vw jetta road test 2011
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FreewheelingScotland.com Volkswagen Jetta road testTRANSCRIPT
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FreewheelingScotland.com — Driving the way forward
September, 2011
Frugal little Jettais smiles better... by miles
Frugal little Jettais smiles better... by miles
VOLKSWAGEN JETTAVOLKSWAGEN JETTA
GEN JETTAIT DOESN’T HAPPENTOO OFTEN, but everynow and then a no-fussfamily saloon hits the roadwhich is truly worthy of theslogan “miles better”.And I reckon that
Volkswagen’s new Jettasaloon happens to fit thisbill perfectly. The 1.6-litre Jetta TDi SE
BlueMotion Technology, togive it its full name, hasbeen available for aroundfour months now, andalthough they have started
to show their face a bitmore frequently on ourroads, it will always beoutgunned by itsmore illustrious Golf sibling.
And in many waysthat’s a great pity, forthe Jetta is a decentpiece of kit that
deserves to have a
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GEN JETTA
VOLKSWAGEN JETTAVOLKSWAGEN JETTAmuch bigger followingfrom both company andprivate buyers alike, eventhough worldwide saleshave topped the 10 millionmark since its introductionmore than 30 years ago.Now in its sixth
incarnation, the new Jettadoes carry over much of itsDNA from the outgoing carbut it is now a far moresophisticated machine.Although always thought
of as a medium-sizedsaloon, the newcomer dispels that myth, as thenew Jetta has been“stretched” by more thanthree inches, while increases to both the car’sheight and wheelbasemeans there is now muchmore passenger space allround.As with any Volkswagen
product, interior qualitylives up to the Germanmarque’s usual high standards.
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Fully-adjustable seatswith lumbar support, frontcentre armrest, leather-trimmed multifunctionsteering wheel, cruise control, eight-speakerMP3-compatible CD soundsystem complete with USBand iPod connectivity helpemit a relaxed ambiencewhich helps take the strainout of longer journeys.But it is what sits hidden
under the bonnet that willreally put a smile on anyowner’s face, for with itsBlueMotion technologywith start/stop and batteryregeneration, the frugal103bhp 1.4-litre dieselengine is good for nearly70mpg on the combinedcycle.Yet I am happy to testify
that it gets even better ifyou are not in too much ofa hurry. With the cruisecontrol set at 52mph, Icompleted a 130-mile journey and arrived at mydestination with an average fuel consumption
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figure of 89.7mpg showingon the onboard computer.And what made it really
annoying is the fact that upuntil the final couple ofmiles – which just so happened to be uphill –the on-board figure wasshowing a tad in excess of90mpg.Now, you have to admit
that’s an incredible figurein anyone’s book and farsurpasses the car’s officialfuel consumption figureswhich are quoted as54.3mpg, 78.5mpg and67.3mpg for the urban,extra urban and combined
cycles respectively. So tocontinue the experiment,for the return trip I set thecruise at a morerespectable 62mph andeven then was surprised toend the journey showing59.7mpg.Priced at £19,530, the
oil-burning Jetta Blue-Motion offers pretty decentvalue for money, especiallywhen its frugal fuel-consumption is taken intoaccount.Safety and
security features includesix airbags, ABS, brakeassist, ESP with electronicdifferential lock and traction control and activehead restraints on the frontseats, little wonder then ithas been awarded a topfive star rating for adult,
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VOLKSWAGEN JETTAVOLKSWAGEN JETTA
urity features includeirbags, ABS, brakest, ESP with electronicrential lock and ion control and active
d restraints on the fronts, little wonder then itbeen awarded a topstar rating for adult,
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child and pedestrian protection making it one ofthe safest vehicles in itsclass.For those seeking a bit
more oomph, a two-litrediesel engine developing138bhp is also available,while two 1.4-litre TSI unitswhich pump out 120bhpand 157bhp complete the
range. However, I can’t forthe life of me see past the1.6-litre diesel BlueMotion,for not only is this Jettamiles better, it’s smiles better into the bargain.
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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE BLUEMOTIONPrice: £19,530. Drivetrain: 1598cc, 103bhp turbodiesel engine, driving front wheels through five-speed manual gearbox.Top speed: 118mph. 0-60mpg: 11.7 seconds.Fuel consumption: Combined 67.3mpg.CO2 emissions: 109g/km. Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles.
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE BLUEMOTIONPrice: £19,530. Drivetrain: 1598cc, 103bhp turbodiesel engine, driving front wheels through five-speed manual gearbox.Top speed: 118mph. 0-60mpg: 11.7 seconds.Fuel consumption: Combined 67.3mpg.CO2 emissions: 109g/km. Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles.