ROADTEST VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.6 TDI COMFORTLINE:YOU MIGHT think a decade of economic largesse, suburban SUVs, and people carriers for every size of family, would have weaned us off our historic love for the booted saloon. But you would be wrong.
The Irish still aspire to the saloon as a family status symbol. A quick perusal of a list of our favourite cars shows that models such as the Toyota Corolla and Renault Fluence remain big sellers in the market here, alongside a host of similarly boot rivals.
So Ireland would seem the ideal location for a smart-looking Volkswagen saloon to make its mark. And that’s exactly what it did in the past, when the Jetta was a firm favourite of farmers and taxi drivers across the nation in the 1980s. And then it faded away.
The problem was largely down to pricing, along with an ill-fated name change for the booted equivalent of the Golf during the heyday of the Celtic Tiger. As a result a host of new buyers have have no memories of the heyday of the Jetta on Irish roads.
This latest iteration has the chance to change that. First impressions suggest a car that owes much more in terms of styling cues to the Passat than the Golf, and it can be mistaken for the larger VW by passers-by.
In our week with the latest Jetta, it proved itself to be a more refined drive than many of its rivals. There’s poise to the car that suggests it’s much more than a Golf with an extension round the back.
At 120km/h on a motorway run to the southwest it cruised along smartly, with more power in reserve if the laws allowed it. The transmission is light and smooth, the steering very composed and the car generally feels quite nimble, if tuned more for comfort and refinement than a sporty drive. The ride is also considerably better than before, the suspension more adept than on past generations.
Fuel economy is claimed at 4.5 l/100km in official figures and while we didn’t hit these targets, we did manage to average 5.7 l/100km on a long drive, which is respectable. The interior trim is largely the same as the equivalent Golf, which is well-built and functional, if a little dull and overly dependent on hard plastics. That said, few if any of its direct rivals boast a significant improvement on this.
The Jetta delivers in terms of smart if slightly conservative looks, family-sized space in the rear and a smooth ride and handling. Yet its Achilles heel remains its price.
This segment of the market is cut-throat, with Renault leading the way in terms of discounts and offers, forcing others to follow suit. Most buyers can expect to walk away with a well-equipped Fluence for less than €20,000, whereas the Jetta starts at just under €22,000.
But if this was the only challenge the Jetta faced it would certainly be in with a fighting chance of soaring up the new car sales rankings. It might be more expensive than its counterparts but sales staff would argue that the VW badge and smart styling will secure stronger resale values down the road.
However, the greatest threat to Jetta sales comes from within in the form of the Passat. You can pick up a 1.4-litre 122bhp Passat with motor tax of €156 for €24,865. If you are determined to get a diesel version you can get the same 1.6-litre engine as in this Jetta, in Comfortline specification, for €27,355.
That’s €2,260 more than the Jetta but for a more refined and larger package. The Jetta might be 7 per cent lighter than its big brother and thereby more fuel efficient and slightly faster, but the Passat offers a more affluent cabin, more room in both front and rear, and a bigger boot. It also has name recognition that’s much stronger than its smaller counterpart and that will pay off when it comes to resale values.
In truth we’ve always found the 1.6-litre diesel Passat to be underpowered and if that’s the model within your price range then the Jetta would make more sense from a performance point of view. However I suspect many potential buyers will disagree. The badge on the car in the driveway is often more important to the saloon buyer, and in that regard the Passat will always win out.
This new Jetta is much more than a booted Golf, but in trying to become a mini-Passat its pricing is too close to its bigger sibling. That will cost it sales and limit its chances of taking on the likes of the Corolla and Fluence.
Factfile
Engine:
A 1598cc turbodiesel engine putting out 105bhp @ 4,400rpm and 250Nm @ 1,500rpm with five-speed manual
Specifications:
climatic air-con with dust and pollen filter; 16 steel wheels; hill hold control; Radoi/CD with auxillary input; electric windows; remote central locking; electronic stability program; ABS with brake assist; dual front side and curtain airbags; Isofix points for rear seats; rear fog light.
L/100km (mpg):
urban - 5.7 (49.6); extra-urban - 3.9 (72.4); combined - 4.5 (62.8)
Emissions (motor tax):
119 g/km (€104)
Price:
€25,095 (starts at €21,985 for 1.2-litre petrol Trendline version)