Volkswagen Jetta 125TDI Highline 2010 Review

Volkswagen Jetta 125TDI Highline

Price Guide: $38,990 (manufacturer's list price, excluding on-road costs and dealer delivery)
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $500, bi-xenon headlights $1,900, satellite navigation RNS510 $2500, Media Device Interface (MDI) $300
Crash rating: TBA
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.9
CO2 emissions (g/km): 159
Also consider: Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCi,  Mazda6 Diesel, Renault Megane dCi, Volvo S40 D4

About our ratings

Volkswagen's well equipped Jetta is a competent sedan overshadowed by the Golf 118 TSI Highline driven by the Carsales Network just a week earlier.

Kitted out with the higher-performance 125kW diesel and Highline trim, the Jetta only scored over the Golf in its enormous boot and the fuel economy of the diesel engine. But the Golf is available as a diesel variant also.

In short, the Golf is as comfortable and at least as refined as the Jetta, but sportier and more agile. Perhaps if you want a cheaper or smaller alternative to the Passat -- rather than a booted version of the Golf -- the Jetta would be the right choice. As we stress, the Jetta is a good car in its own right, but the Golf 6 is a clear example of the way newer stablemates can make existing models seem dated.

The Jetta's diesel engine was a relatively quiet unit once upon a time, but companies the likes of Hyundai and Kia are catching up in the area of refinement with their new R Series engines. In the VW, the engine doesn't sound up to date or sporty. It is generally quiet, but emits an 'epiglottal' sound on the overrun, as the DSG transmission changes down.

Out on the open road the Golf 5-based Jetta produces just a bit of wind noise and the engine is barely discernible. It's while picking up speed or decelerating that the VW diesel's soundtrack dominates. There is also some tyre noise on country roads, but overall the Jetta is a quiet car.

As a performer, the diesel is a muscular engine and will rev out above 4500rpm before the transmission changes up. This particular engine will run without fuss in higher gears below 1500rpm, thanks to the DSG's 'smarts'. There is little of the labouring, we've experienced with some diesels driven in recent times.

While the engine shows signs of turbo lag from a standing start, the DSG box masks it on the move.

Fuel consumption reached around 7.8L/100km commuting; mostly along arterial roads involving little stop/start driving. Slower peak-hour traffic pushes the figure across the 8.0L/100km threshold. The average fuel consumption was about 6.8L/100km for the week, including some open-road motoring.

Application of the stoppers is accompanied by some grinding at lower speeds, but the brakes slow the car surely every time. Just like the Golf, the Jetta comes with Hill Start Assist, which holds the brakes locked on as the driver lifts the foot off the pedal to apply throttle. A sudden application of juice from a standing start can catch out the system, delivering an undignified thump from under the car on take-off.

The steering is heavy and the Jetta doesn't feel as lively to drive, nor as comfortable in ride quality as its hatch stablemate. And steering feel isn't up to the standard set by the Golf either, although it remains acceptably good. Turn-in is responsive enough and, with the direct steering ratio, the Jetta requires fewer cranks from lock to lock in tighter corners.

Exhibiting typical Volkswagen traits, the Jetta's general handling is benign, bordering on neutral. Trailing-throttle oversteer can be easily provoked as you enter a corner, but the stability control quashes that quickly, without being too intrusive.

In country driving the headlights cast a strong, white light on low beam, but would be better still, set a little higher. Importantly, they don't leave you in the dark after dipping from high beam.

It's easy to find a workable driving position in the Jetta, although the cowl seems a little high -- a criticism levelled at the Golf also. By comparison, the field of vision to the rear is decent and backing is easy, helped by a number of aids. These include reverse parking sensors, a dipping passenger-side mirror and an elevated graphic view of the car in the infotainment system's LCD, revealing the proximity to obstacles.

The interior design is straightforward, but conservative. To the Jetta's credit, everything is clear and easily read or reached. It's simple to use the function controls on the steering wheel. The wheel itself, a three-spoke design with a thick, grippy rim, is fairly stylish and well sized. It's not so big in diameter as to feel like a ship's helm, but nor is it too narrow for a clear view of the major instruments.

Optional features fitted to the Jetta on test include satellite navigation system and a smart-card reader for the audio with a hard-disc drive to store music. The audio system will read an MP3 disc and there is an auxiliary input for an external music source.

Seats are comfortable and nicely bolstered. They grip well and provide a proper length in the squab. There's plenty of legroom in the rear, even behind a larger-than-average sized adult. Very tall occupants in the front would restrict legroom in the rear to child-sized only.

Headroom is adequate for adults in either front or rear. Indeed, the Jetta is a fairly commodious car considering its overall packaging -- but it's longer than the Golf hatch as a consequence of the extra rear overhang for the boot. That's where the luggage-carrying advantage goes the Jetta's way.

As mentioned earlier, the Jetta stands out for its large boot (527 litres), which incorporates a useful bin within the right-hand side quarter panel. The fully-lined compartment is deep and extends a long way forward for what is a small-to-middling car.

The bootlid also raises wide and high, providing a large opening. So you can actually stow large objects inside, making the Jetta's one of the more useful boots in a sedan of this size. As far as it's possible to recollect, only the Jetta's cousin, the Skoda Octavia, comes close to offering the same level of accessibility and volume -- and the Czech car is a hatch built on the Jetta/Golf platform anyway.

In this specification (Highline grade, 125kW diesel) and with the capacious boot, the Jetta has few foes in the market. We mentioned the Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCi for its similar luggage capacity, diesel powerplant/self-shifting transmission combo and identical price -- but the smaller Jetta is ultimately better packaged and offers stronger on-road performance.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi.