we're here in Raleigh Durham North Carolina to look at the new Jetta and it
really is new new technology new platform new safety features new design
each others new styling is still a grown-up look but it goes for a bit more
drama and a bit more upscale feel as a larger grille more chrome sharper
sculpting standard LED headlights and daytime running lights as well as
standard LED tail lights for those who want a sporty you're looking a Jetta
Volkswagen offers the our line model a mid price model that has additional
features including a piano black grille its own 17-inch darkened wheels piano
black mirror caps and around back it has its own bumper with dual chrome exhaust
tips inside the our line has its own grand black seats and it has great
contrast stitching on the seats and on the steering wheel
another thing that distinguishes the new Jetta design is a sharp character line
that runs from the taillights up and through into the front fender
unfortunately it ends at a fake fender vent I think we're over those but it
also has in profile a trendier coupe-like roofline that is not so
extreme that it cuts into rear seat Headroom still looks good it also isn't
so extreme that it cuts into the trunk so much that you have trouble getting
the trunk loaded a highlight of the Jettas new interior design is a
driver-focused dashboard the instruments and touchscreen wrap around you you can
feel a little bit of Gulf DNA in this the touchscreen is now an 8 inch premium
screen 6.5 inches is standard and that's still bigger than the largest screen and
the old model also the screen is moved up and into your line of sight whereas
in the old model it was down below by the gearshift one new feature is a
choice of 10 colors of ambient lighting that reps all around you through the
dashboard and the doors and if you have a favorite color for that lighting you
can have it every time you get in the car thanks to a personalization feature
in the Nuge which saves up to 4 profiles including
the lighting but also your radio presets how you like to digital instruments a
variety of other features another feature that's a first for a Jetta and a
first for Volkswagen is a premium audio system that is a beats system 7 speakers
including a subwoofer in the trunk Volkswagen has also designed a lot more
cabin storage into the new Jetta that includes large door pockets front and
rear a nice device bin in the front with a soft bottom and a larger console which
includes thoughtfully a light interior so you can actually find things in there
one odd thing for the tech-savvy new car however is that it has only two USB
ports one up front one in the console plus a 12-volt while the interior of the
new Jetta is a lot more pleasant place to be most of it is about the front of
the cabin the back seat is roomy enough it has plenty of legroom and Headroom
for six-foot adults but it's just for to the new larger console intrudes into the
leg room pretty much eliminating it for the middle passenger and also there's a
significant drop down of the materials quality when you go from the front road
to the back road the old Jenna was already among the more fun to drive
compact sedans the new one is even better thanks to the new platform a
revised version of the strong little 1.4 liter turbo carries over but now it's
mated to a new 8-speed transmission with well spaced ratios and crisp shifting
steering was nicely weighted the brakes are confident cornering was tied down
there's nothing not to like about it I'm not saying you'll mistake it for a golf
GTI but it is definitely competitive with the best in compact sedans
including the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3
overall the 2019 Jetta redesign is a much more satisfying vehicle updated
technology new style still fun to drive it could take the Jetta from being a
niche player in compact sedans to a true mainstream competitor for more
information go to cars calm