Top 3 things you need to know about the Volkswagen Jetta

Since its local introduction in the 1980s, the Volkswagen Jetta became a popular choice amongst sedan buyers. It did everything it said on the box, offering lots of space, frugal fuel consumption figures and a comfortable interior with compliant ride quality. With those credentials, nobody would blame you for wanting one as it is the practical choice.

However, since the uprise of the SUV segment, fewer sedans were leaving dealership floors and as a result, Volkswagen SA decided in 2017 that it will no longer be bringing in the model. The last of the new Jetta examples were sold as late as 2019 with the remaining stock in the country. Thus if you are considering the German model, you will be best served to search for used Volkswagen Jetta models on AutoTrader.

1. Powertrains

When Volkswagen launched the last Jetta model range in South Africa in 2014 it came with a range of engines and transmission options. Below are some of the figures for you to see which will suit your needs the best. 

	Volkswagen Jetta 1.2 TSI	Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI (90kW)	Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI (118 kW)	Volkswagen Jetta 1.6 TDI	Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI
Engine	1.2-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol	1.4-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol	1.4-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol	1.6-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel	2.0-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual / 7-speed DSG automatic	7-speed DSG automatic	5-speed manual / 7-speed DSG automatic	7-speed DSG automatic
Power	77 kW	90 kW	118 kW	77 kW	103 kW
Torque​​​​​	175 Nm	200 Nm	240 Nm	250 Nm	320 Nm
0-100 km/h	10.9s	9.8s	8.3s	11.7s	9.5s
Top speed	190 km/h	202 km/h	221 km/h	190 km/h	208 km/h
Fuel consumption	5.7 L/100km	6.2 (M/T) 6.0 (A/T) L/100km	6.0 L/100km	4.5 (M/T) 4.7 (A/T) L/100km	5.3 L/100km
CO2 emission	134 g/km	144 g/km (M/T) 138 g/km (A/T)	139 g/km	119 g/km (M/T) 123 g/km (A/T)	138 g/km

*These figures were obtained from Volkswagen South Africa

2. Standard specification

The Volkswagen Jetta comes in the three familiar trim levels, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The Trendline trim level represents the base specification for the Jetta model range, however, still came with quite a lot of standard equipment. Comfortline and Highline models retain all the specifications on the Trendline variants unless it has been replaced with an even better item, for example larger alloy wheels in place of the smaller units.

On the Trendline model, you can expect manual air-conditioning, a radio compatible with USB input with eight speakers, a multifunction steering wheel and electric windows front and rear. Owners are also treated to leather on the steering wheel, handbrake handle and gear knob. For safety, Volkswagen included front and side airbags for both front occupants and ISOFIX anchors on the outer rear seats. 

The exterior of the Trendline Jetta gets body-coloured electric and heated side mirrors incorporating LED indicators. Above the body-coloured front bumper features the headlamps with daytime running lights. The grille and lower air intake is finished in black and on the sides feature 16-inch alloy wheels. 

The driver further benefit from cruise control as well as a hill-hold system for those pull-offs on sharp inclines. The windscreen wipers feature an automatic rain sensor. Comfortline and Highline models further build on to this high base level and will offer increasing better standard technology and stylistic upgrades.

3. Optional items

Seeing as though the Volkswagen Jetta is no longer sold as a new vehicle, you will most likely be looking at used Volkswagen Jetta models on AutoTrader. This can be beneficial as the first owner could have specified a host of optional items, but you might be asking what should you be looking for? 

While the options list for the Volkswagen Jetta wasn't very long, it was comprehensive and included the following items. On the exterior customers could opt for 17-inch “Lancaster” alloy wheels as well as a park distance control system at the front and rear. If they specified the latter, chances are they also went for the rearview camera system. 

Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights were also popular amongst buyers, not to mention the keyless access system. On the interior, you can look out for the electric sunroof and Vienna leather seats. You should also play with the infotainment system to see if the first owner went for the Bluetooth phone preparation option or the satellite navigation system, both very premium extras.