I test drove the Volkswagen Jetta. At a reasonable price of around 30 million won, the Jetta has the unique sensibility of German cars that are stable and quiet when driving at high speeds, fuel efficiency exceeding 18km/l when driving long distances, and spacious interior space. In particular, a 5-year, 150,000 km warranty extension is provided as standard, reducing the burden of maintenance costs.
The domestic automobile market in 2023 offers a wide variety of options. There are a variety of options depending on the type and powertrain of the vehicle, including a diverse model lineup of domestic and imported cars, sedans and SUVs, and electric vehicles and hybrids. The unfortunate thing is that vehicle prices are rising faster than ever.
There are a variety of reasons for rising vehicle prices, but a large part is due to rising costs for the latest driving assistance devices and eco-friendly powertrains. In addition, the preference for larger vehicles as children grow is also a factor that adds to the burden, but once the peak has passed, it is time to look for a reasonable vehicle.
The design and configuration of the Volkswagen Jetta may be boring to some. However, if you look at it from a traditional tea making perspective, it is difficult to find any shortcomings. It has a traditional sedan-type design with ample space compared to the body size and a stable powertrain that compensates for most of the shortcomings.
In addition, it consists of a solid fit of interior materials, which is an emotional characteristic of German cars, especially Volkswagen, and an interface composed of intuitive physical buttons. Nevertheless, preferred options such as adaptive cruise control, the latest driver assistance systems including lane departure prevention, ventilated seats, and ambient lighting were included.
The test drive car is the New Jetta Prestige 1.4 TSI, introduced as a facelift model in 2022. It is a core model of Volkswagen Korea’s ‘accessible premium’ strategy, and is characterized by reducing the burden on consumers by providing a discount of up to 9% as of November 2023 and a 36-month buyback installment with a monthly payment of 199,000 won.
The front of the new Jetta emphasized a sophisticated atmosphere by increasing the sense of unity between the headlamp, grille, and bumper. The chrome details of the front grille and the LED signature of the headlamps are naturally connected. Radar for driving assistance devices is integrated into the brand emblem, and LED daytime running lights are located in the bumper.
The interior is centered around a horizontal dashboard, and an infotainment monitor located at the same height as the electronic instrument panel dominates the atmosphere. Ambient light and frameless room mirrors with greatly increased light intensity follow trends. A heated steering wheel, ventilated seats in the first row, and heated seats in the first and second rows are provided.
The driver’s seat position is standard. The front and side visibility is wide, so there are few blind spots when driving, and no sacrifices have been made for the sake of design. The side mirrors with electric folding and wide mirrors can be replaced with coupons provided by Volkswagen at the time of shipment.
Second-row habitability is one of the Jetta’s strengths. There is ample legroom as well as headroom, so there is no problem using it as a family car. In addition, the trunk space is 510 liters, the height of the loading space is considerable, and it supports folding. The overall length is 4740mm, the overall width is 1800mm, the overall height is 1465mm, and the wheelbase is 2686mm.
The new Jetta is equipped with a 1.5 TSI gasoline turbo engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The maximum output is 160 horsepower and the maximum torque is 25.5kgm. Domestic combined fuel efficiency is 14.1km/ℓ (city 12.3, high speed 17.1). The new EA211 engine is a unit with 10 horsepower more than the existing 1.4 TSI, and has received three types of eco-friendly certification in Korea.
The quietness of the new Jetta when stopped is top-notch. The quietness is especially impressive when driving at high speeds, but it is a different setting from some domestic cars where noise increases significantly when the speed limit is exceeded. Volkswagen’s car manufacturing basically focuses on high-speed driving. This part gives satisfaction in an invisible part.
In overtaking sections exceeding the speed limit or rapid lane changes, it maintains stable behavior, unlike the loose ride quality. As one of the characteristics of the German brand, stability at high speeds is still a strength. Differences in wind noise and wiper tension during rainy weather were also focused on high-speed driving.
The audio system delivers surprisingly good sound. Supports Bluetooth audio, Android Auto, and CarPlay through wireless connection. The relatively high minimum ground clearance allows the vehicle to quickly regain its bearings without touching the bottom of the front bumper even when entering an underground parking lot or going over a high speed bump.
The Jetta’s ride quality is soft. Even when going over speed bumps, it is at an equal or superior level compared to domestic mid-size cars. The powertrain delivers a mild driving sensation at low and medium speeds. It has a smooth feel thanks to the 8-speed automatic transmission rather than the dual-clutch transmission preferred by Volkswagen.
The 1.5 TSI engine shows impressive characteristics among low-displacement turbo engines. Turbo lag is reduced through a small turbocharger, making it operate closer to a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine in daily driving. However, it produces torque similar to that of a 2700cc engine at 1750~4000rpm, producing the necessary power.
In sports mode or situations where the accelerator pedal is pressed hard, it shows powerful power performance that exceeds the specifications. At high revs, the movement of the 8-speed automatic transmission is as agile as the DSG transmission. In terms of specifications, it is difficult to feel that the acceleration from a stop of 100 km/h is 7.2 seconds and the maximum speed is 209 km/h.
It is impressive in terms of fuel efficiency, easily achieving fuel efficiency of 10 to 11 km/l in congested city traffic and around 18 km/l at high speeds without intentionally driving at a constant speed. In particular, even at high-speed driving around 150 km/h, it shows 13 km/l, showing better fuel efficiency than domestic diesel SUVs.
The new Jetta’s driver assistance system includes Volkswagen’s latest specification, ‘Travel Assist’, and general adaptive cruise control. When selecting Travel Assist, steering assistance is provided even in congested areas, and it is also possible to select adaptive cruise control without steering assistance.
The Volkswagen Jetta is considered an attractive option for middle-aged people in their 50s and 60s who have experience with imported cars. If you are expecting a reasonable imported car with Volkswagen’s strengths of high-speed driving, an interface that allows for intuitive operation while retaining the basic features, and a spacious interior and trunk, this is close to the answer.
