Detroit Preview: Volkswagen Continues to Tease the 2019 Jetta: Comments

[William Maley]

Volkswagen has dropped some new sketches of the upcoming 2019 Jetta that will debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

Compared to the current model, the redesigned Jetta looks to be more upscale. The front end comes with a hexagonal grille shape, sculpted hood, and angled headlights. Along the side is a pronounced character line and lowered roofline. The back comes with an integrated spoiler for the trunk and a dual exhaust system with chrome accents - likely on higher trims. Inside, the Jetta looks to be somewhat luxurious with an improved design for the dash, optional digital instrument cluster, and a large infotainment screen that is angled to the driver.

Power will come from a turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder producing 150 horsepower - the same engine found in the current Jetta. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic.

Source: Volkswagen

 

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[David]

Nice looking coupe design sedan. I wonder how much this will hurt existing sales since multiple outlets say this is a more luxurious version compared to the existing Jetta. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Interesting that they are dropping the DSG... or maybe that's only a GLI option.

The DSG is only 6 forward speeds though, to maybe the 8-speed improves mpg enough to make a difference.

[Drew Dowdell]

I really don't believe this interior... I bet it will be cheaped out on materials.

 

[frogger]

Exterior looks like a flattering render of what was leaked in the summer..

 

https://www.thetorquereport.com/volkswagen/new-volkswagen-jetta-leaked/

 

[Robert Hall]

The 6-light greenhouse looks more Passat-like..is this next Jetta growing in size? 

[William Maley]

15 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I really don't believe this interior... I bet it will be cheaped out on materials.

 

Funny you mention this as I reading through Autoblog's drive of the Jetta prototype.

Quote

The door cards had an insert that looked like patterned aluminum, and it nicely set off the angular inset for the door handle. The door pulls, however, were hard, nasty plastic, and while other parts of the door card were soft-touch plastics they didn't look like it. The bottom line is that the interior is much more like the new Atlas than the outgoing Jetta, in both good and bad ways. 

 

https://www.autoblog.com/2017/12/11/2019-volkswagen-jetta-prototype-first-drive-review/

[daves87rs]

Think it will look better, but be only a slight improvement....

[smk4565]

The white car in the picture looks large, the Jetta should be a small car, not a mid-size car.  I am surprised it doesn't look more like a 4-door coupe, since car companies think that is what people want.  So while people flee sedans like crazy for a more practical, more cargo room SUV, the car companies think the way to make a sedan more desirable is to cut the roof line so there is less space and it is less practical.  

[Drew Dowdell]

3 hours ago, smk4565 said:

The white car in the picture looks large, the Jetta should be a small car, not a mid-size car.  I am surprised it doesn't look more like a 4-door coupe, since car companies think that is what people want.  So while people flee sedans like crazy for a more practical, more cargo room SUV, the car companies think the way to make a sedan more desirable is to cut the roof line so there is less space and it is less practical.  

VW may be trying to sell on size. There is a big gap between Jetta and Passat thought now. Moving Jetta up and something else to slot below it could make sense.

[smk4565]

12 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

VW may be trying to sell on size. There is a big gap between Jetta and Passat thought now. Moving Jetta up and something else to slot below it could make sense.

Jetta and Passat have 8 inches in length separating them, 183.3 and 191.9.  There is a larger size gap between Civic and Accord, Cruze and Malibu, and Focus and Fusion.  

And no brand is looking to add more sedans, Chevy and Ford are trying to have less cars.  

Edited December 17, 2017 by smk4565

[Drew Dowdell]

And we all know that exterior length is the only measure of a car.

[smk4565]

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

And we all know that exterior length is the only measure of a car.

94.6 cubic feet interior passenger volume in a Cruze, 94.1 cubic feet in a Jetta.   The Jetta has the largest trunk out of the Cruze, Focus, Civic and Corolla.  The Jetta only gives up .3 cubic feet to the Malibu's trunk.  The Jetta doesn't need to be any bigger.  It is right there with every other small car.  And there is for sure no reason to make a Passat bigger or to put a model i the large sedan graveyard.  

[Drew Dowdell]

Well VW thinks differently apparently.

[Robert Hall]

9 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

94.6 cubic feet interior passenger volume in a Cruze, 94.1 cubic feet in a Jetta.   The Jetta has the largest trunk out of the Cruze, Focus, Civic and Corolla.  The Jetta only gives up .3 cubic feet to the Malibu's trunk.  The Jetta doesn't need to be any bigger.  It is right there with every other small car.  And there is for sure no reason to make a Passat bigger or to put a model i the large sedan graveyard.  

No point in making the Passat larger; the Arteon will occupy the spot the CC formerly held.   I guess since the car market in the US is shrinking they probably don't need something like the Polo or Up! here below the Jetta. 

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm not saying make the Passat bigger. It is already one of the roomiest feeling midsize sedans on the market. In spite of the numbers, it feels cavernous inside compared to Accord, Camry, and Malibu. It feels on par with Avalon and Impala.

So, that said, I can see VW moving the Jetta up to Malibu/Camry size and leaving the Golf where it's at. 

That would give VW a small, medium, large car lineup with the Arteon being the specialty car.

[smk4565]

On exterior dimensions the Passat is smaller than the Malibu, Fusion or Accord.  There is no reason to make it Impala size so sales tank.  The Impala, Avalon and Taurus won’t even be in production in 10 years.

VW should build 10 crossovers before they consider another sedan. 

Edited December 17, 2017 by smk4565

[Drew Dowdell]

You really have reading comprehension issues. The Passat feels substantially larger inside than any of the other midsize do. I did not suggest that VW increase it's exterior dimensions.  Just that it feels bigger and roomier than Accord or Malibu.

Those larger sedans aren't tanking based on size, they are tanking based on cost. An Avalon is $30+k base, people start looking at Crossovers for less than that.

[Robert Hall]

^agreed about the Passat.  Had a rental earlier this year for 3 weeks..I've had most of the late model mid size sedans as rentals over the last 3 years.  The Passat has the best outward visibility of the ones I've driven, big trunk, definitely *feels* bigger inside than the Fusion, new and previous Malibu, previous Camry, Altima and Sonata.    Drives quite nicely also.  Not as flashy as the competition, but solid and comfortable. 

Edited December 18, 2017 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

38 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

^agreed about the Passat.  Had a rental earlier this year for 3 weeks..I've had most of the late model mid size sedans as rentals.  The Passat has the best outward visibility of the ones I've driven, big trunk, definitely *feels* bigger inside than the Fusion, new and previous Malibu, previous Camry, Altima and Sonata.  

Thank you. This is what I'm saying. Regardless of what the numbers say, the Passat feels as big or bigger than the Avalon.

[ocnblu]

VW did a brilliant job making the Passat feel spacious.  It is much better than some other cars in its competitive set, which feel like Hitler's bunker, with intrusive consoles, high beltlines and tiny windows.  It gives one a feeling of being able to garage 4 entire C-class Mercedes inside it with no touching.

[Frisky Dingo]

The Passat dwarfs most other midsizers in the interior space department. It makes some- Fusion, 6, 200- feel like they are in a smaller segment even though they aren't. The Jetta is really much the same. There's no reason for either car to get any bigger.

 

VW's focus with this car should have been on improving fit/finish and refinement levels to that of the Golf. Reverting back to a torsion beam rear on this car is embarrassing. Shame on you, VW.

[Drew Dowdell]

I think the vast majority of Jetta buyers don't care about the torsion beam, and for those who do, there is the GLI.

[Frisky Dingo]

1 minute ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I think the vast majority of Jetta buyers don't care about the torsion beam, and for those who do, there is the GLI.

I don't think the vast majority of buyers care about ABS or electric power steering, but ya know......

[Drew Dowdell]

4 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

I don't think the vast majority of buyers care about ABS or electric power steering, but ya know......

ABS is a safety thing and more safety is more gooder....

Electric power steering, I don't think they could even articulate why/how it is different from "normal".

[frogger]

Dashboard is actually the only thing that surprised me a bit..

 

 

[2QuickZ's]

I've never been a big fan of VW styling but I have to say that I actually like the look of this.  It does look huge for a Jetta, though.  On first glance I thought it was a new Passat.  The exterior is still conservative but is stylish and a bit upscale looking.  The instrument panel again is typically German conservative but again does at least have a touch of style to it.  It looks nice.  The door panels on the other hand look plain and a bit cheap.  It's almost like they are missing something.