I purchased a new 2015 Jetta SEL TDI in 2017 and it came with leatherette, which is very nice. But, here in Houston every time I went to get into and out of my vehicle, the leatherette seemed to be holding me back - in other words, it was "grippy" and I did not slide into position wehen entering the vehicle, nor was pivoting on it a smooth process when I exited the vehicle. I felt I had to lift myself above it to change positions. The leather in my 2005 Passat was awesome, and high quality in my opinion, and I wanted to get back to that feel. So, for my 2015 Jetta, I ended up ordering the real leather cover for the Jetta (thanks to Canada offering real leather in certain Jettas, we here in the USA can order those leather covers through our VW dealers). I had the real leather installed in just my driver's seat, and although it is less grippy than the leatherette, and I am glad I had it installed, the quality of leather is no where near where it was in 2005. The leather has a dull, matte, unpolished look and feel to it instead of a higher gloss, smooth, polished surface.
