- New U.S. Jetta is deliberately less sophisticated than the Euro Jetta to meet cost targets.
- If the Jetta performs well, the U.S. could get the upmarket Euro version at the model's midlife point.
- The upcoming GLI trim level with multilink rear axle is the closest to the Euro Jetta that we'll get for now.
NICE, France— Volkswagen North America has made clear the strategy for the new Jetta and Passat. It is entirely different from the strategy for these cars in Europe.
After a recent drive in both a Jetta SLE with port-injected 2.5-liter five-cylinder and five-speed manual shifter around Detroit and then, right after that, the Jetta 2.0 TDI (turbocharged direct-injection diesel) in top Highline trim with six-speed dual-clutch automatic in France, the qualitative differences became even clearer. Inside Line promptly grilled Jetta Global Technical Project Leader Frank Donath.
First question was flat-out: Will there ever come the day when Volkswagen brings the real deal near-premium Jetta and Passat to North America at a competitive price?
And Donath shot back, "There is the strong chance that the midlife Jetta for North America could get all of the European features. It depends on sales performance."
Currently the base S trim for the Jetta in the U.S. starts at $15,995 with an older generation 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a solid rear axle and a five-speed manual. In Europe, the closest equivalent gas-powered Jetta is the Trendline trim with new-generation 105-hp 1.2-liter TSI twincharger four-cylinder, multilink rear axle and six-speed manual, which starts at a U.S. dollar equivalent of $24,000 before the addition of healthy German taxes. The top-trim 140-hp 2.0-liter TDI models with six-speed DSG differ thusly: $24,095 for us with the solid axle, $34,300 for them pre-tax with multilink rear axle.
Technological and material differences are significant when comparing the Jettas from either side of the Atlantic, even though the European price may seem high. First, the European VW is considered only slightly less premium than its Audi counterpart. But it's not just marketing.
"All European Jettas get the multilink rear axle, while only the next GLI trim Jetta will get the multilink rear axle in North America," says Donath.
Another truth is that all U.S. Jettas (again, apart from the imminent GLI) use the simpler PQ25 wiring harness of the VW Polo subcompact, while all European Jettas get the more sophisticated PQ36 harness. "This was decided," explains Donath, "since the North American cars have fewer complex options available." For just one instance, two-zone automatic Climatronic climate control offered in Europe is not offered on U.S. Jettas or Golfs. The U.S. Golf also uses Polo electrics.
For the interiors, European Jettas get dressed in more premium-feeling soft-touch plastics and materials, whereas everything for U.S. Jettas is hard-touch. This change also results in more noise and vibration being transmitted to the U.S. passenger cabin. The added ambient noise is also due to less advanced sound insulation (and less of it) being placed within the panels.
Inside Line says: The tough details are revealed, but there is a ray of hope. We want the European Jettas, but at what price? — Matt Davis, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
jscion says:
07:09 PM, 01/07/2012
Dumbed down Jetta is an under statement! The cheap, flimsy looking interior plastics are obvious from pictures and the seat fabrics are completely horrible. You have to get the S model with the age old 2.0L 115hp 4-cylinder to get a cheap cloth interior or else be forced to sit on leatherette seats....WTF!!! This generation Jetta in the U.S. is piss poor. The Jetta has gone from being a respectable premium compact car to a dollar store immitation BMW 3-Series.
At the very least, VW needs to bring performance and quality interior materials back to its products. The Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, and plenty of others all look to be of better quality than the Jetta. You choose any other product, you get technology and quality, you choose a Jetta you get hard plastics, old engines, and simple technology....:(
pumagtb says:
05:01 AM, 02/09/2011
I had the last Jetta (MKV) here in Brazil. And i loved it. Very solid, fast (by brazilian terms) and refined car. Refined to drive and refined at its interior finishing, way better than my current 2011 Santa Fe (low price 7 seat SUV...not brilliant but quite acceptable). I just wouldn't trade that Jetta for any Civic, Corolla, Fusion or Malibu. But this new one...
I saw the MKVI here in Brazil on a highway a month ago and it was probably doing tests- haven't started to sale yet - for the flexfuel 2.0l engine we're going to have here (same 2.0 of US).
It appears to be bigger, but just looks cheaper!!
The last Jetta used to make people think it was an Audi or any other premium sedan. This new one. Is just boring and badly made. In Brazil it even will be sold with only front airbags, as basic Civic's and Corolla's.
Jetta used to be a car here for the ones who wanted a sporty car without having to submit themselfs to something quite extreme and fuzzy looking as a Civic Si. It used to be an elegant sporty and confortable car. Now, it's just elegant. I would ratter have a Kia Optima than a Jetta 2.5 now.
skw0123 says:
10:32 PM, 01/31/2011
I saw the new Jetta at the LA Auto Show and was really quite appalled. The interior looked ok(ish), but the details were really downmarket and cheap. It's one thing to cut costs but flimsy interior bits really don't cut it anymore.
The 2012 Focus puts the whole thing in perspective...Ford decided to stop stripping out its American cars and is building them to a high (European) standard for North America. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, but with the Focus and the new Elantra on tap (and a new Civic for that matter), there is really no reason to settle for a Jetta at this point.
juan_mx says:
10:05 AM, 01/27/2011
@charlesb
The new factory in Chattanooga is not for the New Jetta, it is for the New Passat and other VWs (read the article "2013 VW Golf Could Be Built in U.S.").
2011 Jettas are assembled in the Puebla (Mexico) plant.
jemem says:
09:49 AM, 01/27/2011
+1 ed341
charlesb says:
10:55 PM, 01/26/2011
Volkswagen built a new factory to product this larger U.S. market Jetta and now they are going to bring in the Euro one. Sounds kind of bass ackwards to me.
tazereli says:
08:51 PM, 01/26/2011
This gives me a laugh..."an older generation 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder". Werent these the same 2.slow offered in the Jetta 3's?
isend2c says:
04:02 PM, 01/26/2011
or, they could just scrap it and give us an old model back...
adrn_10 says:
03:56 PM, 01/26/2011
VW went back 10 years with this Jetta. Last generation was better. Before that, the best! Now it's just crap!
flea7 says:
12:55 PM, 01/26/2011
If it performs well? I hope they are not talking quality. Absolutly the worst car I ever owned. It was fun to drive though. The two days a month it wasn't in the shop.