Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8TSI Highline

[dirtyjeffer]

Honda Canada.

That's like trusting Korean mpg numbers...

i have no problem achieving my mpg numbers AND i get a rebate every year.

[greengs]

I agree that the Jetta is pretty spartan and cheapish inside and the exterior is very platicky for the money.  However, one can get into a Passat Trendline right now for the same price.  It has more base equipment than the Jetta Comfortline w/1.8 tsi, such as dual automatic climate control, fully automatic interior and exterior lighting, , soft plastic dash top and upper door panels and more exterior trim bits.  It also has the same powertrain, voice activated blue Tooth tech and multifunctional trip computer w multifunctional leather wrapped steering wheel.  It is larger, has a more comfortable interior and larger, wider cargo area.  And, I averaged 6.8 l/100 km, mostly highway at 115 to 120 km/hr, on my last tank of gas.   A real bargain in my estimation.

The 1.8 is smooth and has excellent tourque and plenty of power.  It handles great and has good steering feel.   And as far as reliability goes, the Golf I had peviously was my 1st VW and the first car I never had to take in for anything other than required maintenance, which was once a year or 15,000 km.  Just sayin!

I have always liked the new Passat as far as value.  The only thing I can't get over is the offset steering wheel.  It's the only car that when you sit in it your arms go to the side when you grab the steering wheel vs center.  (offset a few cms to the right).  I've sat in 2013s and 2014s and they are all the same.   Not just a little but noticable amount.  Does this bother you or are you used to it? 

On another note the article mentions Jetta on par with Mazda3 and Cruize power wise.  Jetta 1.8T seems to have quite a bit more power and is just about the fastest in its class now according to all the instrumented testing.   

[bombastic]

The average household income of.civic buyers in Canada is well over $100k a year.

It's an aspirational vehicle to many...believe it or not, dem the facts.

Strange statistics. Is there any source of these claims? In my neighborhood where the household income is exactly above 100K I can hardly spot a Civic. Most of the cars are CUVs or SUVs though.

Very interesting stats, Civic buyers average over 100k.  In your neighbourhood, average income is 100k?  How does one find this out?  Also, makes me wonder, how a neighbourhood is defined?  Just your street?  The street around the corner as well?   Houses on my street range from $325k to $650, it's a strange street.  I quote lawns and driveways accordingly...

How to find the statistics about the average income in your neighborhood? Is easy. You can check site beta.realtor.ca
Click on a house for sell in your area and click the "demographics" tab. You will find a lot of info including the average income.
And no, the area is not "just one street".

[wing]

Jetta 170hp / 184tq
Cruze TDI 151/264
Mazda3 167/168

[wing]

Lots of DINKs in my area
Population size: 798
Median age: 40.30
Average Household Size: 2.81
Average Household Income: $166,344
Households with Children: 64%
Households without Children: 36%
Number of Households: 284
Not in the Labour Force: 22%

[bombastic]

Jetta 170hp / 184tq
Cruze TDI 151/264
Mazda3 167/168

The numbers often do not tell the whole story. Most cases it matters how the power is delivered.

[mixmanmash]

Jetta 170hp / 184tq
Cruze TDI 151/264
Mazda3 167/168

The numbers often do not tell the whole story. Most cases it matters how the power is delivered.

Yup.  We need overlapping dyno charts to compare.  Guaranteed that the 1.8TSI makes a lot of torque down low.

[hemusbull]

Kudos to VW people who year after year changed the perception of Jetta in North America. It was long time an underpowered car with sluggish 2.0 115 HP base engine driven on the market from German insurance prices guided by the displacement and horses of the engine. And all this times Jetta was overpriced underperformer, especially in reliability department. Of course, there is one another Jetta - the winner with TDI engine...

[greengs]

Jetta 170hp / 184tq
Cruze TDI 151/264
Mazda3 167/168

I thought about the Cruze gas engine only.  Also couldn't find any new Mazda 3 with those power ratings. They either have 155 or 184hp.  From the tests it seems the Jetta is right on par with the 184hp Mazda.  I do suspect that if someone tested all the car on the dyno it would show the Jetta to be slighly understated in power.  The same 1.8T is rated at 170hp/200tq in the Audi A3 application. 

[lebowski]

Kudos to VW people who year after year changed the perception of Jetta in North America. It was long time an underpowered car with sluggish 2.0 115 HP base engine driven on the market from German insurance prices guided by the displacement and horses of the engine. And all this times Jetta was overpriced underperformer, especially in reliability department. Of course, there is one another Jetta - the winner with TDI engine...

To be fair, the Jetta had been offered with the previous 2.5 5-cylindar for nearly a decade. Though it may have not been the most economical, it was reliable and offered a good deal of power - significantly more than the 2.0L.

[dkaz]

Greengs is right, 167/168 was the old non-SkyActiv 2.5. The new engine is 184/185.

Mazda 3 with the 2.5 was a bit faster than the Jetta 1.8 TSI when I test drove them:
http://youtu.be/7u292HY6c90

[jamescottam]

I could care less if my car has a backup camera.

A smooth shifting 6 speed and a 1.8 with a turbo, now those are things I do care about.

Here, here, a voice of sanity in the room! Thank you. Turn your head to look back!!