Volkswagen’s new Jetta is less Golf, more Passat, but even this substantial saloon will struggle in a market where value wins out
IF YOU WERE to wonder whether there is a market for the new Volkswagen Jetta in Ireland then you would only have to look at the 10 top-selling cars this year. At number five is the Toyota Corolla, a saloon that isn’t on sale in some countries, and at number six is the Renault Fluence, which has been brought in for Irish tastes too. We love an affordable boot. Together, the Corolla and Fluence have 6.7 per cent of the Irish market. The numbers for the two models add up to almost as many cars as Opel has sold in its entire range here so far this year.
Unfortunately for VW, the Jetta didn’t really sell well last time out in Ireland, as it was too expensive compared with its rivals and leaned more towards the Golf and not enough towards the Passat. That’s where this Jetta marks a major shift in focus.
Size matters in this part of the market, as shown by the success of its key rivals, and the new Jetta sits on a longer wheelbase than before, giving more rear legroom – it is 9cm longer than the previous model. In terms of styling, perhaps a criticism would be that the car follows the family styling so strongly that it can be a little difficult to tell what it is at first glance. But the fact that it is now more likely to be mistaken for the more expensive Passat is bound to please most potential owners.
Step inside and you can see a little more clearly where this car’s positioning is, as it feels more like a Golf than a Passat. Some dark and hard plastics are used on areas where your hands don’t spend a lot of time, but more immediate areas have a higher-grade feel.
The equipment levels rise depending on which grade of Jetta you choose. The Trendline gets 16in steel wheels, air conditioning and safety items such as ESP as standard. The most popular grade is expected to be Comfortline, which adds 16in Navarra alloys, cruise control, better interior material, an armrest and a few other items. At the top grade is a Highline, with 17in alloys, chrome trim, sports seat and sports suspension, among other items.
The choice of engines for the Irish market consists of a 1.2-litre TSi petrol engine, which although unlikely to be a big seller will be the cheapest way into a Jetta, at €21,985. This engine has emissions of 134g/km, which means it sits in tax band B. Most sales will come from the 1.6-litre 105bhp TDi diesel, which has band-A emissions of 119g/km and starts at €23,725. If you add the DSG transmission to this it rises to €25,555 and jumps to band B. The 2.0-litre TDi starts at Highline grade. The 140bhp engine is the best they have, but at €28,875 it is far too close in price to the Passat.
And therein lies the difficulty for the Jetta. The Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDi Comfortline costs €27,355 – just €2,260 more than a Jetta 1.6 TDi Comfortline. Yes, a lot of money on paper, but lots of buyers who are paying off their car in a drip feed will perhaps be lured by the prospect of a larger car for little more in monthly payments. If a model’s popularity in Ireland is down to customers’ love of large cars with a boot, then they might just pick the biggest one they can.
The other difficulty is the pricing of its rivals. The Renault Fluence, if you are trading in a 10-year-old car, costs from just €15,800. Even if you aren’t, Renault knocks off up to €2,000. That means that you could have a Renault Fluence 1.5 dCi Dynamique for €20,250 even if you don’t qualify for scrappage.
That makes it a tough market for the Jetta, and you have to add to the mix the Ford Focus saloon that has just arrived. The diesel Focus starts at €21,725, which is €2,000 less than the cheapest Jetta diesel.
This is a comfortable car that feels substantial and very nicely built, but it is a cut-throat market where, for now, value is king.
FACTFILE
Engine1,598cc four-cylinder turbo diesel putting out 105bhp and 250Nm of torque
Max speed190km/h
0-100km/h11.7sec
Fuel economy4.5 l/100km
CO2 emissions119g/km
Motor tax bandA
Annual road tax€102
On sale now
Price€25,095