Volkswagen Jetta (2011 – 2017) Review

Volkswagen Jetta (2011 – 2017) At A Glance

3/5

+Bigger than previous Jetta with more rear passenger room. BlueMotion models deliver good economy. Easy to drive and comfortable.

-Golf will always hold its value better. Smaller boot than previous Jetta. Soft springing doesn't provide thrilling handling.

Insurance Groups are between 10–20
On average it achieves 89% of the official MPG figure

The Volkswagen Jetta has gone through a few name changes in Europe, from the original 1979 Jetta to the Vento, the Bora and back to the Jetta again. One thing has remained unchanged and that's the fact it's the saloon version of the Golf.

It's a popular model in the US, but as with many booted versions of family hatchbacks (such as the Mazda3 saloon and the Ford Focus saloon) it's never proved a big seller in the UK where we prefer the practicality and style of a hatchback.

So it's surprising that Volkswagen continues to offer the model here. However, with this, essentially the sixth generation of the Jetta, the manufacturer is trying to give the model its own stronger identity so that it sits between the Golf and Passat.

For starters it doesn't share any panels with the Golf and is noticeably bigger than the previous Jetta with a longer wheelbase. Surprisingly the boot is slightly smaller than before, but the trade off is more rear legroom for those in the back.

The styling follows the latest Volkswagen family look with a simple and unfussy look although at first glance it's very easy to mistake it for a Passat from the front. It's a similar story inside where there's the familiar Volkswagen interior with a good quality and longlasting feel. It's far from striking in its design but more importantly is very user-friendly and intuitive.

This is reflected once you're on the move. The Jetta is undemanding to drive with nicely weighted steering and decent front end grip in corners, while it's quiet at higher speeds too with little wind or road noise.

The ride quality is good too, although it can get caught out by particularly uneven roads. Overall it's very competent, if not particularly memorable. The engine line up includes the excellent 1.4 TSI with either 122PS or 160PS while the diesels are the 1.6 TDI with Bluemotion Technology and the 2.0 TDI developing 140PS.

 

 

 

 

Real MPG average for a Volkswagen Jetta (2011 – 2017)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

89%

Real MPG

28–75 mpg

MPGs submitted

82

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

My car's brakes are badly rusted, can I get this fixed or do they need replacing?

"I left my Volkswagen Jetta at a garage to be serviced and MOT'd. It's done 29,000 miles. They've come back saying, "there is 7mm remaining on front brake pads and discs badly rusted on inner surfaces, requires disks and pads" at a total cost of £383. Do you feel that some remedial work could be done for this, and must this be done for the MOT?"
I imagine the rust has been caused by the car being parked up for long periods outside during the pandemic-related lockdowns. It may be possible for a garage to scrub the rust off the disc with cleaner and steel wool, but it will very much depend on the level of corrosion. It's probable the rust has eaten into the metal and pitted the surface, which means the disc will chew up the pads. If the rust is really bad then the car will fail the MoT because the tester will deem it likely to fail.
Answered by Dan Powell

A car I'm interested in is registered as another model - is this a mistake?

"I've found a Volkswagen Golf Estate that seems a good buy in a car supermarket. I thought I would check the MoT history and it comes up as a Jetta. When I rang the dealer he says he’s not sure why that would be, and it can only be some kind of mistake. The MoT mileages seem to match up pretty well and everything else looks ok. Is it possible that an error like this could occur? Also, if I purchased it and it was proved to be dodgy, would I be entitled to a refund?"
It sounds like a mistake made somewhere between the dealer and the DVLA when registering the car, but I'd definitely want to see it in person before any money changes hands. Whether you could reject it would depend on what the hypothetical issue was. If it was a major issue, or the car wasn't fit for purpose then you could reject it under the Consumer Rights Act.
Answered by Georgia Petrie

I'm leaving my car sat on my driveway for nine weeks in winter - should I disconnect the battery?

"I'm leaving my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Volkswagen Golf on my driveway for nine weeks in winter. Should I disconnect the batteries?"
Disconnecting will lose any codes that are dependent on a continuous power supply. Best to check if any of the power sockets are hard-wired directly to the battery (will run something when the ignition is switched off). If there is, get a solar charger from Maplins, etc and leave it connected inside one of the screens where it will get the most light. (It obviously won't do anything if the car becomes covered in snow.)
Answered by Honest John

Will the Volkswagen extended warranty cover my broken EGR valve?

"My EGR valve has gone on my Volkswagen Jetta 2011 and the car has only 42,000 miles on clock . I took Volkswagen extended warranty, will this cover it?"
Probably not because it is usually considered a wear and tear item. Basically your EGR is clogged up with gunge; it is not a 'mechanical breakdown'. Very common indeed on VAG EA189 1.6 TDI engines. So common that I think owners should take class action about it because this engine was originally sold with faked NOx readings and the true CO2 and Nox emitted could be what is clogging the EGRs.
Answered by Honest John
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