The all-new Volkswagen Jetta has made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show earlier, revealing the seventh-generation model to be altogether larger and more upscale than the version it replaces. Visually, the sedan now resembles the rest of the VW range with more squared off elements and a bolder face. While those were quite expected, it’s good to hear that it’s receiving some significant changes under the skin.
The previous generations of Jettas had a somewhat puzzling fork in how they were made available between regions. While the rest of the world received what was widely held to be the ‘canonical’ version of the Jetta, Volkswagen kept on tweaking that base into a special version just for the North American buyers.
That extra attention paid off, it seems, as the Jetta is still one of the brand’s most successful model in that important market, significantly outpacing its relative sales performance elsewhere. Now Volkswagen seems to be taking the opposite approach, namely to develop the base Jetta according to North American tastes before making the necessary changes (if any) before launching in other markets.
Peel away that new exterior and we find it uses Volkswagen’s new modular platform - MQB - that it shares with pretty much every small to medium vehicle in under the VW Group’s umbrella, from the Audi TT to the Skoda Kodiaq. Most relevant, it’s underpinnings give deep commonalities with the Volkswagen Arteon and Golf.
There’s certainly plenty of bling on display at the front, differing noticeably with the more subdued face of the Golf 7.5, with a pronounced nose an high shoulder line that’s maintained all the way to the tail of car that comes to meet it more sloping coupe-like roofline, and it even features LED illumination as standard to lend it some upmarket credence on dimly lit highways.
Inside, the premium feel continues (provided a high-enough grade is selected) with fitment of the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit a’la Audi, large infotainment system display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ambient cabin lighting, high quality leather trim and seat upholstery, and a 400W audio system by BeatsAudio.
There’s plenty on offer with regard to safety kit as well - again, provided an appropriately high grade is chosen - including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, high beam control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
So far, there’s only one engine option announced alongside the all-new Jetta, which is sure to be available in the majority of markets it’s due to be sold. Naturally, there’s no diesel powertrain on the cards for North America as the fallout over the Dieselgate scandal is still looms over the German brand’s presence there more so than in Europe.
A 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol is deployed across all grades - from the base S through to the range-topping SEL Premium and R-Line - with 110kW and 250Nm, mated to either an 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. It’s rumoured that an even more powerful variant with a 2.0-litre engine will join the ranks as a possible 2020 model.
“The Jetta has long been Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle in the United States,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen, “and we expect that this all-new car will continue to resonate with buyers in the compact sedan class. With its combination of great technology, fuel-efficient drivetrains, sporty styling, upscale interior and amenities, and fun-to-drive nature, we expect that the Jetta will make a huge splash in the compact sedan market when it goes on sale.”
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