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Today marks a big day in the world of Volkswagen, with the announcement of the next Jetta, available to the U.S. market in October. The sixth generation of Volkswagen's smaller sedan has seen some major changes from previous generations, most notably the fact that it no longer shares a platform with the Golf, as all five previous versions have.

The Jetta VI has grown over three inches in length when compared to the previous version, with 2.6 of those inches being realized as additional rear legroom. The base models (S and SE) will also see the return of the two-liter four-cylinder from the fourth-genereation car, but the 2.5-liter five-cylinder will be available on those trim levels, as well as the SEL. If you're a fan of the two-liter turbocharged engine seen elsewhere in the range, you'll have to hold out for the GLI model, which won't be available until next year. The GLI will also afford you multilink rear suspension, as well as an expected appearance upgrade.

The new Jetta is also priced much more aggressively, starting at around $16,000. Check here for pictures.


Hey All - So I just got back from Volkswagen's very big public debut of the new Jetta VI in Times Square, New York. VW pulled out all the stops setting up beach chairs, umbrellas, sand, grass, a stage, loads of lighting and more to turn Times Square into a beach party of sorts. Katy Perry also performed at the event singing three of her hit songs and taking a few minutes to mug for photos. Photos from the NYC introduction can be found HERE.

At the center of it is the all-new Jetta VI. The new car looks better in person than in photos, has nice proportions and a very clean look to it. We're almost inclined to say a "safe" look to it since it is a departure from the hotly debated Jetta V look, but each generation of the Jetta always seems to need some time to soak in a bit. Plus we're still waiting to see the GLI model which is the version most of us are waiting for.

We had a chance to sit in the car and rear seat legroom is up a whopping 2.5 inches giving the rear seat area a LOT of extra room. Most everything else on the interior seems familiar and right, however we noticed that a few of VW's hallmark soft touch materials have given way to harder plastics. Overall it is still great cabin that looks detailed and upscale, but if there was some cost cutting to get the new price point, some of the dash plastics reflect this. The trunk area also looks a bit spartan with exposed trunk hinges and fasteners that we haven't seen in a VW product in a long time. Oh and the MK4 generation 4WD ride height is back again. That covers the complaints.

Overall the car still has an upscale look to it. Opening and closing doors still gives that reassuring thunk that we expect in modern VW's. Seat materials are still top notch and the headliner is still the familiar nicer weaves used in recent models (as opposed to that horrible mouse felt stuff you see in other products). Switch gear is the same as all other modern VW's with a few new twists like push button start, a new RNS310 nav system option, tweeters in the A-pillars and more. Gauges are more spartan and look like they may have been borrowed from the new Polo. VW has overall treaded a fine line between taking too much out yet still making it feel like a proper German car. Overall everything looks and feels (with a few minor exceptions) like a proper sequel to the current Jetta V despite the drop in price. We'll know for sure when we drive it next month.

Since the new Jetta won't go on sale till September/October later this year, there are some details that haven't been announced - final pricing, fuel economy figures and more. However you can expect a base price for the bargain-basement shopper of around $14,995 with a decently equipped version for around $16,000 - a nice price drop. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to get answers. - Jamie

 

[robin_lantigua]

Very nice...

 

[Steve-VR6]

its ok, cant wait to see the GLI

 

[PennStateVR6]

I like the wheels on the blue car at the reveal, got any more pics of that? Any more info on tech specs?

 

[Blue Turbo]

Huh, dunno if I care too much for the view of the front as seen head on. Looks decent from the other angles though. The interior shots looked promising but where's the full on photos?

Still can't believe they've brought back the 2.slow. Does that mean we might see the same engine showing up in the Golf VI?

 

[Smartass]

The car looks great...

Just looking at the minor details I could pick out of the video though the features have gone backwards a little:

-Climate controls have gone back to full manual from the semi auto climatic (the temp dial is back to simple hot/cold)
-The gauge cluster looks nice but REALLY basic, no external temp display, no engine temp gauge, simple led fuel gauge.
-2.0 from the MK4? Damn! It's a reliable old engine, but wow a little low on power considering it's an even bigger car than the MK5.

Probably a good call by VW to remove some content in favor of a lower entry price. I'm very curious to see what will be in the GLI, considering it'll have a different rear suspension I'd imagine there might be some major trim differences.

 

[thesilentmovies]

I love that the 2.0 liter is back, if only to freak out the types who think every Volkswagen should have a million horsepower and be like the GTI.

 

[vdubchop2k4]

ok so i really hope that they the 2.0 is a complete revision and hope its at least an 16v cause 8v's is not going to cut it in a chassis that heavy lets be real cause even the 8v in the mk4 that thing could barely get out of its own way

 

[Air and water do mix]

ok so i really hope that they the 2.0 is a complete revision and hope its at least an 16v cause 8v's is not going to cut it in a chassis that heavy lets be real cause even the 8v in the mk4 that thing could barely get out of its own way

Barely get out of it's own way? Really? What are you, 16?

The first V8 chevy had all of 150 horsepower and this Jetta would likely keep up with it. Just because some people are spoiled with hp doesn't take away from the fact that some people want a cheap car and a tractor-simple 4 popper is a great way to get them into your showroom and into a new car.

If you want more power, judy pony up for the 5 banger and stop bitching, it's not like there isn't an option. If it were the only engine available, you'd have a gripe, but it isn't and you don't.

 

[mikeness102]

Barely get out of it's own way? Really? What are you, 16?

The first V8 chevy had all of 150 horsepower and this Jetta would likely keep up with it. Just because some people are spoiled with hp doesn't take away from the fact that some people want a cheap car and a tractor-simple 4 popper is a great way to get them into your showroom and into a new car.

If you want more power, judy pony up for the 5 banger and stop bitching, it's not like there isn't an option. If it were the only engine available, you'd have a gripe, but it isn't and you don't.

Easy there... lol The 2.0l issue that he raise is actually a pretty good point. All of the competition has revised their engines to provide either more power or better fuel efficiency, or even both. If VW expects to be looked at as a leader in automotive innovation, they can't be simply reintroducing an engine that they've been using since the mk3 (correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's been that long).

When the Jetta will be compared with the competition in a baseline fuel showdown, it will fail miserably. In a comparison of 7 compacts (don't remember which exactly, sorry for the vague ref lol) the city golf ran out of fuel the second and therefore finished fifth in the test. And with only the 2.0l and 2.5l, the Jetta will not provide any innovation in terms of fuel efficiency in the petrol engines. Saying "we have a TDI" is just not good enough, and this lack of innovation could have ramifications in terms of where the brand sits in the consumer's mind.

Aside from that, I'm curious to see what the 0-100 will be on the Jetta with that 8v :laugh:

 

[sleepbelowstars]

I love that the 2.0 liter is back, if only to freak out the types who think every Volkswagen should have a million horsepower and be like the GTI.

I actually agree with you.

I think it's a pretty good way to get that 15K price point.

I owned a 4 door golf with that motor, and for a commuter car it was nice. Plus it's a cheap engine to fuel and maintain.

 

[vivalamexico]

The rear end is very 3 series-like

 

[JETwagen]

ok so i really hope that they the 2.0 is a complete revision and hope its at least an 16v cause 8v's is not going to cut it in a chassis that heavy lets be real cause even the 8v in the mk4 that thing could barely get out of its own way

My Mk4 WAGON with 2.0L scoots along just fine and gets out of it's own way very easily. So it's not the fastest thing on the road, doesn't need to be, just needs to be fast enough to keep up with traffic and little more, which it does. It's a tried and true engine that has made back it's development $$$ and was probably chosen to get to that $16k price point, it should do well for the majority of people who will buy the basic model.

On to the real topic. Love the look of the new Jetta inside and out. If I were to buy one I wouldn't mind any of the engine choices, but I would love to see how the TSI is going to perform. :thumbup:

EDIT: a Toyota Corolla base model has a 1.8L 16v producing 132hp, the Honda Civic base model has a 1.8L 16v producing 140hp... throw 16v on the 2.0L and call it a day, it's a base engine in a base car, it's not like it's in the GTI or GLI, stop the bitching.

 

[vivalamexico]

..I would love to see how the TSI is going to perform. :thumbup:

Like a GTI with better weight distribution.

 

[cloakster]

To all those saying that they need to update the 2.0 engine, name me another car at the same price as the Jetta that will keep up with it in a straight line. The Jetta, even with the extra weight will still be faster than anything you can buy in this price range. And if you really need the extra power, chip it. Most of the competition involves 170-180HP N/A engines. I would definitely take the 2.0 Turbo engine over any of the other choices

Now my opinion on the new look, the exterior only got a little bit of an improvement, which looks more like a mid-gen facelift than a new generation and the interior looks exactly the same or even worse.

 

[onevrsix]

Really like the lines on this gen. happy I held out. I was actually looking away from vw cause I really wasn't happy with recent models but hopefully this GLI produces :thumbup:

 

[Air and water do mix]

When the Jetta will be compared with the competition in a baseline fuel showdown, it will fail miserably. In a comparison of 7 compacts (don't remember which exactly, sorry for the vague ref lol) the city golf ran out of fuel the second and therefore finished fifth in the test...

You have a point with the magazine tests. :beer:

Do most people buy cars based on magazine tests? Perhaps they do. I may get some info from them, but if they compare one car with one engine and the other powerplant is what I'd want, I don't compare that part of the test. It's null and void. I've owned an 8 valve 2.0. For freeway cruising it's a much, MUCH better engine combo than what's in the Fit, even though they're rated at the same hp. It's not even close. Naturally, the Fit is far more frugal, but if the new one is rated at 30 mpg then it's only 3 mpg less and I could certainly live with that. (Not that they are direct competitors anyway) I just get tired of hearing that the 2.0 is a lame, slow engine. It's torquey and pulls great. It's a bulldog of an engine. Exactly what it needs to be. It's the modern-day equivalent of VWs own 40 horse. Simple and robust with adequate power. That's it. Nothing sexy. They have other engines available if that's why you're buying the car.

 

[Slipstream]

The problem with the 2.0L is not the power (as others have pointed out, most don't need or care for much more than the 2.0L puts out) it's the efficiency. If the car is going to come with an inexpensive, lower-powered engine, it sure as hell better bring impressive MPG figures. I'm not super familiar with the 2.0s of old but weren't they somewhat inefficient compared to other 2.0L engines?

 

[bubuski]

Has anyone seen the platform code for NCS.

 

[Air and water do mix]

To all those saying that they need to update the 2.0 engine, name me another car at the same price as the Jetta that will keep up with it in a straight line.

I do not think that 2.0 means what you think it means [/Inigo Montoya]