What Edmunds Says
While the new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is bigger yet more affordable than before, it has lost many of the special attributes that formerly distinguished it from the pack.

Pros
Spacious interior and trunk; well-equipped; smart electronics interface; fuel-efficient diesel model.

Cons
Disappointing interior quality; slow throttle response with automatic; numb steering; sluggish base engine.

Read more

 

This review has not been verified yet by the personnel of Rekonit

There are more than one score, we present their average.

The good: The cabin tech interface in the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL looks good and is easy to use. The Bluetooth phone system offers dial by name through voice command. Fuel economy comes in at the high 20s.
The bad: The manual transmission only has five gears, and the engine feels short of the claimed 170 horsepower. The navigation system lacks advanced features.

Read more

 

Calling this car Jetta was probably a mistake. This new for '11 Volkswagen compact gives up much in cabin refinement and noise suppression in the name of cost control, and the result is a German car that is a little less German. That said, the new Jetta is quite the nice ride, with good power (with the 2.5-liter engine), a compliant ride, and the expected fun-to-drive character expected from VW. In SEL trim Jetta seems pricey, especially with its new less-dressy cabin, but more modestly priced models make a compelling case for buyers who'd rather not go the 3/Civic/Corolla route.

Read more

 

There are more than one score, we present their average.

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is more than just a redesigned car -- it represents a whole new mission for Volkswagen's compact sedan. The new Jetta has been designed to bring more buyers into Volkswagen dealerships, with more space, more equipment and a lower price. But price cuts have to come from somewhere, and the new Jetta has been -- to use the automotive vernacular -- "decontented". Was moving the Jetta down-market a smart move? Read on.

Read more

 

To drive it feels almost, but not quite, like a Golf. The longer wheelbase together with the MacPherson strut front and independent rear suspension gives the Jetta a ride and handling head-start and in most aspects it’s acceptable, if a bit noisy over bumps.

Read more

 

But ‘beige’ sells – the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla account for over a half-million units a year – so maybe Volkswagen figures that by ironing out all the personality, to make the Jetta more of an appliance, it has a better shot at market success.

The Jetta isn’t a bad car, it’s just a disappointing one. If you’re the kind of customer who buys by the inch, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bargain. But if you’re looking for driver satisfaction and a little joie de vivre, shop elsewhere.

Read more