2011 Volkswagen Jetta: Upscale with Audi Elements but with a Lower Price

The Volkswagen Jetta
has always been quite
good. I own one with
over 506,000 miles.

And for 2011, the Jetta
has been redesigned. It
has moved even more
upscale and it borrows
from the Audi offerings
(Audi is part of the VW
group).

Right out of the gate,
this Jetta has looks that

I opinion match or exceed the BMW 3-series. It has tight lines, good interior
space (including class leading rear leg room), and an integrated front and rear
end. At the front, this new Jetta has trapezoidal headlights and a tightly in-
tegrated black grille.

The side of the car and hood have distinctive cut lines that borrow from
the NCC concept and the mirrors are from the upscale CC. The rear has
two section taillights that provide an interesting visual with the trunk's
lines. The hood and trunk proportions are well balanced helping to make
the car's mid section appealing.

The wheelbase has been increased by 2.7 inches and the overall length
by 3.5 inches. The rear legroom has increased by 2.7 inches. Like the
tight well defined exterior, the interior is close to Audi like in detail,
comfort and the use of top notch materials. The rear seat folds down
to provide additional versatility. This is the first American Jetta that
will have an identical interior as the European offering.

Four engine choices will be available for the North American U.S.
and Canadian markets. These include a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with
common-rail direct-injection characterized by 50 mpg on the highway
and a 0-60 time of 8.7 seconds. The other engines include the 2.5-liter
5-cylinder putting out 170 hp, a 2.0-liiter 4-cylinder making 115 hp and
the turbo 2.0-liter making 200 hp. The transmission with be a 6-speed
standard or 6-speed DGS automatic.

The handling of the new Jetta provides good control and a buttoned
down driving experience on twisty roads. The suspension does
a good job of handling rough roads and the sound insulation is
improved over the last model.

Standard features on the new Jetta include ABS brakes, power
steering, windows, door locks, mirrors and rear window defrost.
In addition, an eight-speaker stereo system with in-dash CD player
is standard.

The entry level Jetta S will cost $15,995. This is a price drop of
about $2,500. A German sports sedan at this price is a good thing
indeed! And based on my personal experience, I know that the new
Jetta may well be capable of running over 500,000 miles.

Have an auto question or comment? You can email it to me at
Kbusch3@verizon.net.Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the
Best for the Price..." www.DriveTheBestBook.com.