The 1980 model year was a big one for Volkswagen of America. It was not many years later that the Jetta became the best-selling German model in America, with more than 3.2 million models sold since. With the new 2019 Jetta hitting dealers now, we put a first-generation example side-by-side with the modern Jetta to show off just how much has changed in nearly four decades. The Mk1 Jetta here is a 1982 model acquired and restored by Volkswagen of America last year to good driving condition that belies its 180,000-mile odometer reading. Designed to provide space and openness in a Rabbit-based package, sitting in the Jetta feels upright by today鈥檚 standards. In front of the driver lies the traditional VW analog dash in a minor symphony of brown and beige shades, from the chocolate-covered dash to the latte-colored cut-pile carpet. By the standards of 1980, the Jetta offered enough power for a subcompact sedan - 76 horsepower from its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.
Acceleration was not rapid, especially with the optional three-speed automatic in place of the standard five-speed manual, but the Jetta鈥檚 handling and road feel were better than expected for the segment in the era. So too were the space for four, the sizable trunk and decent fuel economy for its competitive set. Driving the 1982 edition today reminds you of how much vehicles have grown. Riding on 13-inch wheels, the Jetta feels diminutive in traffic, but also wonderfully connected with the road. The unassisted steering can be a bit tough in a parking spot, but once at speed it鈥檚 easy to see what made the original Jetta attractive to drivers in its era. The Jetta has also grown over the years to hold five passengers and their luggage, with markedly better performance and fuel economy. Where road noise thrums into the Mk1 Jetta, it鈥檚 in the background of the 2019 edition. For all these dramatic changes, the biggest one may be the least obvious: how much the Jetta鈥檚 value has grown. 18,545, before destination charges, a price cut from its previous generation, and comes with a long list of standard features. 7,650, excluding extra-cost options such as alloy wheels or air conditioning. 23,000 in today鈥檚 money. What the first-generation Jetta and its 2019 counterpart share is the philosophy that an affordable compact car doesn鈥檛 have to sacrifice performance or comfort. That will be true no matter how many more decades the Jetta rolls through America.
After that comes the base models with the lowest price tags. I generally advise folks against buying base models 鈥?in part because the lack of features hurts resale value, but also because they lack safety features and some other modern amenities like navigation or automatic climate control. Given all that, though, is there a base model out there worth buying? One with enough features that it can stand up to competitors? Out here in Los Angeles, a base model of Volkswagen鈥檚 newly redesigned 2019 Jetta compact sedan was available for testing. I spent a week in one to see if it can escape the base-model basement. 800 option (a six-speed manual is standard). I am inclined to heed the imperative. One thing that I appreciate Volkswagen doing right out of the gate: The powertrain on the base Jetta isn鈥檛 neutered. You don鈥檛 get an automatic gearbox with fewer speeds or a less powerful engine. The Toyota Corolla doesn鈥檛 skimp in this way, but its engine is a dud, too.
The new 2019 Corolla Hatchback gets a better engine, but the sedan remains underwhelming for 2019; its combo 1.8-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission drives like it needs a cup of coffee. But the Jetta S? It鈥檚 torquey and approaches something I鈥檇 call fun. Volkswagen still saves its better engine for the Golf, but the Jetta is no slouch. The engine and gearbox are responsive, and with its redesign, the Jetta rides on Volkswagen鈥檚 solid MQB platform 鈥?and that means it has solid dynamics and some handling acumen to boot. This surely doesn鈥檛 drive like a base model. There are a few surprising inclusions with the Jetta S, starting with the exterior, which features LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights, a feature usually reserved for more expensive vehicles. It鈥檚 also got automatic headlights and a backup camera, but that鈥檚 about as far as safety features go. Inside the Jetta, there鈥檚 a 6.5-inch color touchscreen (but the menus and graphics are basically grayscale).
