First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Cars Mania Blog

Auto Car | First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta | For Volkswagen of America, it doesn't get more brot-und-butter than the Jetta. Forced into the shadow of the best-selling Golf, VW Germany's refrain was "Sell more Golfs!" To which VoA would steadfastly reply, "Americans don't want hatchback. This went on for over two decades until the corporate mothership finally recognized that its compact sedan was what the people wanted Stateside. So for 2011, the Jetta has been restyled, reformed and reinvigorated with a new purpose: to take on the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, not to mention the Mazda3. How? This story begins and ends with price. A 2011 Jetta in "S" trim will set you back just $15,995. Compare that to the 2010 model, which starts at $17,735, and the Civic and Corolla which clock in at $15,655 and $15,450, respectively. The "German premium" has finally been addressed. But at what cost? We trekked to San Francisco to find out.

Brake feel is reminiscent of the last-generation model – spongy up top with a more progressive pedal feel further down the travel – and power from the 2.5-liter five-pot is more than adequate for most applications, particularity given the car's commendable 110-pound weight reduction over its predecessor. Our lone gripe with the engine/tranny combo came in the form of a unnerving lurch when applying minimal pressure to the throttle from a standstill. We're not sure if this was a calibration issue or something related to the hill-start assist feature, but VW assures us that the hiccup will be exorcised before sales begin later this year.

Although the banner headline for the 2011 Jetta is its $15,995 price of entry, as with all vehicles hailing from Germany, that price rises precipitously as the option boxes are ticked. The SE comes in at $18,195, and with the Convenience package, the tally rises to just below $20k. Add the sunroof and you're up to $20,795. Start going for broke with an SEL ($21,395) and you're on a collision course to $24,195, not including the $1,100 automatic option. Compared to its rivals, that's easily in-line with the market, but two overarching questions remain: How will the new Jetta's reliability fare after more than five years of ownership (something that's standard in this segment)? And can public perception of a German car's affordability and durability be shifted enough to allow Volkswagen to score the market share it so desperately craves. With VW gunning hard for the mantle of world's largest automaker by 2018, this new Jetta is a massive cornerstone in its plans for global domination. The pricing is about right and the experience its exactly what American consumers expect. And perhaps even more significant, if you line up the Corolla, Civic and Jetta, the German still offers a more premium first impression despite the new cost cutting. But will that all be enough, and will marque loyalists accept this shift in focus? We should have a good indication by this time next year.