7 Things You Should Know
For 2019, Volkswagen鈥榮 classy compact got a major update. We gave the new model a whuppin鈥?on some twisties in the Tar Heel State. Here鈥檚 what you need to know if you鈥檙e in the market for a new sedan. The Jetta鈥攏ow 40 years old鈥攅nters model year 2019 on a new platform鈥擵W鈥檚 MQB architecture, the same as its amusingly proficient Golf. Compared with the more playful-seeming Civic, the Jetta seems like the grown up in the room. But it鈥檚 not priced that way鈥攁nd you should maybe even consider it if you鈥檙e in the market for a first car for a teenager. 28,000, with options like a panoramic sunroof, the 10-inch Digital cockpit, rain-sensing wipers, and more. 25 billion in claims and buy back around half a million cars, due to its emissions cheats? Hard to imagine, but the whole scheme unraveled just under three years ago. In an effort to rebuild trust in the brand, VW is giving the new Jetta an impressive warranty (inline with most of its other new models): six years or 72,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
That鈥檚 double the Honda Civic鈥檚 basic warranty. It鈥檚 transferrable, too: When you sell it, the next owner will retain its benefits. Though you鈥檒l likely find nothing lacking in the Jetta鈥檚 8-speed automatic, implemented by VW here for the first time, you can still opt for a six-speed manual鈥攁n increasing rarity. During a jaunt around Durham, NC, and its backroads, we got just over 36 miles a gallon in the new Jetta. That鈥檚 better than the 34 mpg stated by VW, and likely a tad better than you鈥檇 see from a Chevy Cruze or a Honda Civic. The jump in fuel economy is due in part to the new design鈥檚 lower coefficient of drag, and active louvers in the grille. The Jetta鈥檚 upscale audio option ushers in a new partnership with Beats by Dre for an upscale soundsystem鈥攖he same spot where Fender played in the past. The Beats system distributes 400 watts across seven speakers, including a subwoofer housed in the spare wheel well. Beats engineers claim they tuned the system for a sound that鈥檚 similar to what engineers hear in the studio. We were only mildly impressed by its soundstage, but stepped into a model without the system and immediately missed it. If you鈥檙e in the market, drive one with, one without, and make the call yourself.
Front-seat comfort is excellent, despite limited 6-way adjustment for both front chairs. If you want, you can sit up high in this car, enjoying an exceptional view out. The center console armrest design is brilliant, sliding fore and aft and adjustable to height to ensure a perfect position. Rear-seat comfort, on the other hand, is elusive. There simply isn鈥檛 much room back there, though VW does make it more agreeable for adults by fully padding the front seat backs. The rear seat lacks air vents, too, making this an unhappy place to be on sweltering summer days. Speaking of which, Volkswagen鈥檚 V-Tex leatherette upholstery might look and feel like real leather, but it breathes poorly, trapping sweat and wrinkling clothing in the summer. As tested in Southern California during temperate weather, the Golf鈥檚 climate control system worked effectively鈥攕ave for the lack of rear-seat air conditioning vents. The test vehicle had a new top-shelf Volkswagen infotainment system with an 8-in. display screen mounted beneath a flush piece of glass containing stereo power/volume and tuning knobs as well as touch-sensing main menu shortcuts.
Equipped with a long list of features, including three different smartphone-projection platforms and text-messaging support, this system boasts faster response to input, improved graphics, upgraded voice recognition, and Car-Net App Connect and subscription service technologies. Fully featured and easy to use, the infotainment system impresses. And the Golf鈥檚 standard sound system is decent, too. Utility is the promise a 5-door hatchback makes, and the Golf delivers by providing 52.7 cu. A 60/40 split design, the rear seat also offers a pass-through, which makes it possible to carry long and thin items at the same time as you鈥檝e got two passengers back there. With the rear seat raised, trunk room measures 22.8 cu. However, that measurement includes space under the cargo floor as well as above the cargo cover. As a practical matter, even if you drop the adjustable load floor to its lowest setting, you鈥檙e unlikely to use more than two-thirds of that amount of the space.
Interior storage is generous, even if the center console bin itself is rather small. Seeing out of a Volkswagen Golf is no problem, and for 2018 a new high-resolution reversing camera is standard. Excellent outward visibility provides the driver with an added measure of confidence on the road, and makes the car exceptionally easy to park. All 2018 Golfs include an automatic post-collision braking system. Activated following a crash, this is designed to get the car stopped just as soon as is possible after the initial impact in order to prevent secondary impacts that can injure passengers following air bag deflation. It鈥檚 an important feature, and few vehicles offer it. In crash testing, the Golf earns a 5-star (out of 5) rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and mostly 鈥淕ood鈥?ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). A turbocharged, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine powers the Golf, and you鈥檝e got a choice between a 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine generates 170 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. With the manual gearbox, it makes 184 lb.-ft. 1,600 rpm to 4,400 rpm. With the 6-speed automatic, torque measures 199 lb.-ft. Turbo lag is nearly indiscernible, and because all of the car鈥檚 power is made below 5,000 rpm, it is easy to tap into during daily driving. Better yet, enthusiastic driving appears to have no effect on fuel economy. Tasty German driving dynamics are baked right in to a 2018 Golf. This isn鈥檛 the sportiest version of the car, with GTI and Golf R variants providing more power and performance, but the standard Golf is nevertheless a communicative and responsive machine. Equipped with 16-in. wheels, modest 205/55 all-season tires, compliant suspension tuning, and rather light steering, this VW dances down any road with the grace of a ballerina. It goes where you point it, without any drama, occasionally thrilling its driver in the process.
