2020 Volkswagen Jetta - Re- Driven Review - Got Five & Luggage?
IN THE RACE TO MATURE COMPACT ROOMINESS: when introduced last year, the Mk. 7 Volkswagen Jetta improved on it's predecessor's mission with the adoption of the vaunted MQB platform. Even though it skimped on a few of the related VW Golf hatchback's virtues, Roadblazing.com editors assessed the revised Teutonic compact sedan as "...more flavorful butter for People's Car Maker's American bread...," in Roadblazing.com's 2019 VW Jetta Bottom Line Review.
RE-RUN RUMINATIONS: A recent second spin in the mostly unchanged 2020 VW Jetta SEL yielded the following impressions:
Driving Hits:
- All 184 lb-ft of torque at just 1500 rpm
- A real torque converter 8-speed automatic transaxle (syrupy 6-speed manual std.)
- 36 combined miles per gallon
- 500+ miles fuel tank range
- MQB platform permits tauter body control despite softer damping
- Cabin impressively immune to road & drivetrain noise
Driving Misses:
- Lower horsepower number felt at triple digits
- Rear torsion beam rather than Golf's independent rear suspension
- Occasional rear axle tramp
- Little steering road feel
- Braking body dive
- Low all-season tire dry grip
What It Has Got:
- Low price: from $19,815 (incl. destination) for a 6-speed manual 2020 Volkswagen Jetta S. Add $800 for the 8-speed automatic transaxle.
- More expressive wide hood valleys, eggcrate grille, trapezoid dual exhaust cutouts
- Accommodates 5 adults & their week's worth of luggage
- Above par standard feature set
- Heated front seats on lower (SE and above) trims
- Android Auto, AppleCar Play and MirrorLink phone projection standard
- Acceptably good safety features & ratings
- IIHS Good across the board
- Driver assist tech included on lower trims (SE)
- Collision avoidance pre-braking, blind spot & rear cross traffic warning
- 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty includes 2 years maintenance
What It Has Not (or Not Preferred):
- Silly simulated fender portholes
- Seat cushions too firm
- Seat cushions too short
- Fixed rear seat headrests
- No sliding front center armest
- Apogee of cabin finish austerity
- Exposed door frames
- Standard gauges paltry
- Lacks Golf's felt lined door pockets and better panel fit
- Instrument panel illumination only accessible via infotainment when parked
- Advanced driver assist only on higher trims
- Digital Cockpit only on higher trims
- 2 years / 22k miles shorter warranty from 2019 MY
Standout Cool [SEL Premium] Feature(s):
- Digital Cockpit configurable LCD instrument cluster w/ embeddable navigation map
- Customizable variable night cabin accent illumination
ROADBLAZING.COM's Pick:
Mid-level Jetta R-Line is the only one available with the XDS limited slip front axle capability and is equipped with larger 17" wheels and blacked-out chrome dress treatment.
2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL - Bottom Line Review
GOLFING FACT 1: The U.S. has over 15,000 registered golf courses. GOLFING FACT 2: The European Union has less than 7,000 registered golf courses. Alas, the car named Golf, with its appropriately available dimpled ball shifter head, lacks the equivalent popularity of the small dimpled ball sport
George Straton
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