Calgary, Alberta - Volkswagen鈥檚 drive to rebuild in North America continues with the debut of an all-new Jetta as a 2019 model. 1,000 of additional equipment. There鈥檚 a single engine option across all grades, a 147-horsepower 1.4-liter gasoline turbo, paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic. 29,095 Execline tested here. 2019 Jetta Redesign: What鈥檚 New? The 2019 Jetta鈥檚 looks benefit from its MQB underpinnings in the form of a shorter front overhang and longer wheelbase, opening the door to a more coupe-like silhouette. The chrome grille bars and strong horizontal crease along its side place the car firmly in VW鈥檚 current design language and the look is completed by LED lights front and rear. The design won鈥檛 be mistaken for anything other than a Volkswagen but that鈥檚 no bad thing. The 17in rims on this Execline test car are said to have aerodynamic benefits but they鈥檙e no beauties; the thriving VW aftermarket scene will doubtless deliver more attractive options. Volkswagen Jetta for 2019: How Does it Perform?
The old Jetta was a standard bearer in North America for Volkswagen鈥檚 now discredited TDI diesel technology. There are doubtless plenty of diesel fans out there who鈥檒l mourn its passing but alternatives are out there, notably in the form of the Chevrolet Cruze and its 1.6-liter 鈥榃hisper鈥?diesel motor. However, the Jetta鈥檚 EA211, 1.4-turbo engine strikes an excellent balance between performance and economy. You might feel the effect of four adults on board but in general the power is more than adequate and the maximum torque of 184 lb-ft - available from only 1,400rpm - provides plenty of zip around town. Perhaps surprisingly, the Execline鈥檚 8-speed auto does little to dilute the fun. There鈥檚 a Tiptronic manual shift override if you prefer to choose your own gears but a 6-speed manual gearbox is also available. If mildly sporty, European-style sedans are your thing then it鈥檚 well worth a closer look. US buyers can add a six-year/72,000-mile transferable warranty to the Jetta鈥檚 list of virtues; Canadian customers make do with four years/80,000km.
The detuned-Golf GTI feel continues with the excellent, proven MQB chassis. One criticism of the driving performance would be the thudding (though never crashy) secondary ride. On 17in Tornado Metallic wheels at least, the Jetta isn鈥檛 great over bumps and holes in the road - just like the Atlas we drove last year, in fact. If it bothers you enough then you might want to consider swapping the low-rolling-resistance Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 tires for something a little more supple. It鈥檚 a while since this reviewer has seen a center console angled toward the driver, but the 2019 Jetta has one. It certainly accentuates the car鈥檚 sporty, driver-focused ethos though I鈥檓 not sure it adds too much practical value. There are easy-to-use buttons and dials for the heating and ventilation controls and as in the higher grades of Atlas there鈥檚 also an 8-inch touchscreen that complements the 鈥楧igital Cockpit鈥?display in the instrument binnacle.
The digital screens are clear to read and easy to reconfigure though I couldn鈥檛 find an analog-style speedometer dial among the available options. The central touchscreen benefits from proximity sensing, reducing the need for repeated, distracting shoves of the finger when you don鈥檛 hit it right first time. Smartphone-style pinch and swipe operations are also possible and there鈥檚 phone connectivity through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the OS-agnostic MirrorLink system. In the US only for the time being, Volkswagen鈥檚 OnStar-style connectivity service, Car-Net, is available through a subscription after a free six-month trial. Remote vehicle access, emergency call, roadside assistance, errant-teen-monitoring speed alert notifications and a host of 鈥楪uide & Inform鈥?enhanced infotainment services are all on the menu. I鈥檝e no quibble with paying extra for fuel price information and sports scores via SiriusXM, for example, but would have preferred safety-related services like automatic crash notification and emergency call to be provided free of charge.
