2011 VW Jetta: New Design, Lower Price

What’s New:

The Jetta has been redesigned for the 2011 model year, growing in size offering a roomier interior, at a lower price point to go head-to-head with the upcoming Honda Civic and the next-generation Toyota Corolla.

Must Have Goodies:

For the 2011 model year, the Jetta is available in five trims (S, SE, SEL, TDI GLI) with either an automatic or manual transmission, if so equipped. With the new design, Jetta also offers three gasoline engines and one direct injection turbo diesel, while continuing to steer clear of electric and hybrid models.

The German engineered vehicle is now available with a base 2.0-liter, 115-horsepower, four-cylinder engine in the S trim. The SE and SEL trims are outfitted with last year’s 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower, five-cylinder engine, while the turbo diesel is a carryover, too from last year.

Depending on the trim package selected, the Jetta is available with a Sirius Satellite Radio, heated front seats, a touch screen navigation system, keyless access doors, a push-button starter and 17-inch wheels.

Also for those seeking out a sportier Jetta, the SEL trim can be ordered with a Sport Package, which includes a sport suspension, sport bolstered comfort seats and aluminum sport pedals. (A sportier GLI trim is expected to join the line up soon.) And for techies, the Jetta is outfitted for Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

What Rocked:

While the Jetta is classified as a compact, it really straddles the line between the compact and the midsize car segments. Unlike its competitors, all Jettas, in fact all VWs include a three-year no-charge maintenance plan in the price. (Toyota and Scion offers a two-year no-charge maintenance plan).

And the new Jetta grows in size, offering more rear interior space, while loosing approximately a half inch in cargo space. Yet, the vehicle still manages to offer more cargo room than all of its competitors in this segment. (The Chevy Cruze offers almost as much trunk space.) The Jetta also continues to offer a rear power door switch, which is unique only to VW, locking and unlocking the rear doors.

Moreover, the redesigned Jetta is now equipped with steering-wheel mounted radio controls, automatic headlights and a push-button start engine. And the redesigned Jetta is the first vehicle in the compact segment to offer the brand’s Intelligent Crash Response System, which turns off the fuel pump, automatically triggers the hazard lights and unlocks the doors in case of an airbag deployment.

What We Hated:

While the Jetta has grown in size, with its all-new mainstream exterior design, it no longer offers its distinctive European flair. And with the lower price, the Jetta trades in such amenities on the previous-generation as a height-adjustable front center armrest, an 8-way power adjustable front seat and an electro-mechanical power steering system.
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And unlike most of its competitors, the Jetta still doesn’t offer a rear-view camera or leather seats. The vehicle also is equipped with a pseudo-form of leather -- known as leatherette -- which continues to be an upgraded seat choice for the compact sedan. Furthermore, the operation of the audio system took a moment to adjust to. VW’s new audio system wasn’t as simple to operate as the one’s we’ve experienced in the previous generation. However, once we got the swing of it and figured-out how to program and change stations we warmed-up to the new system.

Moreover, the Jetta TDI (turbo diesel) is the only model available with a navigation system. So as of now, a navigation system is not available in a non turbo model. What’s sense does that make?

Any Juice:

VW offered a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine in our SEL trim which was capable of dishing out 170 horses. (A 2.0-liter 5-cylinder engine in the high-end GLI trim, kicking out 200 horses will soon be added to the line up, making this one of the most powerful vehicles in this segment.)

The Verdict:

The redesigned 2011 Jetta has shifted gears for the 2011 model year, moving from a sporty European vehicle with a distinctive flair to an affordable mainstream family sedan, while still being positioned in the compact segment. The new Jetta has grown in size all while shedding approximately $2,840 from the last year’s sticker, positioning the vehicle to go-head with volume vehicles in the compact segment. Besides the Jetta, the Mazda3 is the only compact priced slightly lower than the VW.

And, with VW planning to ramp-up volume, the German automaker has become more competitive in the States with the current-generation Jetta. And unlike the previous generation Jetta, this one isn't pitted against entry-level premium vehicles like the Volvo C3, the Acura TSX and its upscale sibling, the Audi A3. The 2011 Jetta has dropped its pedigree so now its available to hang out with more mainstream compacts.

The Jetta’s more mainstream Americanized exterior styling, roomier rear interior, fuel-efficient engine choices and lower price point is sure to attract more consumers to the vehicle. Pricing for the base Jetta starts out at $15,700 and can run-up to $27,300 for the turbo diesel when equipped with a navigation system.

Competition: Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla