The Volkswagen Jetta is now in its sixth generation and has become part of South Africa’s staple family car diet. Crisp exterior styling with a soft centre, mean South Africans have consumed VW Jettas like roast potatoes at a Sunday lunch for generations. Slotting conveniently into the current Volkswagen line-up between the bite-size Polo and full-size, jacket-type, potato that is the Passat, it’s no wonder the Jetta is so popular.

Faced with the task of a return trip to the Johannesburg International Motor Show from Cape Town recently, I thought it would be a good opportunity to evaluate the new Jetta’s ability to satisfy the typical family requirements for comfort, space and convenience, wrapped in an appealing and sensibly styled package. I’ll admit, I had my reservations when faced with prospect of a long-haul drive with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. Yes, the engine impressed and performed well in its Polo hatchback application, but I was concerned that I may have to spend my time behind the wheel cracking the proverbial whip. Let’s see shall we.

First of all, like that tray of roast potatoes at a Sunday lunch, the Jetta isn’t the most tantalising option on the family sedan menu, however, it’s also a car many people will find it hard to say ‘no’ to. The sixth generation is sharper, both in the design of its sheetmetal and lines, as well as its character – thanks to contemporary styled and illuminated tail-lights and horizontally-biased VW family face. Volkswagen are adamant that none of the new Jetta’s body panels are shared with any other VW, but even so, there’s room for criticism of its striking head-on similarity to the smaller Polo and larger Passat. That said, the higher spec Comfortline and Highline models have enough tweaks to give the Jetta the dapper image one would expect. 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome trim on the upper grille, front fog lights and colour-coded everything, help the Jetta’s cause in this respect.

So, like any good roast potato, (what? I’m on a roll here), once passed the crispy outside you should be met by a soft and warm interior. The Jetta? Well, standard fit equipment includes a 3-spoke leather covered steering wheel, leather gearshift knob, boot and handbrake lever, as well as a soft-touch dashboard. All the touchy-feely bits are present and accounted for then and are some of the best-in-class when you consider those of the French, Japanese and Korean competitors. I found the optional leather-covered ‘Vienna’ sports seats very comfortable, which is quite something considering I travelled over 3 700 kms in four days. Initially my lower back was beginning to protest, but once I boosted the lumber support, that was the last adjustment I made for the remainder of the test period.

The standard 8-speaker MP3-compatible sound system served dutifully and stood up well to the ‘abuse’ thrown at it by my iPod – the satellite controls on the steering wheel making it all the more convenient to adjust volume, radio station, etc. Conspicuous in its absence, however, was a USB connection. It’s a small issue, but really, with the proliferation of MP3 players, smart phones and people’s corresponding preference to listen to their own playlists, as well as the need to keep devices charged, this should be standard kit. Fortunately, there’s no lacking when it comes to interior space. Even with the front seat adjusted to my 1.84m frame, the rear passengers – had their been any – would’ve had nothing to complain about. Likewise, the boot offers 510-litres of capacity, an area that was put to good use on my return journey with the copious amount of press material spread between, wait for it, six suit cases – in addition to my own personal luggage and laptop.

The driving position is comfortable, not least because of the supportive seats, but also thanks to the range of adjustment offered by the seat and steering wheel. In addition, the foot rest proved big enough and comfortably angled for my extended journey, plus, the footwell moulding on the side of the accelerator pedal also happens to be shaped in a manner that can accommodate your right foot when the standard-fit cruise control is in use.

So what about that whip? Did I need to crack it to coax the litte oil burner to and from Joburg? Quite the opposite in fact. The figures go like this, 77 kW, 250 Nm of torque between 1 500 and 2 500 r/min, 0 – 100 km/h in 11.7 seconds and combined cycle fuel consumption of 4.5 L/100km. That final figure is possibly the most exciting of the lot, however, the 1.6 TDI proved surprisingly flexible in its power delivery. The power feels available across a wide rev range, because while the torque begins to taper off from 2 500 r/min, peak power begins to build towards 4 400 r/min.  The lack of a sudden drop off in power, as can be the case with some diesel engines, is an aspect of the engine’s character I came to value – particularly when overtaking other road users, as I could often hold the gear long enough that I didn’t need to execute a gear change whilst over taking, making the whole exercise that little bit less cumbersome and tiring over the long haul.

A 5-speed manual transmission puts you in direct command of the drivetrain and, despite no 6th gear overdrive to reduce revs, engine noise at cruising speeds and fuel consumption, the combination works well. For the daily commute, however, I suspect the slightly pricier 7-speed DSG-equipped model will be a better choice, purely because the diesel’s low-down torque means you’re in 5th gear shortly after pulling off and it can become a little laborious having to constantly shift gears around town.

Ride and handling is admirable, thanks to independent suspension up front and four-link rear axle. The steering is comfortably weighted and accurate by all accounts, but becomes a little vague mid-turn or in higher speed sweeps. If you do ask to much of the running gear, Volkswagen’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Brake Assist and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) will work to reign you in, whilst flashing an orange warning light on the dashboard to let you know you’re pushing the limits of what this family sedan is designed to do.

So then, with plenty of comfort and convenience features, safety, space, adequate performance, contemporary styling and solid perceived build quality, the new Jetta is like a very good roast potato – appealing and somewhat comforting in its familiarity and simple execution. Nothing exciting, nothing wrong with it either, just good wholesome fare. It’s made it into the top 10 finalists for the 2012 South African Car of the Year title, and while there’s no such thing as a sure bet, if we end up with a tie for the title, as per last year, then I’d put money on the Jetta sharing the crown.

What we like…

• Contemporary styling.
• Comfortable ride and seating.
• Flexible and frugal 1.6-litre TDI engine.

What we would like…

• A slightly more distinguishable front end.
• USB connectivity as standard.