The Volkswagen Jetta, or the VW Jetta is a car that is made by the Volkswagen Company and is basically a sedan variation of the Volkswagen Golf. The name 聭VW Jetta was used only in South Africa and North America until 2005. Volkswagen used the names 聭Vento and then 聭Bora in Europe. The VW Jetta was made because the marketing people at Volkswagen were astute enough to realize that the people in the United States preferred to drive sedan model cars as opposed to hatchback models like VWs Golf car. South Africa shows similar preferences and so marketing for both America and South Africa remains almost identical. Volkswagens marketing team proved that they made advantageous observations as the Jetta eventually became the best selling European car in the United States. The Jetta first made its debut in North America in 1980. It was available as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan. This model had a different version called the Volkswagen Fox that was sold only in South Africa.
The biggest takeaways here is that the Jetta does feel more premium, and again that鈥檚 because of how it鈥檚 in a class above the Kicks despite being barely a few inches larger than the crossover. The two types of cars drive very differently though. Under the hood of this Kicks is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired to a CVT. It makes just 125 horsepower, and there is no all-wheel-drive version of the Kicks available. The Kicks isn鈥檛 alone in being a front-wheel-drive only crossover: the Kia Niro is offered like this, as is the Toyota C-HR. While many subcompact crossovers offer some kind of all-wheel-drive system, choosing one will drive up the price while reducing fuel economy. It鈥檚 not like these cars have much power to send to all four wheels anyways. Most crossovers boast all-wheel-drive to give them further separation from sedans and hatchbacks, giving people a bit more confidence in seasonal conditions.
The ideal part about this Nissan Kicks is that because it doesn鈥檛 use a turbo or all-wheel-drive system, it has managed to stay fairly lightweight. This car weighs under 2,700 lbs and you really feel that when you step on the throttle. The Kicks is eager to go and feels peppy. The CVT isn鈥檛 the most engaging, but it enables a consistently achievable combined fuel rating of 33 MPG combined. The higher center of gravity means the Kicks isn鈥檛 the most fun car to drive, but it鈥檚 at least practical. But to put it simply, the Jetta is a touch more responsive to drive and you can expect that from the vast majority of sedans out there. It鈥檚 not really the powertrain that makes sedans stand out, as this Jetta features a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It鈥檚 paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is primed to help the car earn 34 MPG combined, thanks to technology like active grille shutters and automatic start/stop.
It鈥檚 the responsiveness of the Jetta on the road that makes it stand out. Typically, Sedans have a lower center of gravity, and they can turn with a limited amount of body roll. It also feels like they respond much quicker than a crossover would. Additionally, the three-box design of the sedan means that certain road noise is mitigated by there being a hard wall between the trunk and the cabin. Some drivers will find the lower seats and legs-forward seating position to be more comfortable, but you lose the advantage of improved visibility. It鈥檚 not to say that sedans are sportier to drive, they can just feel more responsive, and some people will find the interior layout and seating position to be more comfortable. On the other hand, crossovers are practical with a lot of space for passengers and cargo, while having very little functional compromises. Sure they鈥檙e less fun to drive, but they have more ground clearance and are just as fuel efficient. If the two cars are priced the same, it鈥檚 easy to see why the crossover would be more desirable, at least for those who don鈥檛 mind trading off some driving fun for more practicality. In reality, many small crossovers like the Kicks are much more affordable than compact cars, making them almost a no-brainer for new car buyers.
