Three problems related to cruise control have been reported for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below. The Jetta does not maintain speed when cruise control is engaged. The Jetta increases speed up to an increase of 20 miles and hour, with cruise control engaged while going down hill. The cruise control does not disengage when the clutch pedal is tapped or fully pressed. As soon as the clutch is released the car resumes the previous set speed. This behavior which is inconsistent with any standard vehicle I have ever driven creates an unsafe situation if the car is in cruise, approaching a slower car, and the speed is decreases by coasting. Upon re-engaging, the car speeds up and almost caused me to hit a car in front of me. Trunk lid does not stay open unless it is pushed up all the way, multiple passengers when using the trunk in different occasions were hit by the trunk lid.
VW officials describe the performance as something akin to what you'd get in 6-cylinder car. Yes, in the test drive, I zipped around city streets, making a real effort to stay within the speed limit. In passing moves on the highway, the Jetta didn't behave at all as if it only had four cylinders under the hood. I sprinted by folks easily. Riders, however, notice the high rev sounds that accompany this performance. It's similar to what you get in the high-revving Honda and Toyota four cylinders with variable valve timing technology. Here, VW uses its 5-valves-per-cylinder technology to maximize engine performance. Three of the valves are for intake and two for exhaust. The Jetta's manual isn't as precise in its feel as I'd like. But even the Jetta's automatic is geared so it doesn't sap the engine performance. But engines aren't the only noteworthy features of the Jetta. This front-wheel-drive sedan has the road feel of a downsized German touring car.
The test car traversed curvy mountain roads with confidence and stuck to its line even in gutsy maneuvers. Body lean is minimized. I especially noticed, however, how forgiving the Jetta's suspension is. You might expect a car tuned for "driving enthusiasts" to be overly firm - harsh even. But the Jetta's front independent MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam axle configuration soaked up many of the sizable road bumps, and it did it with no fuss. Yet, the car felt well planted at all times. As a result, long drives - even in mountains or in less-than-exciting suburbs - left me energized, not fatigued. The Jetta's power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering responded well to driver commands. Note that front and rear brakes in the Jetta are the more expensive discs, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) is standard on all Jettas. The Jetta interior has VW's firm seats that provide good support on long trips. And those of us who are of short stature are likely to find the Jetta one of the most accommodating cars for us. It comes standard with a height-adjustable driver seat. It operates via a lever that you just sort of crank. A steering wheel that not only adjusts up and down but also telescopes out and back is standard as well. And the dead pedal that helps you brace yourself in aggressive driving is well positioned, even for shorter drivers. But I kept bumping my hand into the high-mounted dual cupholder in the center of the dashboard. And headroom, front and rear, is less than you find in the latest small cars - the ECHO and Focus. I did enjoy the Jetta's one-touch, power up and down side windows for the front seats. But three adults in back sit very closely. The instrument cluster's lighting at night is the eye-catching, cool blue that's in the VW New Beetle. Trunk space of 13 cubic feet is about equal to that of the Focus sedan and Neon. Side airbags are standard in all Jettas.
WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc claimed its Model 3 electric car has the lowest risk of occupant injury of any vehicle in U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday said the claim goes beyond the scope of its analysis. The auto safety's agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings Program uses three crash tests and a rollover resistance assessment to come up with an overall ranking. The Model 3 achieved the top rating, five stars, on that ranking along with other vehicles such as the 2018 model Volvo S60, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta and Ford Mustang cars. Tesla said Tuesday its assessment was calculated using publicly available data, taking the weighted average of crash scores to calculate a vehicle safety score and then multiplying it by a baseline injury risk value. Tesla's analysis also said that its Model S and Model X also had a lower probability of injury than all other vehicles tested by NHTSA. Tesla said in August 2013 that the Model S had achieved a score of 5.4 stars, a figure based on Tesla麓s independent analysis of NHTSA data. Three months later, NHTSA explicitly barred companies from promoting safety scores higher than five stars. NHTSA is considering changes to its five-star crash assessment program and said it needs "to be modernized to incentivize the voluntary adoption of safety features." The agency is considering creating safety ratings for areas of vehicle performance not currently rated.
