By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(February 3, 2018) Though the current Volkswagen Jetta is old, it was the first to, stylistically at least, not look like what it was: a Golf with a trunk. Nevertheless, it was closely related to that car, borrowing the bulk of its underpinnings from the fifth-generation Golf. And as the Jetta seemed to live in some automotive form of suspended animation, the rest of the VW lineup (save the Jetta-based U.S. Passat sedan), moved to VW’s modular transverse architecture, or MQB.

The 2019 Jetta is the latest to adopt that component set, and sits on a 1.3-in. longer wheelbase than before (105.7 in. versus 104.4 in.). The interior is larger, though the overhangs are shorter, and the roofline follows the template used by Hyundai for the current Elantra in being more of a fastback than a sedan.

Purists will lament that the 2019 Jetta has taken a retrograde step in replacing the current multilink rear suspension with a torsion beam, but only by conveniently forgetting that the first years of the curregeneration Jetta not only launched with a beam axle, but rear drum brakes; a layout that is similar to that of some current competitors.

That could be one reason why the base price of the 2019 Jetta is $100 less than its predecessor, but another could be the lack of powertrain diversity. All 2019 Jettas are equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four that develops 147 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. If you want the six-speed manual, you will have to order the base Jetta S, as the SE, SEL, SEL Premium and R Line trim levels come standard with the same eight-speed automatic that’s optional on the base car. Unlike the manual, the automatic comes standard with stop-start.

Yet this is no bargain basement small sedan. Sticking with a program initiated under Ferdinand Piech, VW continues to add content across the board, using the increased sales volume to lower the component price.

Thus every Jetta gets LED lighting and a large infotainment display with standard Driver Personalization. This allows users to set up a number of parameters, depending on trim level, including driver seat memory, driver assistance preferences, temperature, the arrangement of the Digital Cockpit (if so equipped), ambient lighting color (up top 10 colors), radio presets, navigation and more. The option list is too long to recite here, but suffice it to say that a loaded Jetta should come within spitting distance of $30,000.

That price ceiling inevitably will rise when the GLI arrives sometime in the 2020 model year.

The Virtual Driver