VOLKSWAGEN has redefined its Jetta sedan, moving away from converting its Golf hatch into a sedan and starting from a blank canvas to enable a longer wheelbase for a roomier interior and better-proportioned looks for greater showroom appeal.
The larger footprint also places the segment-straddling Jetta more firmly in the mid-size category, being just 25mm shorter than its more expensive Passat stablemate.
Plenty of Golf-derived engineering is still hidden under the Jetta's larger, all-new, Californian-designed bodywork, and much of its interior will be familiar to anyone who has travelled in the brand’s popular small hatch.
Volkswagen has further broadened the Jetta’s appeal by taking a scalpel to the price but is it enough to compete in the tough medium sedan market?
Jetta
Released: November 2009
Ended: July 2011
Family Tree: JettaA MILDLY facelifted Jetta emerged from VW’s South African production facility with only a different alloy wheel design differentiating it from the Mexican-built predecessor launched in early 2006.
While its Golf sibling made the transition from MKV to MKVI and adopted VW’s new corporate snout, the Jetta carried on with a more familiar face although the interior was refreshed to resemble that of the updated Golf hatch.
A new base variant powered by a frugal 1.6-litre 77kW diesel engine helped reposition the range and boost flagging sales and a new 2.0-litre 125kW diesel became the flagship alongside the sporty 147kW turbo-petrol.,
By the end of its six and a half year model life the Bora-replacing Jetta sold about 15,000 units
Super Test
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