The Volkswagen Jetta has been the brand鈥檚 best-seller in the United States for over three decades, but there鈥檚 a new challenger in its midst. And it鈥檚 sitting next to it in showrooms. Like so many compact sedans in recent years, the Jetta has been surpassed by an SUV, the Tiguan, which takes up about the same amount of floor space, but provides seating for seven and plenty of stuff above it. But the Jetta鈥檚 not down for the count. With an all-new 2019 model on sale now, it managed to squeak out a win in July by a couple of hundred units. As popular as it was, the last-generation Jetta was a watered-down effort designed to compete on cost in the U.S., and it was missing the premium feel of previous editions. The new one is built on the same modular platform used by the Golf and Audi A3, not to mention the Tiguan and Atlas, and is a step back in the right direction.
19,440, undercutting most of its competitors. 800. All-wheel-drive isn鈥檛 available, and neither is a high performance GLI version. The Jetta features crisp, unadventurous styling inside an out. It looks like a freshly-pressed business suit. Nature would be appalled by all the straight lines, but it鈥檚 a well-made outfit. High end trim levels can be had with ambient lighting and a full digital instrument cluster that glitz and tech it up. All of the controls would feel right at home in a far more expensive car. 450 option on the entry-level Jetta, but standard on others. The second-from-the-top SEL that I tested adds radar adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, plus leatherette upholstery. The turbo engine is smooth and quiet, but a little more punch would be welcome on highway merges. Its efficiency is excellent, however, and won鈥檛 leave you wanting for VW鈥檚 long-gone diesels. The Jetta is EPA rated at 34 mpg combined and 40 mpg highway, and easily hits those marks. Ride quality is equally impressive, delivering an upscale blend of comfort and poise. The Jetta loves the highway, as German cars should, and can still handle a smack from a good old American-size pothole downtown. It鈥檚 not a thrill-seeker, but it won鈥檛 complain much if you are. Even without the display behind the steering wheel, VW鈥檚 latest infotainment system is a delight. It鈥檚 equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, has a responsive touchscreen and, most important, knobs for both volume and tuning. Because on-screen icons can never properly replace either of those.
If you go with the Toyota Yaris Sedan, you'll have a much easier time finding a large enough space to park than you will with the Volkswagen Jetta. The Toyota Yaris Sedan has much less torque than the Volkswagen Jetta, which generally means that it won't feel as fast or powerful. The Toyota Yaris Sedan has a significantly smaller turning radius than the Volkswagen Jetta, allowing much better maneuverability in and out of tight spots. When it comes to horsepower, the Toyota Yaris Sedan is significantly less powerful than the Volkswagen Jetta. The good news is that, reportedly, cars with lower horsepower engines often have lower insurance premiums. In terms of seating you'll be able to fit the same number of people in both the Toyota Yaris Sedan and the Volkswagen Jetta. The Toyota Yaris Sedan has less cargo capacity than the Volkswagen Jetta, which is okay if you don't need to move a lot in one trip.
What kind of transmission does the 2009 Volkswagen Eos have? The 2009 Volkswagen Eos has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2004 Volkswagen Golf have? The 2004 Volkswagen Golf has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2014 Volkswagen CC have? The 2014 Volkswagen CC has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2002 Volkswagen Golf have? The 2002 Volkswagen Golf has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2010 Volkswagen CC have? The 2010 Volkswagen CC has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2006 Volkswagen GTI have? The 2006 Volkswagen GTI has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2014 Volkswagen GTI have? The 2014 Volkswagen GTI has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2007 Volkswagen Jetta has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2011 Volkswagen Eos have? The 2011 Volkswagen Eos has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2008 Volkswagen Jetta has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2011 Volkswagen GTI have? The 2011 Volkswagen GTI has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2005 Volkswagen Passat have? The 2005 Volkswagen Passat has a 5-speed manual. What kind of fuel does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat use? The 2012 Volkswagen Passat runs on regular unleaded.
