Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI DSG

Good news! You can finally tell the Volkswagen Jetta apart from the Vento; just count the number of chrome bars on the grille. The Jetta now has three, the Vento has two. And that’s how mild the update to the Jetta is. Apart from that grille, the graphics for the Led daytime lights in the headlamps are different, the bumper is new and the tail lamps now look very Audi. They say the boot lid and the rear bumper are new as well. oh yes, there’s a new colour available and it’s called Blue silk.

The Jetta’s always been a handsome, understated car and the mild facelift only makes it more of the same. It may not have the extrovert design of some of its rivals, but there’s a certain timeless appeal to the car that we all like. we also like the smoked grey alloy wheels that come with the Highline. step inside and you’ll see a new, flat bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifts (on the dsG automatic cars), enclosed dials for the speedo and rev counter and, wonder of wonders, a new airbag deactivation switch for the front passenger. All variants of the Jetta now get cruise control and there’s a ‘fatigue detection’ feature that studies your driving inputs and flashes a coffee mug symbol on the display between the dials if it notices a change in your driving pattern.

The Jetta’s enjoyable drivetrain and impeccable road manners are what make it fun to drive

As before, the Jetta comes with three drivetrain options. There’s a purely manual, 121bhp 1.4-litre TFsI petrol engine and a 138bhp 2.0-litre TdI diesel that comes with the option of either a six-speed manual or a twin-clutch automatic transmission. we drove the latter and as before, it’s a strong engine with more than enough punch to make the Jetta feel light on its feet. It’s also quite smooth and quiet and the same can be said about the gearshifts from the automatic box.

It’s this enjoyable drivetrain and the Jetta’s impeccable road manners that make it fun to drive. There is a lot of grip, the chassis is well balanced and very little that our roads throw up seems to faze the Jetta. The suspension tackles bad roads very well and you get this really flat, tightly controlled ride. The steering could do with a bit more feel but it is very well weighted and you can feel levels of available grip through your palms.

It costs Rs 20.17 lakh and for that price it could be better equipped even top-end versions don’t have a sunroof or a reverse camera and the touch-screen interface is looking rather old now.

Ultimately though what sets the Jetta apart from its competition (Corolla Altis, octavia and elantra) is how tank-like it feels. The door shut quality on this generation of Jetta is something to be treasured for the sensory experience. In fact this is probably one of the last over-engineered German cars we’ll see. In the quest for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions, the newer cars are lighter (safer and stronger as well) but they don’t feel as tough. And if you like your cars tough, you won’t find anything else in this price bracket that gives you the same sense of solidity.

Specification
Engine / In-line 4-cyl, 1968cc
Transmission / 6-speed DSG
Power / 138bhp @ 4200rpm
Torque / 320nm @ 1750-2500rpm
Weight / 1439kg
0-100kmph / 10.0sec (estd)
Top speed / 210kmph (estd)