"superdave847" (superdave847)
12/04/2014 at 17:21 • Filed to: Volkswagen
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"superdave847" (superdave847)
12/04/2014 at 17:21 • Filed to: Volkswagen | 0
| 1 |
( Full Disclosure : I'm a lawyer who mostly defends or takes depositions, so I travel every week. I'm also a gearhead, having owned an AMC Jeep Wagoneer, a Kawasaki Ninja 600R, a Triumph Speed Four, various pickups, and now an E46 BMW (but currently am shopping for an E90 335i M-Sport). THUS, Volkswagen wanted me to drive this gray Jetta SO MUCH that someone sold it to National Rental Car and shipped it to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport! )
I was attending a deposition in rural Alabama and staying at the Marriott near Muscle Shoals, Alabama. My rental car was a 2014 Jetta sedan in a nice shade of "platinum gray metallic." I had a two hour drive each way from the airport to my job, with a mix of expressway and back country roads for me to slice.
Acceleration: 13/20
The Jetta is a small sedan, with a peppy, turbocharged 1.8 L inline four. I'll admit, I was disappointed at first as I sat in the driver's seat, having expected National to have a Mustang or Camaro for me to rent. But, as I pulled out onto the expressway ramp, the car surged spritely as I pressed the gas and easily merged into traffic. The power is delivered evenly despite the turbos.
I would like to try the diesel version, but the 1.8 turbo four was a solid small car engine. This is a good engine. Lightweight and rated at 170 horsepower, the Jetta has both acceptable power and fuel economy.
Handling: 15/20
The chassis feels rigid and sound. The 16" wheels do not communicate the bumps and divets in the road into the cabin. Like most front wheel drive cars with engines mounted transversely, the Jetta feels front heavy and unwieldy when turned at low speeds. Steering feel is too much or too little.
But, within this class of cars, the Jetta handles acceptably. The small size along with the peppy turbocharged engine make the car feel agile as it accelerated through turns.
Why can't Volkswagen have a cheaper version of Audi's Quattro? I think this engine and chassis would be fun with all wheel drive. And really, with the Jetta's cheap interior, I don't think VW should worry of anyone cross shopping the Jetta with the A3. With a low cost, all-wheel drive, and a manual, the Jetta might be a fun car for those looking at Subaru. Maybe the Jetta could be a Legacy fighter instead of a sorority house staple?
[If you like American pop music, Muscle Shoals should be on your short list of destinations, along with Memphis, Clarksdale, New Orleans, and Detroit.]
Interior: 4/10
The cabin is austere. The dash is simple with lots of hard black plastics. Faux-carbon fiber inserts are better than faux-wood inserts, I guess, but ultimately look cheap. The seats are stiff and supportive, but the materials are nothing special. My rental had manually adjusted seats, was equipped with Sirius XM, and did not have any bluetooth connection available for my iPhone. I was unimpressed.
Gearbox: 4/10
The Jetta has six gears to run through on the automatic, which are more than enough when matted with the 1.8 turbo to keep the car in the right RPMs. The shifts did not lag. This particular car did not have any paddle shifters, which I would have preferred on an automatic.
It is too bad rental companies only rent automatics. I think this car in particular would be more fun (like all cars really) with a manual.
Braking: 12/20
The Jetta has 11" disc brakes on the front and 10" disc brakes on the rear axle. These provide more than enough friction to quickly stop a small sedan like the Jetta.
My rental was licensed with white, "TAG APPLIED FOR" Alabama license plates, so these brakes received extra special duty helping me squeak through rural Alabama speed traps. My client told me, "Those troopers will pull you over just for having those plates, so watch your speed."
I didn't watch my speed, but I did thank these brakes!
Exterior: 8/10
I like the body of the new Jetta. I can see a lot of VW group's best from Audi and Skoda trickling down to this bargain sedan. The tail lights have clear connection to the A3 as well as the front fascia. If only the Jetta had fun LED headlights like its bigger more expensive brothers.
I give the exterior high marks for a simple, clean design and an attractive paint job.
Value: 8/10
[The famous FAME Recording Studios is still producing music from the deep south in Muscle Soals, Alabama.]
Overall, the Jetta is a great value for a small sedan at $18,000 brand new. Really the interior is the space that most needs improvement. I'll say it, the interior is really poor. But, perhaps interior is what makes a Jetta a Jetta instead of an A3.
The engine is great though. Combined with the firm chassis, solid brakes, I think Jetta purchasers will find a lot to be pleased about with this platform.
Total: 64/100
PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
> superdave847
12/04/2014 at 18:33 |
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as a 2012 GLI owner, and a son of a 2012 2.5 SE owner, I agree. The jettas are great cars with row your owns!