jetta retails from $18,545. That’s a $100 drop compared to the outgoing model. For the minimum amount, you get the Jetta S model with the manual transmission. Add $800 and you can upgrade to the eight-speed automatic gearbox. Next up is the Jetta SE at $22,155, while the Jetta R-Line fetches $22,995. The better equipped trims go past the $24,000, with the Jetta SEL starting from $24,415 and the Jetta SEL Premium coming in at $26,945 before options. Each trim comes with the new People First Warranty with 6-years/72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) coverage.

Competition

Toyota Corolla

The world’s best selling nameplate since the 1990s, the Toyota Corolla is the car to beat in this segment. Introduced in 2013, the latest-generation Corolla may be a little old for the upcoming Jetta, but it’s still the most popular choice in most markets. However, it’s interior doesn’t feel as fresh and its limited drivetrain choices in the U.S. doesn’t make it as appealing to customers who want a bit more oomph. The compact is available with just one engine here, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, rated at either 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque or 140 horses and 126 pound-feet. The CVT transmission is standard, but Toyota also offers a six-speed manual. Mileage varies between 27 to 28 mpg city and 35 to 36 mpg highway depending on drivetrain. Pricing starts from $18,550 for the base model and goes up to $22,730 for the range-topping trim.

Read our full story on the Toyota Corolla.

Honda Civic

The Civic is yet another compact that Volkswagen wants to steal customers from. Unlike the Corolla, the Civic sedan is brand-new for 2018 and boasts a sportier appearance. It’s notably larger than its predecessor and the Si model looks aggressive even when compared to the Jetta sketches above. Motivation comes from three different engines, starting with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. More oomph comes from the more expensive trims, which get juice from the turbocharged, 1.5-liter four-pot with 174 horses and 162 pound-feet. The tiny powerplant is found in the Si model too, rated at 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet. The Si also enables Honda to better compete with the GLI version of the Jetta. Pricing starts from $18,840 for the base model, while the Touring trim retails from $26,700. The higher performance Si fetches $24,100 before options.

Read our full review of the Honda Civic and Honda Civic Si.

Chevrolet Cruze

The Cruze also received a significant redesign recently, being only two years old for the 2018 model year. Now sporting a more upscale look and a premium-oriented interior, the current Cruze is being praised for its attractive cabin, appealing convenience and technology packages, and ample rear-seat legroom. The standard turbocharged, 1.4-liter engine, rated at 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet, returns solid fuel economy at 27 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. And unlike the competition, Chevy offers a diesel option in the form of a 1.6-liter EcoTec four-cylinder that cranks out 137 horses and 240 pound-feet of twist. The oil burner returns 30 mpg city and 52 mpg highway, the best mileage in this comparison. The Cruze is also the most affordable option, retailing from $17,850. In diesel trim, pricing starts from $22,195.

Read our full story on the Chevrolet Cruze.

Conclusion

The new Volkswagen Jetta is definitely an exciting car. Especially when compared to the outgoing model. The previous sedan was not only dated technology- and feature-wise, but it was also pretty boring to look at. Volkswagen fixed all of that and then some. I’m not a big fan of the Audi A4 rear end and the BMW-esque beltline, but I agree that the new design gave the Jetta a much-need refresh. I doubt it will raise above the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic sales-wise anytime soon, but it should attract more customers into Volkswagen dealerships.

• Love it
  • Sporty, Passat-inspired design
  • Premium-looking interior in higher trims
  • Solid fuel economy
• Leave it
  • No power upgrades
  • No diesel option
  • Most premium features are optional

References

Volkswagen Jetta

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta.

Read our driven review on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta.

Read more Detroit Auto Show news.