In its previous generations, the Volkswagen Jetta has been known as a compact sporty sedan. How does the new 2013 Jetta compare? Well, it is noticeably larger, but less expensive! That's right. The new Jetta is larger and costs less than its outgoing previous model.

New Features

The ICRS: a system that automatically unlocks the doors, turns off the fuel pump, and activates hazard lights in the event of an airbag deployment. Well that is just one new feature of the new Jetta!

Interior

At first sight inside, the interior looked conservative, yet very appealing and luxurious, especially the feel of the high-quality leather seats. However, one might wonder why VW placed the Push-To-Start button in a rather awkward position, positioned in front of the gear handle.

Finding a perfect seating position was no hassle, and I liked how the seat was electronically controlled and had extra back support that you could electronically control as well. The cabin space made me forget I'm sitting in a "compact" sedan. Even at the back, the space was still very generous:

Enough headroom and legroom for four adults to ride long distances comfortably.
The huge transmission tunnel makes it awkward for the rear middle seat passenger's legs.

But do not worry; the rear passengers get a power plug and cooling vents for their comfort!

Interior of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

The steering wheel, made out of soft and smooth leather, felt really good in the hand. Every button and lever felt high quality and premium to operate with. The dashboard had soft-touch materials, while the top of the door trims were made of hard plastic to reduce costs.

I also liked the onboard media system which included a big enough touch screen that made everything easier! This car has plenty of options for streaming media, including:

FM/AM radio
AUX input
Media card/SD card input
iPod connection
Bluetooth audio

Moreover, it has full Bluetooth connection for your phone. Overall visibility was excellent. When you open the boot, you would be surprised to see how roomy it was! My favorite feature is how, while having the boot open, you can fold down the rear seats by just pulling on conveniently placed trunk-mounted releases.

Drive

So how does the Jetta perform on the roads? Being a Golf with a slightly longer wheelbase and a boot, expect the handling to be above average for its class. The steering wheel feels precise, although slightly heavy at times. This gives you more control and is enjoyable during high-speed cornering.

Moreover, the highway ride is controlled and comfortable. Thanks to extra soundproofing, the cabin is extremely quiet, no matter where and how fast you're driving! It provides a premium feel similar to that of Mercedes vehicles.

The suspension, while slightly firm, does a wonderful job of absorbing most road surface imperfections. Don't let that fool you; the Jetta has loads of grip, and you would hardly feel any significant body roll. Additionally, the Jetta comes equipped with:

Front and rear disc brakes as standard.
Decent braking power.
ESP anti-skid control for added confidence on the roads.

The real downside to driving this car is, without a doubt, the engine. Unfortunately, in the Gulf region, we only get an outdated 2.0L 4-cylinder engine unit pushing out an inadequate 115 horsepower, mated to a 6-speed shiftable automatic gearbox. The 0-100 km/h time is about 11.7 seconds, which is considerably weak by today's standards. For comparison, the Honda Civic's 1.8L engine outputs close to 140 horsepower.

I wonder why VW does not offer the Jetta with more engine choices in this region. At least you'd expect it to be very economical, but then disappointment strikes again - it isn't. The gearbox keeps the engine in low revs at high speeds, saving fuel. However, due to the need to push the engine often, it ends up burning more fuel than expected. The engine's sound resembles more of a bear's upset stomach.

Verdict

Do you have at least AED 70,000? Are you a fan of German cars? Do you not mind that the latest model is not as premium as the outgoing model? Are you looking for a roomy compact sedan that combines both practicality and enjoyable handling? The Jetta might be just the right car for you!

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