This year鈥檚 SOWO: The European Experience kicks off this weekend and Volkswagen will use the event to showcase seven different concepts. First up, the Golf Alltrack Combi concept has a green exterior and a front bumper sourced from the Golf GTE. The model has also been equipped with custom graphics, H&R lowering springs and a roof rack with a Thule cargo box. The Golf GTI Rabbit Confetti concept goes in a different direction as it features a unique blue wrap with multi-colored bunnies. Designers also installed tinted windows, lowering springs and 19-inch Rotiform RSE wheels with custom aerodisk covers. The third and final Golf is the Spektrum concept. Based on the 2019 Golf R, it features a Ginster Yellow exterior from the Spektrum program. The hot hatch also has black accents, lowering springs and 20-inch Vossen wheels. Moving on, Volkswagen and Fifteen52 teamed up to produce the Jetta GLI Super Touring concept. It鈥檚 based on the Jetta GLI Autobahn and looks pretty sinister as it has an extended exhaust, a prominent rear spoiler and five-spoke wheels that are backed by a beefier braking system. Other highlights include tinted windows and K&W Variant 3 DDC coilovers. On the crossover side, Volkswagen will showcase the Tiguan Adventure concept which was created in collaboration with H&R Springs. Since the model was designed for overlanding, it has been equipped with H&R Adventure Raising Springs and 18-inch Rotiform wheels that are wrapped in all-terrain tires. The crossover also has aluminum side steps, custom graphics and a Thule Hull-a-Port kayak carrier. Besides the aforementioned concepts, Volkswagen will display the Arteon R-Line SEMA concept. The company will also be bringing the Atlas Basecamp concept which was unveiled at the New York Auto Show last month.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Jetta's LATCH system an ease-of-use rating of Acceptable, noting that the lower anchors can be tricky to maneuver around. The Jetta's cabin is nice, but it won't blow you away. It remains quiet at highway speeds and features some soft-touch materials, but you can also spot some hard plastics that detract from the overall feel. The Jetta provides just over 14 cubic feet of cargo space, which is enough room for about 10 pieces of carry-on luggage. That's a good amount of room for this class, and you can fold down the rear seats if you need to carry larger items. Standard features in the Jetta include the MIB II infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touch screen, four speakers, a USB port, Bluetooth, and VW Car-Net App-Connect, which includes connectivity options like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink. Available features include a sunroof, an eight-speaker BeatsAudio sound system, HD Radio, satellite radio, and an upgraded infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, additional VW Car-Net services, and an additional USB port.
The Jetta features a user-friendly infotainment system with plenty of smartphone connectivity technology and a responsive, easy-to-see touch screen. The dash controls are smartly arranged, but some of them might be a long reach for taller drivers. The Jetta features a decent 147-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Some class rivals have more power and provide quicker acceleration, but the Jetta's engine is adequate on both counts and moves this small sedan without any trouble. The VW Jetta gets excellent fuel economy for a nonhybrid car, earning 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. The Jetta will cost you about the same amount in gas money each year as another highly efficient car, the Honda Civic. 150 per year compared to the Ford Focus. The Jetta isn't the little sports sedan it used to be, but this VW still handles winding roads with competency and doesn't roll too much around turns. It also rides more smoothly than some other compact cars.
Is the Volkswagen Jetta Reliable? J.D. Power gives the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five. Volkswagen covers the Jetta with a six-year/72,000-mile limited warranty. This is a longer warranty than many competitors provide. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2019 Jetta the highest rating of Good in six crash tests, but its headlights received the second-lowest rating of Marginal for outward visibility. The Jetta comes standard with a rearview camera. Available driver assistance features include automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. Which Volkswagen Jetta Model Is Right for Me? You get five options when picking a VW Jetta trim (S, SE, R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium). All models feature a 147-horsepower turbo-four engine and front-wheel drive. Most trims don't offer many optional features, so you generally have to move up in trim level to get more technology. With that in mind, the SE makes a fine choice for many buyers.
