By the way, this car from Germany is not at all a sales leader in Russia (officially they talk about small quotas, but most likely it's a matter of price), it looks rather unremarkable, and it also has a diesel engine. Nevertheless, having stowed my things in the numerous compartments, glove box, and spacious trunk, I set off to accomplish my planned tasks. I turn the key and, by the slight vibration, realize that all 140 diesel 'horses' are waking up, making the two-liter turbodiesel rattle.
I examine the interior. What can I say — the German school is felt, whether it's Audi, Opel, or especially Volkswagen, which tries to stay away from Opel and get at least a little closer to Audi. The interior decor is a one-to-one replica of the Golf hatchback, on whose platform the Jetta is built. There is no luxury, elegance, or refinement here. Everything is strict, extremely correct, without a hint of elegance, let alone futurism. But the quality of materials and assembly is top-notch. The ergonomics also pleased: you can master the controls of the stereo, climate control, and mirrors with your eyes closed in five seconds. But it's a German, so nothing surprising.
All the small interior details are more practical than aesthetic in nature.
After long trips, it turned out that the Jetta is quite cozy. Of course, there's no feeling of being wrapped in a blanket by the fireplace, but it's quite comfortable and homey. The body clearly liked sitting in the seat, although the lateral support of the front seats, which are positioned as sporty, could have been firmer.
In the Jetta, I didn't feel at home, rather — like visiting friends. Good friends.
But let's get back to business. Eight in the morning, I'm at 'Polezhaevskaya', and in half an hour I need to be at Yuzhny Port, on the other side of the city. Having put myself in a tight time frame, I immediately got a chance to test the vaunted turbodiesel. Keeping the revs in the range of 2,500–4,500 (that's where the turbo doesn't doze off but starts working at full capacity, emitting a whistle), I race at full speed along the Third Ring Road while the traffic is still not dense. Wow! The turbodiesel is really good: there's always a bit of torque in reserve to spur the car on. Besides, this way I'll get to the final point faster.
The Jetta responds clearly and predictably to steering wheel turns, confidently changes lanes, but still I'm a bit late. To save precious seconds, I don't slow down before speed bumps, leaving them to the mercy of the suspension. It doesn't resist and copes with its job quite decently.
In the process, it turns out that when taking long turns at high speed, the car starts to get a little nervous and smoothly drifts off the intended path. The culprits are understeer and body rolls, accompanied by the squeal of 17-inch tires. So before the next bend, it's better to slow down, especially since the brakes are quite informative. But there's no need to panic: if something goes wrong, the electronics will notice that the driver is confused and activate the ESP system. Ultimately, the Jetta is more of a family or business car, not provoking aggressive driving, although with a two-liter turbodiesel and low-profile tires, active driving is quite appropriate.
Having finished my business, working the 'poker' of the six-speed manual, with skillful handling of which the car accelerates to a hundred in less than 10 seconds, I leave Yuzhny Port. And so, after dozens of presses on the clutch, gas, and brake pedals, I find myself at the next destination.
During another stop, three more people join me, two of whom settle on the rear bench. I listen, but no dissatisfied comments or jokes aimed at the driver, that is, me, come from the back seats, although each passenger's height is almost 190 centimeters. Are they afraid? Not at all. In the back, of course, it's not so spacious that you could drive to Vladivostok without stops with the whole company and not have health problems, but a few hours in traffic jams or on Moscow region highways is quite bearable.
The Jetta's appearance is the embodiment of the well-known expression: 'after the Golf, I wanted a Passat'.
And indeed, after a 150-kilometer trip even without rest stops, the passengers' legs didn't swell, their backs didn't tire, and smiles appeared on their faces. Isn't that the main indicator of comfort? Moreover, the seats remained clean. On Moscow region highways, as speed increases, the steering effort increases, which adds confidence to the driver and doesn't bother passengers. The suspension, in turn, swallows all irregularities and doesn't make you bounce on every bump. But any asphalt eventually ends — in a cliff, an abyss, or a washed-out road. But even then, the Jetta overcomes bumps and potholes without much shaking, until it finally gets stuck in the mud.
So what's the result? Is the Jetta really that good? It can do this, and it can do that... Not quite. On one hand, everything is wonderful; on the other, over several days of use, I never warmed up to it. I give the Jetta credit for helping me out at the right moment, pleasing me with modest appetite (on average about 7.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers), and delivering me where I needed to go with German punctuality and due comfort.
Love to drive fast but don't want to circle around gas stations? TDI offers a solution to your problem.
Undoubtedly, the Jetta is ideal for a person who measures ten times before cutting once, for whom a car is not a source of emotions but primarily a means of transportation from point A to point B with a stop at store C. If you need a golf-class sedan, and 'Koreans' and 'Japanese' disgust you, you should also take a closer look at the Jetta.
After all, VW brand fans will willingly part with at least $22,500. And believe me, they won't make a mistake with their choice, that's why they're fans. Although they'll get in return only a modest 1.6 engine or, as in our case, a two-liter turbodiesel and some options — but already for all $36,000. And that's a clear overpayment for the letters VW on the chrome grille of a golf-class sedan.
With every element of its exterior, the Jetta tries to show that it is something more than just a golf class.
This is not the dream car I drew with colored pencils in childhood. The Jetta tries very hard, but does everything like a servant — without emotions and warm feelings. I can't get used to this car, let alone fall in love with it. Although, perhaps, it's me who wasn't to its taste?
Specifications
| Characteristics | Value |
|---|---|
| **Engine** | |
| Displacement, l / cc | 2.0 / 1968 |
| Bore / stroke, mm | 81.0 / 95.5 |
| Max power, kW / hp / rpm | 103 / 140 / 4000 |
| Max torque, Nm / rpm | 320 / 1750 |
| Compression ratio | 18.5 |
| Battery, A / Ah | 380 / 72 |
| Alternator, A | 140 |
| **Weights** | |
| Curb weight, manual, kg | 1393—1556 |
| Max permissible weight, manual, kg | 1990 |
| Payload, kg | 432—595 |
| **Performance** | |
| Top speed, km/h | 207 |
| Acceleration 0—80 km/h / 0—100 km/h, s | 6.7 / 9.7 |
| **Fuel consumption** | |
| Urban, l/100 km | 6.9—7.3 |
| Extra-urban, l/100 km | 4.7—4.9 |
| Combined, l/100 km | 5.5—5.8 |
| **Exterior dimensions** | |
| Length, mm | 4554 |
| Width, mm | 1781 |
| Height, mm | 1459 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2578 |
| Track front/rear, mm | 1534 / 1512 |
| Turning radius, m | 10.9 |
| **Interior dimensions** | |
| Door opening, front, height/width, mm | 874 / 1302 |
| Door opening, rear, height/width, mm | 811 / 1320 |
| Distance from seat cushion to roof front/rear without sunroof (with sunroof), mm | 973 (946) / 944 (940) |
| Cabin length, mm | 1736 |
| Front seating space, mm | 700—1010 |
| **Trunk** | |
| Length with rear seat up/folded, mm | 1160 / 1899 |
| Width, mm | 1364 |
| Width between wheel arches, mm | 1009 |
| Height, mm | 505 |
| Volume with rear seat up/folded, l | 527 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 55 |
Price of the tested car — $36136.
**Equipment of the tested car**
**Standard equipment**
* Steel wheels 6.5 J x 16 with full-size hubcaps
* Underbody anti-gravel protection
* Rear lights — LED
* Engine compartment protection
* Green heat-insulating glass
* Alloy wheels "Atlanta" 6J x 16
* Fully galvanized body
* Radiator grille with chrome surround
* Turn signals integrated into exterior mirrors
* Reinforced suspension with increased ground clearance
* Chrome surround of side windows
* 2 cup holders front and 1 rear
* 3-spoke steering wheel
* Overhead console, niche in center of dashboard
* Storage pockets on front seat backs
* Drawers under front seats
* Decor "Aluminum brushed" with inserts in dashboard, center console and doors
* Seat upholstery — fabric, design "Brick"
* Front seats enhanced comfort
* Glove box with light, additional box on left under light switch
* Lumbar support in front seats with manual adjustment
* Steering wheel, handbrake lever and gearshift knob leather-wrapped
* Driver and passenger seat height adjustment
* Driver seat height adjustment
* Rear seat back asymmetrically folds in parts
* Sport front seats
* Fabric mats front and rear
* Center armrest on rear seat, opening in backrest — for long items
* Front center armrest with ventilation system niche and cup holders
* 3 automatic 3-point seat belts on rear seats
* Automatic front seat belts with 3-point attachment, height adjustment and pretensioners
* Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with anti-slip regulation (ASR)
* Disc brakes on front and rear wheels, front ventilated
* Front fog lights
* Isofix preparation (mounts for two child seats on rear seat)
* Head airbag system for driver and front and rear passengers, including side airbags for driver and front passenger
* Front airbags
* Passenger airbag — can be deactivated
* Electronic immobilizer
* Additional 12 V socket in trunk
* Outside temperature display
* Semi-automatic air conditioning "Climatic"
* Cruise control
* Vanity mirrors in sun visors
* Illuminated vanity mirrors in sun visors
* Multi-function indicator in instrument cluster
* Exterior mirrors with electric adjustment and separate electric heating, driver side — aspherical
* Heated front seats with separate stepless adjustment
* Headlight washer
* Cooled glove box
* Full-size steel spare wheel
* Radio preparation with 8 passive speakers front and rear
* Steering column adjustable for height and reach
* Central locking with remote radio control
* 2 radio keys with trunk release button
* Electromechanical power steering, speed-dependent
* Electric windows front and rear
* Multi-function indicator in instrument cluster
* Front fog lights
**Winter package:**
* Heated windshield washer nozzles
* Headlight washer
* Heated front seats
* Washer fluid level warning light
**Additional options**
* Electronic stability program (ESP)
* Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
* Electronic differential lock (EDL)
* Traction control system (ASR)
* Comfort emergency brake assist (EBA)
* **Leather interior "Vienna" with front sport seats:**
* Leather upholstery of center and side bolsters of seats, front parts of head restraints, and rear surface of dividing armrest
* Leather inserts in doors
* Leather 3-spoke steering wheel
* Leather gearshift knob and boot, handbrake lever
* Heated front seats
* "RCD 300 plus", radio and CD player
* Power — 4 × 20 watts, 8 speakers front and rear
* Metallic / Pearl
* Bi-xenon headlights with washer and automatic leveling
* Automatic air conditioning "Climatronic", dual-zone with separate temperature control left and right
* Alloy wheels "Silverstone" run-flat, 4 wheels
*Car for test provided by official representative of Volkswagen Group Rus.*
Behind the scenes 