The Volkswagen Golf has been a firm favourite for more than 30 years, yet us hatchback-loving Brits hardly register a whiff of interest in its saloon brother, the Jetta.
So why does VW persevere with the saloon when buyers are voting with their feet? Because Americans love it, that’s why. They buy about 140,000 a year, compared with fewer than 16,000 Golfs, and VW would like to sell more of the Jetta here.
VW claims this sixth-generation model is an attractive stand-alone offering that’s much more than just a Golf with a boot.
Has it worked? Well, its styling bears far less resemblance to the Golf. Longer than the last Jetta, it’s now closer to the Passat and the new proportions give it an upmarket look missing from previous incarnations.
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Its wheelbase has also been stretched by almost 3in over its hatch brother, delivering rear legroom that is a match for cars from the class above. On top of that, the 510-litre boot is huge.
The no-nonsense interior layout is lifted straight from the Golf and means a great driving position and faultless quality, while the inclusion of multilink rear suspension and electric power steering helps ensure the Jetta drives well. The steering is linear and combines with the suspension’s good body control and consistent grip levels to deliver the same handling composure as a Golf.
The entry-level 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology engine, which is predicted to be the biggest seller in Britain, delivers leisurely rather than exciting performance. There’s the familiar diesel clatter at low revs, while the long ratios of the five-speed manual gearbox take some getting used to, but things improve when on the move and the car cruises pleasantly.
The really impressive thing about the new Jetta is the engine technology. Stop-start and brake-regeneration wizardry help deliver nearly 70mpg and a CO2 output of just 109g/km. Better still, it’s cheaper than the equivalent Golf and standard kit includes six airbags, alloy wheels, air-conditioning and cruise control.
Bigger and better-looking than its predecessor, the Jetta is now more than just an elongated Golf.