Road Test: Volkswagen Jetta 1.4TSi 2015

Review and Driv of Volkswagen Jetta 1.4TSi

VW Jetta driven in South Africa 2015

Mention the Volkswagen Jetta to any South African and they’re bound to have some recollection of an experience in or with one. Mine happens to be a less than fond memory, but it’s a vivid recollection nonetheless. It was a friend’s sister’s car and it smelled strange and had brakes that took somewhere past the firewall. Braking had to be planned well in advance and then it was often only available via correspondence.

Fortunately many things have changed since those days of the first Volkswagen Jetta; that would later go on to become the lovable Fox – Golf headlights and all. I am pleased to report that the brakes are no longer optional and that the level of refinement is befitting of the price tag that these vehicles carry.

The 1.4 TSI Highline on test, leans towards the more expensive of the offerings available in the new, face-lifted Jetta range, coming in at R335 600 before you’ve ticked a few of the options.

The changes are not immediately noticeable but for the eagle-eyed they will spot more angular lines up front with the Xenon headlights carrying more of an edge – highlighted by the LED daytime running lights. The grille is wider and has three chromed slats instead of two and the redesigned front bumper sees the airdam stretch to end off with incorporated driving lights.

The taillights have also been given the sharper, more dapper look while VW enthusiasts will notice the parts bin raid for the flat bottomed, multifunction steering wheel inside and revised instrument cluster.

Together, they make the Volkswagen Jetta pack a more striking presence on the road and a trim level that effectively disguises the fact that the Jetta is still very much a compact sedan. Initial impressions leave one feeling like the Volkswagen Jetta is a large car, when in actual fact it’s quite manoeuvrable and light on its feet.

With the 1.4 TSI motor under the hood developing 118kW and 240Nm torque, there is no shortage of get up and go and with the low NVH levels, highways speeds are reached in the blink of an eye with not so much as a rattle or wheeze. Shifts are virtually seamless with the 7-speed DSG gearbox, a box much better suited to a sedan of this nature than a Golf GTI.

It is in doing this that the characterless function-over-form approach presents itself in a stereotypical German way. The Volkswagen Jetta is not a car that has had life breathed into it but rather something that was engineered. Many may regard it as being too sterile, too clinical in its approach, lacking emotion or a sense of excitement. One could go so far as to say that it  feels appliance-like. But that has its merits.

Very few aspects of the car were overlooked, like the complex infotainment system and the optional connectivity that gives you a handful of cables in the glove box. The optional Vienna leather seats may be heated but they are still devoid of electronic adjustment.

But the steering is perfectly weighted. The brakes give encouraging feedback. The motor is frugal yet powerful and the conveniences completely unobtrusive. It’s a Swiss watch with a Japanese designed typeface – not much to look at, but accurate to the last second of its life.

If you’re looking for a head turning, fire breathing chariot, the Volkswagen Jetta 2015 model is not it. The Jetta is for those that would rather slip under the radar with complete peace of mind that everything that will be asked of the car, will be delivered. I want a Jetta in my life – but I don’t know why.

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