To help make the point, the Jetta sits on a Golf-derived platform that has been stretched by 70 mm. Overall length is now 4644 mm, which makes it 90 mm longer than a Golf and only 121 mm shorter than a Passat saloon.
The resultant increase in interior space, together with the conservative styling, are mainly designed to increase Volkswagen’s sales volumes in the United States. Although the current generation Jetta is the best selling European car in that market, it is completely overshadowed in the competitive compact sector by rivals such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, which each outsell it by a factor of almost three to one. A rumoured $1,700 price cut should help the cause, too.
There’s not much surprise regarding engines, as the range on offer in Europe will be similar to that already seen in the Golf. The petrol line-up consists of a 1.2 TSI (104 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS), 1.4 TSI (120 bhp / 90 kW / 122 PS), 1.4 TSI (158 bhp / 118 kW / 160 PS) and 2.0 TSI (197 bhp / 147 kW / 200 PS). The big sellers though will probably be the 1.6 TDI (104 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS) and 2.0 TDI (138 bhp / 103 kW / 140 PS) common rail turbodiesels.
The 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI both get the BlueMotion Technology package, which includes a Start-Stop system and battery regeneration. As a result, Volkswagen reckons the Jetta 1.2 TSI will manage 53.3 mpg (5.3 l/100 km) with CO2 emissions of 123 g/km. Meanwhile, the 1.6 TDI will achieve a very respectable 68.9 mpg (4.1 l/100 km) and produce 109 g/km of CO2, which in the UK will qualify it for the Band B road tax rate of £20 per year.
Sales are scheduled to begin early next year, with prices yet to be confirmed.
