Filed under: Economy, Sedans/Saloons
All-new VW Jetta to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show
Well here it is. Hinted at in earlier spy photos, it appears the new Jetta (prepared to drop January 5 at the Los Angeles Auto Show) mixes both the new Audi style seen in the A6 and A4 along with the Acura TL. Unfortunately I don't see anything unique in this design that moves me or endears me to the brand over any other. Luckily VW finally boosted the power in this fifth generation Jetta. A 2.5 liter five-cylinder, yes five, produces 150 horsepower and there will be an optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic. But what should be most anticipated is an electro-mechanical steering system that should improve the car's handling along with a new electronic stability program and new-generation ABS all-disc brakes. Got all that? Also as it appears the new Jetta is much larger than the previous version. I'm guessing there's one other thing that will be bigger as well, sticker price. Click below for more images.
And a side note for those that are no longer fans of VW from the press release: Built for worldwide distribution at Volkswagens high-tech production facility in Puebla, Mexico, the Jettas assembly process promises to set quality standards for this model segment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
blunckhouse 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
VWVortex members are already customizing the Jetta V:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1691601
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blunckhouse 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
VWVortex members are already customizing the Jetta V:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1691601
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Walter Keegan 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
You used to be able to pick the Jetta out of a crowd. Now it blends in with everything else. Just buy a frickin' Corolla. They look the same now. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Mike Chen 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
as an owner of a '98 Passat GLX and V-dub fan, oh how I wished that this was going to turn out better. It's so sad what has happened to VW since their late 90's string of hits. I hope that they don't manage to screw up the Concept R covertible.
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dgduris 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Whoa! Ugly! Derivative! VW used to the the EUROPEAN car for the set that wanted something EUROPEAN but weren't springing for a Bimmer or Merc. I see a little A4 in the side, but Camry in the rear 3/4 view and Acura up front.
Sad. Very sad! This is Bangleugly.
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nick t. 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Can you say Honda Accord/Acura? Rice, please.
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Dave 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
What I find really sad is that VW is making a classic business mistake; the kind of mistake that is talked about in case studies in business schools. For whatever reason, they desperately want to move upmarket, building and selling higher priced items so that they can achieve higher profits. But, while they are doing this, they seem to be leaving behind their existing customer base and going after new customers who have already been captured and satisfied by other companies. I mean, really, why would anyone buy a Jetta over an Acura TL? They won't. Why would anyone buy a Phaeton over a high end BMW, Mercedes, or Audi? They won't. Why would anyone drop 40K on a Passat when you can get a luxury sedan from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti at the same price? They won't. So, what is VW supposed to do with a product line that has all the price and none of the cache? Nothing except get their shirt handed to them. Oh, and while they are busy getting beat, their existing customer base will be raided by the lower cost car makers. Things don't look good for VW, in my opinion.
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Alan Bedenko 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
I'd like someone to please explain to my how/why this car looks any different from the E90 3-series.
If you say it looks like a Corolla, why, yes it does. In that it has windows and four tires, doors and a trunk.
This is a very nicely executed, evolutionary design.
It's very easy and convenient to yell "rice" at everything that's new and different. That's what the cool kids are doing, I suppose.
But from a practical standpoint, this car is a 3-series beater. Especially with the bigger engine(s) and the upcoming PD diesel.
Oh, yeah - and the fact that the sticker price is about $20,000 less than the E90.
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Alan
where are you getting your price numbers?
I'm guessing this car will not start below 20K
And the next gen 3 series will probably be just over $30 correct?
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Corolla comments come from the rear end, tail lights etc.
the profile is all acura TL IMO
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Dave 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
This car shouldn't be a 3 series beater, though. That is the wrong market segment for the Jetta. It should be a four door version of the Golf, a Corolla-Civic-Cavalier-Neon-Sentra killer. Maybe it can even go after the Altima market, but it should not be trying to go after the 3 series market. 3 series buyers will not buy a Jetta. They can afford better.
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Dave's right there. And even with Audi moving downscale with the A3 it's to bring premium quality to buyers of the Jetta. meaning they don't view VW as a premium even in the same family. so what are they doing?
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Geoff 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
It looks different from the new 3 series because where as this new Jetta has a non-descript, angular body, the BMW design has smooth, sculpted lines.
Take the badging off the Jetta and it looks like it could be from Toyota. Take the badging off the BMW and you still know it's a BMW.
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Autovida - Everything Automobiles 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
The only problem I see in the VW going "upmarket" is that that the Jetta has always been known as a "college car." I think they might have priced themselves out of that market.
And why would someone get an upscale Jetta when they could get an A4 instead???
Poor VW.
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Robert Rudorf 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
i like it. it almost seems fashionable to jump on the "beat up vw" bandwagon. i look forward to seeing it at the naias in january.
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
If the Jetta is debuting in LA I don't think it will be in Detroit but I could be wrong.
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
I'm staring at the new 3 series and see Alan's point in the profile but I think the front and rear end are much more aggressive and stylized. The fenders and large wheels also addd an aggressiveness. The Jetta has more subtle economy feel to it.
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Alan Bedenko 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
It'll debut in LA and it will definitely be at NAIAS. It's THE show, and Jetta will debut in dealerships a mere 2 months later.
The buzz on vortex is that the Jetta V will debut at right around 20k. I believe they're moving away from the GL/GLS/GLX categorization and moving toward what they use in Europe (comfortline/trendline, etc). There will probably be a bare-bones Jetta V with the standard 5 cylinder engine for just under 20k. (I think VWOA will bring Polo to USA to fill in the gap left in the 15k range).
Let me clarify what I meant by 3-series beater. If you're someone who'd really like a sporty, well-designed European sedan but you don't really see why you should pay over 30k for the privilege, that Jetta is a very good alternative. It slots in nicely with its competitors like Altima, Corolla, and is really quite nicer than the Civic.
As for the BMW - they're worse than Toyota when it comes to decontenting the base model, and then making you pay through the bloody nose for option packages. Want a sunroof? You're going to get power seat, etc., etc., ad infinitum with it whether you want it or not. Good luck getting the rare 3-series that comes in at 30k. Add an option or two, and you reach 40k on the 325 before you can say "cold weather package".
As for "the Jetta should be a Golf with a trunk", this _IS_ a Golf with a trunk. Even more so than the previous several iterations of the Jetta. This Jetta's front end is virtually identical to that of the Golf V. It is a Golf with a trunk.
Rear end lights are derivative of Golf V, which started on Toureg and Phaeton. All in the family. Side profile is, well, Golf V with a trunk. The closest Acura to this is the TSX, and I don't think it looks anything like that.
I have to admit that I was aghast when I saw the first spyphotos that trickled out about 6 months ago via cameraphone from someone at a dealer's show in Puebla. Now that I've seen the finished product, I think it looks quite nice, and it's clearly a Volkswagen. It's also going to inevitably join its predecessor as the most-sold European (marque) car in America.
I'll take one with a 6-speed and a TDI engine, please.
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Alan Bedenko 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Dave, I didn't mean that the Jetta was identical to the E90, and the E90 incorporates the current BMW style portfolio, while the Jetta incorporates the current VW style portfolio.
Of all the criticisms of Touareg (not many) and Phaeton (a lot) that I've read, I never heard anyone say it was ugly.
The current Jetta/Golf IV has been in circulation somewhere in the world since 1997. I, for one, am glad that the US is finally going to get its first V-series car. Actually, the new GTI is absolutely stunning.
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David Thomas 10:59PM (12/18/2005)
Alan,
The new GTI is much more aggressive in the front end than this Jetta image. At least to me. Maybe it's just this rendering I don't know. I think the engine might be the winner here with the steering improvements. But it still has less than a Mazda 3s. sigh
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