2011 Jetta reviews in the WSJ

torqueit

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I've got to admit, that guy can turn a phrase:

What an awful way for petrochemicals to die! The innards of this thing make a Chevy Cruze look like a Maybach.
As for styling, what the hell? The Jetta's pen-work is so dutifully generic as to be almost hypnotic. Say what you like about the previous Jetta, with its big shiny chrome grille trim, like a Vulcan oven gone walkabout, but at least you could tell it was a VW. At least that face had some presence.
Every young man should start life with good shoes, a good suit, a decent haircut and one inspiring German sedan to set him on a life of car connoisseurship. I wish I could say the Jetta is that car. It ain't.
Ouch indeed.:eek: Confirms again why I pulled the trigger on the 2010.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

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I guess he doesn't like it. The only model I find potentially appealing is the GLI. But perhaps I'd rather buy a leftover CC for about the same money.
 

El Dobro

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VW pulled all the stops to make the new Jetta indistinctive. If I ever buy another new VW, it won't be this one. I'll stick with my '09, for now.
 

big_ole_truck

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but my eyes see no beauty in the new generation Jetta.
 

CDubber

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VW's quest for world domination through volume (mediocrity) is going to bite them.
 

TDIinMA

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It's sad how horrendously misguided VW is in dealing with the US Market. First the re-badged Chrysler T&C instead of something innovative and now the cheap Jetta.

Can you say tone deaf?

tsk, tsk, tsk...
 
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IndigoBlueWagon

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I don't agree. The trailing arm/axle setup on the MKIV and earlier cars works fine, IMO. The big issue for me is the drum brakes. I don't think TDIs will have drums, however.
 

herbert68

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I am not so sure if drum brakes and cheaper rear suspension will deter your average customer. The US highway speed is well within the capabilities if these components. Of course, extreme situations may be different …

But most customers "like" a car based on the design, the feel (acceleration), the sound, interior materials and such. And it's there where the perception of "German Quality" is missing big time.

The new Jetta feels just like any other bland car. Even if that's not exactly true, but it's the perception nonetheless.
 

motoblue

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This article says nothing new about the Jetta we haven't heard from other reviews, just concentrates them and dresses it up in hyperbole.

I would expect the SE to be mostly a fleet car for rental places (I sure would've preferred one to the base Mazda 5 I got in my last trip) but I can see someone on a tight budget or a new, first time driver considering the SEL. Someone with a better budget really should be looking for a nicer car than a Jetta to begin with. Anyway, I for one think it's a handsome sedan from the outside and more attractive than the Mk 5. More understated, yes, but I prefer that to the bulging headlights and taillights and creased wing-like sweeps on Japanese and Fords these days that make them look like big bugs, front and back, on the road.

I am still optimistic about the TDI version. In the past, VW has positioned the TDI equipment-wise just below the SEL. Now it looks like it will be somewhere between the SEL and GLI. The hard plastic interiors are a turn-off, for sure, but if they put a highline instrument cluster in the TDI and lower the price from the 2010 model, I can see it getting to the road test stage with a lot of customers as the most affordable diesel available.

All that said I am happy I have a very full-featured Golf.
 

wainair

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I don't see anything wrong with the styling of this car. For the first time in a long time the Jetta looks rakish instead of a squared off marshmallow. It's headlights and taillights have finally decided what they want to be, trapezoids, not some weird trapeziod with a circle stuck in it. It finally has a front bumper and not some weird set of CG inspired circles super imposed over the bumper structure to make it look like it has a giant rad intake that the car doesn't need. It' looks to me more like an Audi S4 before they went to the R8 gaping mouth look. I guess looking like a S4 is a bad thing!
 

IFRCFI

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It's sad how horrendously misguided VW is in dealing with the US Market. First the re-badged Chrysler T&C instead of something innovative and now the cheap Jetta.

Can you say tone deaf?

tsk, tsk, tsk...
Add to that....no TDI in the Tiguan or CC, yet put one in the Toureg?, no 4-Motion option on the JSW, going after the "cheap" market with de-contenting the Jetta (rear drums - ***?). It's like VW is trying to find some type of niche in the US market, and then missing it.
 

tcp_ip_dude

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I debated on whether to wait on 2011, but I am beginning to feel better about my 2010 TDI Sedan purchase on many levels (potential HPFP issues not withstanding), and I have to admit I wasn't crazy about the body style at first, but it is beginning to grow on me.
 

brads

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Don't you know that in order to get the US combinations and specs they just throw darts are a board........... That is why we have all the weird combinations.
 

SalsaRed2010

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Grabbed the current JSW once I read the reviews of the watered-down 2011 sedan. A sad state. Loved my Golf III and IV, and the JSW feels like a natural progression of where the range should be going (especially with the Up / Lupo / whatever they choose to call the new entry level car). The 2011, while it looks better in person (at least when I saw it from the back) than most of the press pics, it is what is underneath that turned me off. The Jetta has been VW's biggest hit in America because it felt and drove like a much more expensive car (poor man's 3-series / A4, what have you) - among other reasons - and didn't look / feel like every other Honda on the road. A new, entry-level car (which we've asked VW for for how long now?) would have been the wise move, instead of removing the charm of their best-selling product to cut the price and add appeal to everyone who does "not" already drive a VW. I guess "Drivers (are no longer) Wanted," at least not for the 2011 Jetta Sedan.
 

mike100

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The press has pretty much dog-piled on the new Jetta as a decontented pos. I don't see how they are going to recover from it.

Perhaps what they should have done is called this model something else and reserved the Jetta name for the new midsize car. Kind of reminds me of Ford going back and forth with the ford 500/Taurus nameplate.
 

TDIinMA

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The press has pretty much dog-piled on the new Jetta as a decontented pos. I don't see how they are going to recover from it.

Perhaps what they should have done is called this model something else and reserved the Jetta name for the new midsize car. Kind of reminds me of Ford going back and forth with the ford 500/Taurus nameplate.
True, even though I am not attached to the "Jetta" brand in any way and actually consider my car an extended Golf/GTI, a true love of mine. :eek:

Perhaps the Jetta will be the cheaper version and the Golf will be more upscale moving forward?

"Fahrfromlikin " - Good one El Dobro. :D
 

IndigoBlueWagon

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The press has pretty much dog-piled on the new Jetta as a decontented pos. I don't see how they are going to recover from it.
Toyota had similar negative press when it introduced its Camry in '96. The '92-96 Camry was nearly a Lexus, but the next generation had drum brakes and a less impressive interior. What did it get Toyota? Lots more sales. Maybe VW is hoping for a similar story.

I like the way the 2011 looks. I saw one at Waterfest and it looked better to me than the MKV, which I never loved (even when I owned one). It's a bigger car than I want right now, and if I were to buy one I'd probably want the GLI to get the electric steering, independent rear, and, most important, the better interior, but I'm probably not a customer. I'm waiting for the Polo. Maybe in vain.
 

TwoTone

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It's what they've been doing since the MK5 came out. Problems aside I'm glad I have a 05.5 since they had the most features for the money.
 

wainair

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...Perhaps what they should have done is called this model something else and reserved the Jetta name for the new midsize car. Kind of reminds me of Ford going back and forth with the ford 500/Taurus nameplate.
I was thinking the same thing this afternoon. Maybe they should have kept it as the NCC. Then you wouldn't get the chorus' of they ruined the Jetta. I really do think most are over reacting.
 

twobilly

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The only intelligent and useful part of these reports is the long list of decontenting in the 2011 sedan. Everything else was silly nonsense. Grown ups will form their own opinions as to whether it's a good looking car or not.

I hadn't seen those reports. Thanks for the links Lugnut.
 

Driver_found

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Test drove an SEL today. The one with the rear disc brakes. Let me start off by saying that the car looks better in person. Secondly the materials are less than what we are used to, but not as cheap as a some other bottom wrung vehicles. Thirdly, the lack of independent rear (IRS) was the first driving dynamic that hit me as a mistake by VW. It drives like a pickup over bumps.

More interior space. The trunk seems to still provide lots of usable space, despite the trunk hinges.
The small turning radius is still there. The 2.5 engine seems decent for what it is. The brakes have a nice sure grippy feel. Some of the dash information could be a larger font.

The people coming from the 'basic commuter' Cam/Cord crowd will love it.
IMO, other VW people may not warm up to it. And this is the SEL mind you.
The mechanics will like the lack of complicated parts to try and fix.
The purist will miss not having the technical stuff that put the Jetta ahead of the pack.

I suggest that you test drive one and see if the trade-offs fit into your expectations of what the NEW REPLACEMENT Jetta should provide. The yet released TDI should be better in terms of zip, but with the lack of IRS, would still ride like an F-150. I think the GLI will be the one to wait for, and we'll see how they end up building that.

They SHOULD make the SEL better in terms of equipment choice and hold over goodies, if someone is going to purchase the top of the line.

Malibu, Cruze, Fusion, Sonata, Sonata turbo, Sonata hybrid, Kizashi and a few others come to mind as serious alternatives, now that the Jetta has come down a notch.
Mazda is also coming out with their diesel for 2012 as well.

This is going to be a good fight.
 

JM Popaleetus

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Test drove an SEL today. The one with the rear disc brakes. Let me start off by saying that the car looks better in person. Secondly the materials are less than what we are used to, but not as cheap as a some other bottom wrung vehicles. Thirdly, the lack of independent rear (IRS) was the first driving dynamic that hit me as a mistake by VW. It drives like a pickup over bumps.

More interior space. The trunk seems to still provide lots of usable space, despite the trunk hinges.
The small turning radius is still there. The 2.5 engine seems decent for what it is. The brakes have a nice sure grippy feel. Some of the dash information could be a larger font.

The people coming from the 'basic commuter' Cam/Cord crowd will love it.
IMO, other VW people may not warm up to it. And this is the SEL mind you.
The mechanics will like the lack of complicated parts to try and fix.
The purist will miss not having the technical stuff that put the Jetta ahead of the pack.

I suggest that you test drive one and see if the trade-offs fit into your expectations of what the NEW REPLACEMENT Jetta should provide. The yet released TDI should be better in terms of zip, but with the lack of IRS, would still ride like an F-150. I think the GLI will be the one to wait for, and we'll see how they end up building that.

They SHOULD make the SEL better in terms of equipment choice and hold over goodies, if someone is going to purchase the top of the line.

Malibu, Cruze, Fusion, Sonata, Sonata turbo, Sonata hybrid, Kizashi and a few others come to mind as serious alternatives, now that the Jetta has come down a notch.
Mazda is also coming out with their diesel for 2012 as well.

This is going to be a good fight.
I don't think you can have said it any better. I have a feeling that when the fight really starts to break out, and the MkVI get's its .5 revision, it will be better...I have a feeling that this is a very modular platform and a better suspension and interior can be swapped right in if needs be.

That all said, the MkV's looks have really grown onto me in becoming my favorite, much like the Bug, it's instantly recognizable. I also really love the MkVI Golf's looks (including the Sportwagen). This one is a little too Japanese-like. But that rendering shows that it can be made to look very Audi-like as well.
 

firedwg1

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This one is a little too Japanese-like. But that rendering shows that it can be made to look very Audi-like as well.
I think this model will grow on people also, most people who evaluated this model durning the marketing phase owned the MK4 or 5, I see many features which look simular to the MK4. looks like they took our suggestions seriously.

I think VW did a great job for the 2011's
 
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