Her and His Reviews
April 2013
2013 Volkswagen Jetta
Hybrid SE
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| Price: $26,990 | Prices range from $24,995 for the Base version to $26,990 for the SE Jetta Hybrid, to $29,325 for the SEL Jetta Hybrid and$31,180 for the SEL Hybrid Premium trim levels. |
| Performance | |
| Built with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder+20kW electric motor, this hybrid generates 170 horsepower and has fairly powerful acceleration from the turbocharged engine. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission Handling on turns is good. One thing that annoys is the touchiness or sensitivity of the brakes. The slightest depression results in a jerky motion. |
Truly scintillating! This thing is fast! Off the showroom floor, the front wheel drive Jetta Hybrid has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder and a 20kW electric motor, which together product a powerplant system that puts out 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The best part is that it's one helluva fun car to drive. The steering is dead on accurate and unwavering. The suspension is firm, and the responses are strong and lusty from the powerplant system. The DSG has wonderful, satisfying gear changes that are short and crisp. And going around corners, into curves and everywhere else is absolutely smile inducing. A tremendously satisfying car to drive. And did we mention it's fast? It is. Jetta Hybrid can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 8.6 seconds. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| Outstanding 42 mpg city; 48 mpg hwy | The mileage rating for the Jetta Hybrid is 42 mpg city/48 mpg highway and 45 mpg combined using required premium fuel, but that rating is conservative. We did way, way better than that using such things as cruise control, a moderate foot on the pedal, and the e mode at various times. Using just over a quarter tank of gasoline, we managed to drive 186 miles. Since the tank holds about 12 gallons of gas, that works out to three gallons of gas or about 60 miles per gallon! |
| The Car | |
| Overall, this is a good competitor in its class. Nothing stellar, but it does not promise that. It promises 'good', and delivers on that. A new design is offered this year, however, I must say that I miss the mojo and unique design language changed two years ago when VW decided to compete in a broader market. They are selling way more cars today, so, time for me to get “over it.”
Roominess is key; for front driver and all passengers. Longer legged passengers are welcome here. Don�??t like the metal seat adjuster; most competitors in this price range have an electronic adjuster. The metal looks and feels cheap. |
With cars, we often find that if they are really good, we fall in love instantly. Well, the Jetta Hybrid is a good car. Really, really good car. And if they ever make one with all wheel drive�??we DO live in Pittsburgh after all�??we would break the bank to buy it. Truly. The SEL Premium gets 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, fog lamps, a rearview camera and an eight-speaker Fender premium sound system. Want electric driving? According to the driver's manual, just push the e-mode button for extended electro mode drive, and you'll see a graphic illustrating that you are driving in that mode. As long as the battery has an adequate charge, you can use in this mode as long as you are driving at less than 45 miles per hour. There's also a boost mode which comes into play whenever the transmission is in sport drive and you accelerate heavily. During this full acceleration phase, the car is being powered by both the combustion engine and the electric motor. |
| Safety | |
| The safety features are excellent �?? both in offerings and in the results of the testing; the NHTSA gives it excellent ratings. Included are: Driver Air Bag, Passenger Air Bag, Side Head Air Bag, Rear Head Air Bag, Side Air Bag, 4-Wheel ABS, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control. Daytime Running Lights, Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors, Traction Control for better get up and go. The Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS) unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard lights, as well as shuts down the fuel system in certain collisions. |
Don't worry. It's got it all. And then some. The Jetta Hybrid comes standard with front and side airbags for front-seat occupants, as well as Side Curtain Protection® airbags for both front and rear seats. It also features numerous electronic driving aids and safety systems, including Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Brake-Pressure Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA). Additionally, the Jetta line employs Volkswagen's Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), which unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard lights, as well as shutting down the fuel system in certain types of collision. |
| Technology | |
| : Included are 16” alloy wheels, heated mirrors, LED taillights, keyless entry and push button start, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control for customized preferences, cruise control, adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable heated and reclining front seats, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone connectivity, auxiliary jack, and a 6-speaker upgraded sound system with CD player, sunroof and NAV system. | The base Jetta Hybrid comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, heated mirrors, cruise control, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, premium vinyl upholstery, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, a trunk pass-through, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with CD player and an auxiliary jack. The SE adds LED taillights, keyless entry/ignition, power-reclining front seats and an upgraded sound system with a touchscreen interface, satellite radio and an iPod interface. The SEL builds on the SE offerings with 16-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, heated front seats, a six-way power driver seat and a navigation system. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Nice styling in and out on the universal-looking Jetta. Very attractive grill on this new model. Two-tone seats with stitching has clean appearance and comfort. Along with the roominess, there is ample organization for storing things and cup holders for no-spills driving. Nice, clean dashboard. | We also thought that although the Jetta is a pleasant looking car, the styling still resembled a basic, no frills sedan, and it could use a lot more eye interest, to be honest, if it is to distinguish itself somehow from the tons of similar sedans out there. Besides, get this Jetta in some rich, dark shade like navy blue or black, stay away from silver and lighter hues, add some of the cool optional wheels that VW offers for Jetta, and you've got a pretty sexy car. So our bottom line is to watch what color you get because it does make more of a difference in appearance than many other cars. But as we said, we were more than happy�??way, way more than happy�??to overlook that because of the fabulous handling of the Jetta, and the energetic acceleration. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 year; 36,000 miles | 3 year/36,000 miles warranty |
