It’s hard to believe that the VW Jetta is 34 years old in South Africa, making it one year older than me, forcing me to reflect on my age which is even more shocking. The Jetta is one of the best-selling vehicles in the group locally, with 273 000 having found new homes since 1980. They were and still are a staple of the South African family, my Dad owned two.
Volkswagen has always traditionally rolled out the ‘Golf update’ to the Jetta and this time is no different with the sedan now falling in line with the Golf 7. A redesigned front end featuring a restyled radiator grille with three cross fins, optional bi-xenon headlights with cornering, turn signal and LED daytime driving lights as well as a new bumper.
Out back you’ll notice revised bumper and taillight cluster. The boot itself now features a new aerodynamic trailing edge. Speaking of aerodynamics, the new Jetta is 10% more slippery than before.
The interior design has been refreshed to ensure that the new Jetta is more sophisticated than before. The instrument cluster, steering wheel, upholstery materials (Trendline derivatives only) and accents are all new.
Up to six airbags are offered as standard safety features across the range (two newly designed head-thorax airbags near the upper side window provide even greater protection in case the car is in a rollover accident, two front airbags and two side airbags in front.
The engine line-up remains unchanged with three petrol engines (1.2 TSI 77kW, 1.4 TSI 90kW and 1.4 TSI 118kW) and two diesel engines (1.6 TDI 77kW and 2.0 TDI 103kW). Transmission choice vary from 6-speed manuals through to 6 or 7-speed automatic DSG units. (see pricing below)
Pricing:
1.2 TSI 77kW Trendline
| R258,000.00 |
1.4 TSI 90kW Trendline
| R272,500.00 |
1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline
| R286,700.00 |
1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline DSG
| R302,700.00 |
1.6 TDI 77kW Comfortline
| R302,900.00 |
1.6 TDI 77kW Comfortline DSG
| R318,900.00 |
1.4 TSI 118kW Highline DSG
| R331,900.00 |
2.0 TDI 103kW Highline DSG
| R358,000.00 |
