Posted on Dec 30, 2017 in
AUTO REVIEW
absolutely! AUTO REVIEW | By Steve Kursar –
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta is a family sedan that delivers so much more than it appears to at first glance. This German car definitely benefits from sharing DNA with its impressive corporate siblings, Audi and Porsche. What looks like a roomy, unthreatening family hauler has the ability to handle and move down the highway like a true Teutonic sportscar. The engineering touches in the new Jetta give it a sparkling personality.
Volkswagen has been linked with Porsche since the 1930s when the early Porsche cars shared components with the VW. And when Audi joined the Volkswagen Group back in 1965, VW engineers started designing platforms that would be shared across the brands. What that often means for Volkswagen owners is that they get a vehicle that has to function to the much higher standards of the two luxury performance brands. The Jetta that has to appeal to the typical family car buyer also has a little hidden driving excitement tucked under the skin ready to be unleashed.
Volkswagen has three engines options to offer to the Jetta buyer. For a starting MSRP of $18,645, the base Jetta gets a 150 hp, 1.4 liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The mid-trim levels offer the 170 hp, 1.8 liter engine that delivers better performance with slightly worse fuel economy than the base with 25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The top of the line Jetta GLI packs a wallop with the 210 hp, 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine that gets 24 mpg city/ 33 mpg highway. The GLI engine transforms the Jetta into a Rally car capable of some serious fun.
The new Jetta is very roomy, allowing five adults a comfortable ride during a long journey. The interior materials lack the sophistication and refinement of its Audi cousin that’s available a much higher price point. The audio controls are not nearly as user friendly as its domestic and Japanese counterparts but that may be due to German engineers’ hard-core belief that when you drive, you keep both hands on the wheel and not on the radio dial.
Volkswagen is looking to expand its market share in the U.S., and the newest Jetta has been designed to appeal to American families. The fun part comes with discovering the German performance once you hit the road.
