By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 1, 2018) Lately, Volkswagen, the people’s car brand, has been spending a lot of time and effort on their excellent SUV products like the recently introduced mid-sized Atlas and completely restyled and redesigned compact Tiguan. They’ve also been making a lot of noise relative to their goal of rolling out 80 new electric cars across its multi-brand group within the next six years. VW says they will invest more than $24 billion in that effort.

Until it admitted to cheating on diesel-emissions tests two years ago, Volkswagen had been slow to embrace electric cars and self-driving technology. The diesel emissions scandal was a massive corporate failure that will follow them for years to come. But if there is a silver lining, the debacle forced VW to nearly completely change their corporate culture for the better.

All this emphasis on SUVs might be troubling to fans of traditional VW sedans and hatchbacks like the popular Jetta. But VW isn’t giving up on the traditional sedan market like Ford, nor is it deemphasizing it. Jetta is the most successful European nameplate in the U.S., with more than 3.2 million units sold here — and 17.5 million worldwide – since its introduction in 1979.

For 2019, Volkswagen has launched its seventh-generation Jetta. VW is going all out to win back the trust of Americans with a new Jetta that’s considerably a bigger bang for the buck, with a new class-leading six-year 72,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper fully transferable warranty, more standard features, and a base MSRP that’s actually less than the outgoing 2018 model. It is available in a choice of five different trim levels.

We spent a week with the entry-level S model with a starting price of $20,195, including an $850 destination charge. Even this base model comes with the high-tech turbocharged 147-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine connected to an eight-speed manual transmission. Other standard features include LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and App-Connect Smartphone integration and interface.

The new Jetta is the sixth VW product for the U.S. market to be built on the company’s global MQB architecture, a flexible transverse-engine front-wheel-drive platform chassis that underpins vehicles from the smaller Golf to the larger Atlas SUV. The combination seems to work especially well, delivering a Jetta that feels solid, well-built, and lightweight, with a drivability leaning on the comfortable side with adequate handling on twisty roads and when cornering.

But know that excitement and “fun to drive” isn’t part of the Jetta package. 147-horsepower won’t live up to that assignment and the electro-mechanical power steering and suspension won’t agree to crisply carve or aggressively dive into corners without risking under steer. Still, for most commuters, that isn’t a deal breaker.

While not powerful by any measure, it’s quick enough to keep up with traffic, rides pleasantly enough, and there’s room for four adults and their stuff. The cabin fills with excessive engine noise under acceleration, but the stereo sounds good, the manual adjustable seats up front will permit 90 percent of drivers to arrive at a comfortable driving position, the air conditioning blows ice cold from the manual climate control, there are power windows, mirrors and door locks and a rear backup camera. And, as an added benefit, it’s not a bad looking car inside or out.

Our test Jetta didn’t come equipped with navigation or a sunroof at this price, but Volkswagen knows that most buyers in this class regularly rely on their Smartphones for excellent directions and how many of us routinely drive with open sunroofs in our cars anyhow?

Because most buyers in the compact sedan market are fixated on and driven by bang-for-the-buck value (a loan or lease payment that won’t break the bank), conventional good looks, a long warranty, and solid fuel economy, shoppers in this class will find the new Jetta to be a compelling means of transportation to include in their consideration set, along with other excellent choices like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Kia Forte.

Overall, if your budget won’t support a sporty Mustang, a BMW or some other upscale sedan that sports a badge that says “Limited,” “SEL” or names of that genre, the new Jetta is an excellent choice that will give years of noble service and sufficient transportation, without leaving you feeling that you had to compromise anything to drive it.

Vital Stats
Base price: $20,195
Price as Tested: $20,195
Powerplant: 1.4-Liter 147-hp Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission
Fuel Economy: 30-MPG City – 40-MPG Highway – 34-MPG Combined
Seating: Room for 5 but 4 comfortably

Crash Test Results: The new Jetta has not yet been tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Final Assembly Plant: Puebla, Mexico

Competes With:
Chevy Cruze
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte
Mazda3

Fab Features:
Comfortable Interior
Class Leading new car warranty
Excellent fuel economy