There鈥檚 not much new to report on the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Brand-new for the 2011 model year, the 2012 Jetta features a couple new options, and a few new option packages. For 2012 Volkswagen has bundled up some of its more requested standalone options, into packages. The new packages include a Sunroof Package, and a Convenience Package. A newly available option for the 2012 model year across all Jettas is a Fender-branded and Panasonic-developed audio system. The Jetta continues to be offered with three engine options for 2012. The base 2.0-liter I-4 produces a meager 115 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The next engine up the food chain is the 2.5-liter I-5 cranking out 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque that sees duty across Volkswagen鈥檚 lineup. The last available engine is the torquey and fuel-efficient 140-hp 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 with 236 lb-ft of torque, that鈥檚 capable of an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.
Although the Jetta shows signs of cost savings in the interior (hard plastics, and cheap fabrics are abundant) it鈥檚 still a fairly decent place to be. The Jetta offers amenities like satellite navigation and satellite radio, and is plenty roomy for passengers both in the front, and rear. With the introduction of the Jetta GLI this year, the rest of the Jetta lineup just gets minor tweaks and changes for the 2012 model year. This year, Volkswagen has bundled up some of its more requested standalone options into packages including a Sunroof package and a Convenience package. A newly available option for the 2012 Jetta is a Fender Guitar-branded and Panasonic-developed audio system. Rather reserved in appearance compared to its predecessor, the Jetta carries over to 2012 with no exterior changes. The Jetta S comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, a black plastic grille, and black mirror caps. The Jetta SE also has 15-inch steel wheels (with 16-inch alloys an option), a black grille, and body color mirror caps. The Jetta SEL gains 17-inch alloy wheels and a chrome-accented grille. The Jetta TDI features five-spoke 16-inch wheels, body color mirrors, and a chrome-accented grille. With the Jetta GLI carrying the performance flag for the Jetta, the rest of the lineup doesn鈥檛 feature any barnburners. There are no changes in regards to safety for 2012 model year Volkswagen Jettas. All Jettas still come standard with front, and front side mounted airbags, and side air curtain airbags in the front and rear. The 2012 Jetta also comes standard with ABS, electronic brake pressure distribution, hydraulic brake assist and an un-defeatable traction and electronic stability control system. The Jetta also features Volkswagen鈥檚 Intelligent Crash Response System, which will unlock the doors, turn off the fuel pump, and activate the Jetta鈥檚 hazard lights in the event the vehicle鈥檚 airbags are deployed.
Most people considering a Jetta are probably, looking for a relatively cheap, reliable daily commuter car, and the Jetta delivers on that front, complete with one of the best warranties in the business. All Jettas come with CarPlay and Android Auto support standard, which is great as even an entry-level buyer can end up with a fairly powerful infotainment system based around their phone. I do wish that an 8-inch display, or even a 7-inch one, was standard, as it would give a bit bigger palette for CarPlay. Many apps look fine on the smaller 6.5-inch screen found on lower Jetta trims, but navigation in particular suffers from the limited screen space. It's always nice to have some sort of extra display space to show more than CarPlay, whether it be a split widescreen main display, a secondary one on the dash, or a multifunction one in the driver's cluster. It's great that these lower-level Jetta trims include one, but it could stand to some improvement in both looks and functionality. 19,000, and with CarPlay being a standard feature it's one of the cheapest ways to get into a CarPlay-equipped vehicle. Manufacturers are rapidly bringing CarPlay support downmarket in both models and trims, but it's good to see VW being one of the leaders here. If anything, CarPlay is more important on a low-end trim than it is on a maxed-out vehicle with its own navigation system and all of the other bells and whistles.
That's better but not great, matching the 2019 Toyota Corolla but behind the 2019 Golf, which wears the same tires as the Jetta but still manages to stop in 177 feet. The new Jetta leapfrogs its platform-mate in one area: Digital Cockpit. Four years ago, a larger version of this 10.3-inch reconfigurable screen, which replaces the traditional speedometer and tachometer, was auto-show hoopla from Audi. 40,000-plus Golf R. Even without it, though, lower-trim Jettas have a great analog cockpit. One pod encircles the main instrument panel and infotainment system, with the touchscreen perched high on the dashboard and canted toward the driver. This seamless control center proclaims the Jetta's driver-centric mission even if it's not actually a driver's car. The Jetta is good, certainly better than previous generations. The old cut-rate interior is much improved. The Jetta now offers one of the most comprehensive feature sets in its class, and the price even gets an across-the-board trim. 19,440, which undercuts competitors like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla by a few hundred dollars. But like most carmakers, Volkswagen reserves the stuff you want鈥攚hether it's a bigger touchscreen or an upgraded audio system or adaptive cruise control鈥攆or the higher trim levels. 2000. Also, you get what you pay for. The Jetta is not as much fun to drive as the Golf. Its performance attributes are not as well balanced.
I'm hunting for a car. Not just any car, though: I want to distance myself from foreign oil, I want something futuristic and cool聟 and I want to save a few bucks along the way as well. I want something different. In short, I want an alt-fuel car. 108,000 at a two-seater with no trunk. The car I pick would have to be practical enough to use every day. 16,750 Toyota Corolla LE聴which have made some impressive strides of their own in terms of emissions controls, fuel economy, and safety. In other words, I was hoping to find the automotive equivalent of ExtremeTech's "bang for the watt" PC : a green car with minimal compromises. 22,000; all base prices given in this article exclude destination charges). And I had done all the research I possibly could. It was time to just sit in the things and drive聴so that's what I did.
