 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Far more than just a Golf with a boot VW's Jetta has carved a niche for itself as a mid-size with grunt and options galore. It is a rare occasion indeed when American and Australian motoring interests converge. But we should give thanks to our American cousins when their dislike of hatchbacks forces a company like Volkswagen to produce such a persuasive sedan as the Jetta. It has copped a caning for being little more than a Golf hatchback with a boot, and there is some truth to the accusation, considering that Jetta uses the Golf V platform and many of its drivetrain options. But the longer Jetta is also much more than a Golf. For starters, its equipment lists are superior and the stand-out features on those lists all relate to safety. Jetta gains ESP and brake assist, with other conveniences including a full-size spare wheel, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control and a ski hatch. Meanwhile its controversial boot is akin to those in the largest sedans. It is quite simply cavernous and makes the Jetta a better bet in the space race. And that's before its multitude of storage options come into play. Jetta also looks subtly different from Golf as well, with more chrome and a different nose. This German four-door is available with three direct-injection 2.0-litre engines - two petrol versions and a turbo-diesel - all of which come with six-speed gearboxes. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel offers superior fuel economy, but the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine counters with performance and smoothness advantages. Both cars cede ground to foes on price but strike back with healthy features, a warranty that includes extended corrosion protection and fair tallies of running and repair costs. Although the Jetta is not at the head of the class for design and function, there's little to criticise, either. And the most crucial scoring areas of safety, environment and build quality are all strong points for the Volkswagens. The firm seats and slightly angled ergonomic set-up could be more user-friendly. Although it ranks behind its brother for noise suppression, the diesel doesn't deliver any intrusive clatter of note. Jetta excels for handling, with a nice weight and accuracy to the steering, high grip levels and the ability to corner capably. Firm suspension settings rob this German duo of the ability to smooth over all road blemishes, the sportier turbo FSI petrol version being more affected, but both remain composed even over rough Aussie back roads. Performance from either Jetta is exceptional, with plenty of thrust from low revs and a surprisingly fl exible nature. The popular dual-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) available on both is generally a smooth and swift operator, although it allows the torque to arrive in a rush from a standstill.
Top 5
Previous Results
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
