2019 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews: They are out and they are positive

The automotive press simply loves the all-new 2019 VW Jetta, there’s no question about that. Check out some of the latest reviews.

After eight years playing in the mass-market sandbox, the Volkswagen Jetta gets outfitted with a near-premium persona for its 2019 redesign.

The corresponding increase in price – MSRPs now start at $20,995 – isn’t nearly as steep as it may seem. Yes, the MSRP for the outgoing 2017 model was only $16,395, but that was for the base Trendline trim, a get-’em-in-the-door price leader without air conditioning. VW Canada didn’t offer a 2018 model. 

The 2019 Jetta starts with the Comfortline trim, which includes A/C, heated seats, LED headlamps, smartphone integration, alloy wheels, cruise control, a backup camera and 6.5-inch touchscreen system.

That’s in the ballpark of similarly equipped mainstream competition (though heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel won’t be available until later in the year). While Volkswagen Canada chief Daniel Weissland acknowledges VW’s pricing is about five per cent higher than mainstream rivals, in return buyers get a German-engineered car that can cruise all day long at 250 km/h on the autobahn. Also, drivers receive a four-year, 80,000-kilometre warranty – The Globe and Mail

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The turbo four and eight-speed auto make a fine pair. It’s a smooth, eager, lag-free, and generally quiet powerplant that packs a healthy whack of torque, allowing for effortless getaways and easy passing. The auto is also a smooth operator, not averse to kick-downs and, when the shifter is tapped into sport mode, it responds instantly to manual operation (forward for upshifts, back for downshifts).

Opt for the six-speed manual and you get smooth clutch take-up and easy shift action, although its operation is more pleasant than outright sporty, and the engine has an annoying tendency to rev-hang between upshifts. The manually equipped Honda Civic is similarly afflicted.

Within the first few hundred metres of piloting the 2019 Jetta, you get what this car is all about. If you’re used to the Volkswagen driving experience, all will be familiar. Whether you pick the auto or manual transmission, the little 1.4L turbo spins a lazy 2,000 rpm when cruising at 120 km/h. This car has legs.

Handling is accurate and progressive with no surprises – the Jetta carved these sinuous roads with typical VW poise, showing a bit more of said poise on the 17-inch wheels. The steering might be a bit light and vague for some tastes. This seventh-gen Jetta uses a less sophisticated (and less costly) torsion-beam rear suspension as opposed to the multi-link setup found on the Golf, but out on the road you don’t feel any penalty – AutoTrader

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The new Jetta continues with the previous 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, with 147 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The power is relayed to the road through the front wheels and either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, both of which are new and offered on all models. Interestingly, both offer the same fuel economy rating of 7.0 L/100 kilometres.

On the drive, the Jetta with the automatic proved to have ample pep. No, it is not going to set your heart aflutter, but the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly, and always found the right gear to make the most of the strong low- and mid-range torque. In somewhat of a surprise, the tester produced an average of 6.6 L/100 kilometres on the drive route, which is very good. The combination also proved to be very quiet at highway speeds — here the new Jetta sets a class benchmark. There is virtually no engine noise, and both wind and road noise is equally muted. It’s Lexus-like in its serenity. As for the performance, an impromptu dash saw the Jetta run from rest to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, which is par for the course in the segment – Driving.ca

To learn more about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, contact us today at Turner Volkswagen!