Her + His Car Reviews
2019 Volkswagen Jetta SE
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $22,155 | $22,155 |
| Performance | |
| Volkswagen fully redesigned the Jetta for 2019 and it delivers a nice ride. The 1.4-Liter TSI engine produces 147 horsepower. This 8-speed automatic has a universal appeal, the handling is adequate and braking the same. Pick up is less than engaging as one might expect with a smaller engine. | Right on the money. Quick handling. Quick braking. Responsiveness at all times. And one heck of a joy to drive. All Jetta's this year are powered by a 1.4 liter, 147-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Motor Trend says it hits 60 in 8.3 to 8.6 seconds, but it sure feels a lot faster than that. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| Fuel economy is where the 2019 accels compared to its rivals. 30 city miles and 40 highway miles - really excellent and a reason to buy this well-priced sedan. | Rated at 30/40 miles per gallon city/highway, but I think I squeezed a mile or two per gallon more than that. In any case, the Jetta is among the more fuel economical in its class. |
| The Car | |
| This is an attractive, updated spacious Jetta. Comfort and comfort creatures are part of the package in the 2019 VW Jetta. Affordability reigns, too. This model is quite a departure from the last time this model was completely re-invented in 2011.
The exterior in Tornado Red is complimented stylishly with the interior classy Titan cloth & materials in solid black in our tester. Cargo space in the trunk is spacious - though we were surprised that 2 cubic feet were removed from last years. Drive-ability is optimized as we experienced no blind spots. We like the infotainment system, as it's easy to use and has standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto - all straightforward to use and sync from your phone. The overall length of the car has been expended to 185.1 inches. Seating is spacious and comfortable. On this SE model, you'll have to manually change the position of the seats and steering wheel for a customized fit. Those that are interested in this car and this price, are going to be just fine with physically maneuvering this feature. No biggie. Of course, there are more standard features than the predecessor. One of our favorites is the Digital Cockpit with its 10.3 screen. This instrument cluster replaces the speedometer and the tachometer. |
The Jetta has always been VW's go-to car for those young, ambitious folks who can't afford the elegant, classy Passat, but nevertheless are looking for an upscale car...unless of course, they want our favorite--a Golf GTI or a Golf R. Not anymore. The 2019 Jetta is all new and all suave and sophisticated looking and might cause some to see some BMW in its good, chiseled looks. It still comes off a bit too 'stock standard', but in a sophisticated, elegant way. This generation has way more cool technology, too with a touchscreen infotainment system and the Digital Cockpit, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10-color ambient lighting inside and a digital instrument cluster on the dashboard, and all of the latest touches for safety and security gizmos. |
| Safety | |
| Stability control. Front, Side and Overhead Airbags. LATCH. Push-Button Start. Ignition Disabled Device (Security System). Rearview Camera. Keyless Entry. Donut-tire in trunk is included with vehicle. Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Blind-Spot Monitoring all extra. |
There really aren't safety features on the Jetta that you won't find in other cars and trucks these days. Consider yourself very well protected. |
| Technology | |
| 16" Alloy Wheels. More standard features than LY's including full-LED lighting and the significantly improved user-friendly infotainment system. The Digital Cockpit with the 10.3" screen.
USB, Bluetooth and AM/FM/CD and 4 speaker system. Heated front seats. LED lighting. |
Standard features for the S include 16-inch alloy wheels, LED head- and taillights, air conditioning, a 6.5-inch touchscreen-based infotainment system, a rearview camera, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a USB port, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system.
You can also get an optional Driver Assistance package adds forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Next up are the SE, R-Line with its sport-luxury features and looks, followed by the SEL and SEL Premium at the very top end. By the way, all the other Jetta's at the higher levels have the automatic transmission as standard. The Jetta SE has those features as standard plus a sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and keyless entry with push-button start. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The new hood gives it a hint of sport and racing influence. We like the more agreesive and broader grill and the oversized logo. The bold exterior color is complimented with a classy interior black. Cargo space in the trunk is extensive with 14 cubic feet. The headlights and back lights, as well as LED, are all streamlined and fit athletically with the new design. It is worth noting how well the touch points are inside - there are clean accents and soft touch surfaces. Nice hand. |
Jetta's are in much better shape aesthetically than ever. It looks more expensive than it really is and there are just enough curves and character lines chiseled into its flanks that it keeps things interesting. Inside, there are rich looking leather seats and the dashboard looks as though it belongs in a much more expensive car, which frankly is exactly what I expect from VW, which has some of the best interior designs in the world.
By the way--there's plenty of room in this car front and back. No problem there. |
| Warranty | |
| 6 year, 72,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. | Just plain outstanding! six years or 72,000 limited bumper to bumper warranty. |
