Test Drives, Volkswagen

Test Drive: 2009 Volkswagen City Jetta

May 8, 2009

2009 Volkswagen City Jetta. Click image to enlarge

The City Jetta and City Golf share a similar interior, and there are good and bad points. On the plus side, panel fit is excellent, the materials look and feel like they belong on a more expensive vehicle, the optional five-position seat heaters get up to serious sizzle, the front seat cushions are longer than many and provide good thigh support (short cushions are an easy way for a manufacturer to make the interior look bigger, but you’ll feel the difference), the stereo comes with both auxiliary input and USB for music players, and the wheel is just the right size. On the down side, some ergonomics could be better: the heater dials are small and difficult to turn, they’re so low on the stack that you must reach around the shift lever for them, and the stereo’s on/off button is a tiny plastic nub off in the corner, not the more logical dial that controls the volume. The seats are set high in the Jetta, which can go either way; I thought they were fine, while my passenger complained that they were too tall for his liking. Seatback adjustment is done by a dial, which many prefer to a lever, but the control is set so far back on the seat that it’s difficult to reach it, and the seatbelt gets in the way.

I first complained that it was difficult to open the trunk lid; the key fob unlocks its power clasp, but the lid doesn’t spring up, and I had to squish my fingers under the lip to pull it open. Of course, the most important item on any vehicle is the owner’s manual, which let me in on the secret: push on the big VW emblem between the taillights and it flips out, providing a handle to get inside. The trunk is 105 cm long, and includes a little side compartment with net, but the lift-over is fairly high. The rear seats fold flat, opening the cargo space to 163 cm, but it’s not the simplest of chores. The bottom cushions flip up easily enough, but then you have to remove the head restraints before folding the seatbacks, and reaching the middle restraint is a chore. There’s also no place to store them once they’ve been removed.

In a world of “new-and-improved,” it’s easy to get caught up in the latest cars coming down the pipe. And that’s fine; the compact segment is a crowded one, and there are some excellent models, from manufacturers hailing from all corners of the globe. But while the City Jetta’s engine has long been eclipsed by smoother models, it still does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and it’s surrounded by an urban runabout package that also does what it’s supposed to do – and in some areas, better than much of its competition. The package is good and the price is reasonable. If you’re in the market, test-drive it now, before it’s gone.

Pricing: 2009 VW City Jetta

Base price: $16,900

Options: $4,860 (Automatic transmission, $1,400; electronic stability control, $450; air conditioning, $1,350; Comfort Package, $975; Cold Weather Package, $275; curtain airbags, $410)

A/C tax: $100

Freight: $1,360

Price as tested: $23,220
Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives

Specifications

Specifications: 2009 Volkswagen City

Competitors

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Ford Focus

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Honda Civic

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Hyundai Accent

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Kia Rio