I sat in the 2011 Jetta for a few minutes today. Some personal observations...
The dash is just slightly shinier than the previous generation. To me, the feel and texture is the same as before, just the surface is slightly more reflective. I'm not sure that I'd have noticed the difference at first glance if this hadn't been discussed in so many threads (by people who, it seems, have never seen the car in person).
On the other hand the carbon fiber trim at the belt line inside the doors and on the dash is no longer shiny. Instead, it is very matt. I like it.
I do not like the lopsided look of the steering wheel because one side only has muti-function controls. This, to me, just looks ridiculous. Of course, some would argue that any controls on the right spoke would have no function unless you have an on-board trip computer. Without the right spoke control buttons I'm not sure how you control the MFD when using the BT phone book, etc. Regardless, the controls should be there. Of course, you can buy the control button module and install it in seconds...I'd do that just as a finishing touch...even it it was non-functional.
Speaking of the steering wheel... The texture, feel, and reflective nature of the air bag cover in the center of the steering wheel is the same as that on the earlier Jetta generation. And this matches the new dash surface just fine.
I hate that the instrument cluster doesn't have separate gauges for the water temperature and fuel level. This shows a "cheapness" on VW's part. The fact that those parameters can show - one at a time - in an "analog looking" display in the MFD is not acceptable to me. (Edit...I'm not sure if the MFD can even show a Coolant Temperature gauge.)
The front nose styling is rather nice. The lower lip adds a nice agressive look. I do like the previous generation's nose a bit more (which looks a little "audi-like"), but the new style is fine, too.
The trunk outer shape is very nice. I like the high stance. And the tail lights are really nice. The trunk space is long front-to-back, but as you look downward into the trunk entranceway the opening is rather short. Many long narrow profile items can fit in the trunk, but one larger profile item could never be put through the opening.
The rear seat leg room is amazing. For some potential buyers, the 2011 Jetta's usable rear seats will allow the car to fit in the niche previously filled by the now retired Passat.
I do like the trunk location of the release levers for tilting the rear seats forward. This is something to which I am not accustomed, but is extremely logical. And it makes limiting a valet's access to the trunk easier to activate...you no longer are required to lock the two release levers at the top of the rear seats. This was a smart cost savings change by VW.
There is no longer a swing down hook in the trunk for hanging plastic shopping bags. This was a nice standard feature on the previous generation.
What is really nice in regard to the trunk is that VW has once again placed a rubber covered trunk release switch within the grab handle at the rear lip of the trunk. This was sorely needed as a standard feature again as VW had removed the external trunk open switch in the sedans a couple years ago.
The design of the rubber accordion boot which covers the electrical wiring between the A pillar and the doors had been a serious problem for years. The wires in the boot would flex with each opening and closing of the doors. The flexing will invariably break the heavier gauge copper wires and/or their insulation. Many, many Jetta owners suddenly experience electrical problems because the ground wire breaks and/or another wire shorts out. The 2011 Jetta has a different boot design which doesn't flex the wires longitudinally over a short span. Instead the wires twist axially over a longer span. This will significantly reduce, if not completely eliminate, wire breakage problems within the "A pillar to door" wiring. This is BIG!
Overall, the impression I got from the car is that it is much bigger. Yes, it is only 3" longer, but the raised profile of the trunk gives the car more substance.
I like the outer appearance. I am mostly disappointed with the steering wheel and instrument cluster. I guess the good news is that the car seems to be designed to allow adding features for each year's introduction.