Jetta SEL
I like this car more than I originally thought I would. Although it could use a bit more curves to it, the styling is decent. Still bland overall but in some colors it does resemble a cheaper Audi A4 which is not a bad car to aspire to be. The one thing I've always loved about VW is the solid way the doors shut with sort of a "thud". Having previously owned a Rabbit, a Golf, & a GTI over the years I can honestly say I've always felt very safe behind the wheel & today's Jetta is no different.
On the inside is where you can tell the bean counters within VW really chopped the product planners at the knees! For $16k, the cheap feeling is acceptable because lets face it at that price point if you're expecting Lexus levels of quality & materials then you've been smoking the peace pipe a bit too long. However, as soon as I'm asked to spend over $25k I do expect to open the glove box & not feel like in about a year my passenger will be wearing it in his/her lap. Also, I can usually figure out navigation & audio units with a fair amount of ease, but these RNS 300 series units are a whole different ball of wax.
Finally, my advice when shopping the Jetta is to check out the manual transmission models because they are a lot of fun! I'll admit I was a little gun shy when I first drove the TDI clean diesel Jetta. This was due in part to my experiencing flashbacks of the last VW diesel I drove. Other cars speeding past me honking angrily & waving not so kind hand gestures at me as I tried to conquer that long hill on the 405 fwy known as the Sepulveda Pass going no more than 45mph....IN SECOND GEAR mind you...pouring black diesel smoke out the back of my cream beige1984 Rabbit Diesel like I had cornered the market on it! VW's current clean diesel is nothing like the lackluster turtle driven soot filled diesels of yore. No sir, this thing has balls & not a speck of smoke in sight. In fact at times I think the TDI was actually quieter inside the cabin & outside at idle than the 5-cylinder version I drove. Plus lets face it.....42 MPG on the highway? C'mon that alone should get you into the dealer for a look see!
On the inside is where you can tell the bean counters within VW really chopped the product planners at the knees! For $16k, the cheap feeling is acceptable because lets face it at that price point if you're expecting Lexus levels of quality & materials then you've been smoking the peace pipe a bit too long. However, as soon as I'm asked to spend over $25k I do expect to open the glove box & not feel like in about a year my passenger will be wearing it in his/her lap. Also, I can usually figure out navigation & audio units with a fair amount of ease, but these RNS 300 series units are a whole different ball of wax.
Finally, my advice when shopping the Jetta is to check out the manual transmission models because they are a lot of fun! I'll admit I was a little gun shy when I first drove the TDI clean diesel Jetta. This was due in part to my experiencing flashbacks of the last VW diesel I drove. Other cars speeding past me honking angrily & waving not so kind hand gestures at me as I tried to conquer that long hill on the 405 fwy known as the Sepulveda Pass going no more than 45mph....IN SECOND GEAR mind you...pouring black diesel smoke out the back of my cream beige1984 Rabbit Diesel like I had cornered the market on it! VW's current clean diesel is nothing like the lackluster turtle driven soot filled diesels of yore. No sir, this thing has balls & not a speck of smoke in sight. In fact at times I think the TDI was actually quieter inside the cabin & outside at idle than the 5-cylinder version I drove. Plus lets face it.....42 MPG on the highway? C'mon that alone should get you into the dealer for a look see!
Jetta TDI SE
+
- Impressive Rear Passenger & Trunk Room
- Starting Price
- Engaging & Fun to Drive
- Again...Frustrating Audio/Navigation
- Bland Styling
- Leatherette feels cheap
- Cheap Interior Materials
TEST VEHICLES = $24,000 (SE) / $26,000 (SEL)
2012 VW Jetta SEL
Candy White
Titan Black Leatherette
Candy White
Titan Black Leatherette
170 hp 5-cylinder
Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive
Power Sunroof, Windows, Door Locks, & Mirrors
Heated Seats
17" Wheels
Fender Premium Sound
Navigation
Navigation
2012 VW Jetta TDI SE
Tornado Red
Titan Black Leatherette
140 hp 4-cylinder Clean Diesel
Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive
Power Sunroof, Windows, Door Locks, & Mirrors
Heated Seats
16" Wheels
Fender Premium Sound
Navigation
Navigation
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