The Volkswagen Jetta – Now Locally Assembled, Cheaper and Better

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About 3 years ago, I decided to purchase a new vehicle and shortlisted 2 vehicles. One of them was the Volkswagen Jetta and even paid the deposit for it in a group purchase. Note that this was before it launched so none of us knew how much it was going to priced at. All we had were indicative prices which was slightly above Japanese C segment pricing at that time and for a Volkswagen badge (perception of it at that time being robust German technology, internationally branded, high-end service quality and excellent performance), those involved in the group buy felt it was a good buy. Then the RM155k OTR pricing was announced and out of the 10 of us involved in the group buy, 1 bought, 1 upgraded his purchase to a Golf 1.4 TSI and the rest (yours truly included) cancelled after realizing the price was a good 5 figures above what we expected.

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I even a wrote an article lamenting about the high price HERE; the Jetta was effectively the most expensive C segment vehicle money can buy. It still is, the CBU that is …. until yesterday when the locally assembled (CKD) Jetta was launched by Volkswagen Group Malaysia together with partner DRB-HICOM Berhad.

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“The Jetta offers an aspirational and inspirational drive that marries sportiness, elegance and safety without compromising on Volkswagen’s commitment to sustainability with its fuel efficient consumption levels. The local assembly of the Jetta is the latest indication of our commitment to offer more affordable vehicle choices for Malaysians seeking the quality and reassurance that comes with a German engineered vehicle,” said Christoph Aringer, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia.

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Delving further on the importance of the locally assembled Jetta to Volkswagen Group Malaysia, Mr Aringer also adds, “The fully imported Jetta introduced in 2011 was a significant contributor to Volkswagen’s success in Malaysia thus far. We are extremely confident that sales of the Jetta will surge forward now that the car is being locally assembled and even more competitively priced than ever before.”

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Design

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The Jetta is Volkswagen’s modern interpretation of sporty design on a classic body style.  In other words, it has an outlook that some may find dull but personally for me, I feel there is a sense of timelessness about its exterior that’ll make it age well. It’s been 3 years since it’s launch and I still find its design interesting; kinda like how an iPhone will always retain it’s profile that may change in shape and size but its design theme will remain the same. Yes, it is understated, pretty much like how the Passat is but even from that perspective, it still exudes sportiness and elegance as mentioned by  Simon Loasby, Director of Design, Volkswagen Group China which I am inclined to agree with.

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Exterior wise, there’s nothing to differentiate the CBU from the CKD. You’d still get 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille and twin exhaust tailpipes, front and rear fog lights. Its halogen headlights comes with automatic headlight activation with ‘Leaving Home’ and manual ‘Coming Home’ functions and exterior mirror with environment lighting to assist drivers in dark area. The sedan is also equipped with Park Distance Control (PDC) for front and rear, and electrically adjustable exterior mirror for driver convenience especially during parking.

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Engine and Performance

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Do note that with the introduction of the Golf MK VII, the Jetta no longer shares the same engine as the Golf. Instead, it still features the 1.4l twin-charged direct petrol injection TSI engine as found in the Golf Mk VI and paired to the same 7-speed direct shift gearbox as the Mk VI that results in an impressive output of 160PS and a torque of 240Nm between 1,500 to 4,500rpm – making it amongst the most powerful vehicles in its segment.

 

0 to 100kph is done in 8.3 seconds and is capable in reaching a top speed of 221kph while returning a combined fuel consumption of approximately 6.0l/100 km (16.7 km per litre) on a Euro 5 emission standard.

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Cabin Convenience

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Inside the Jetta, everything is the same except for the infotainment system. You’ll find a Multi-function leather steering wheel complemented with leather gearshift knob and handbrake lever, as well as ‘Black Pyramids’ decorative inserts for dashboard and door trim panel. The functional interior features of the Jetta includes auto-dimming rear view mirror, cruise control, auto power windows for all four doors, glove compartment with cooling functions and a generous 510 litres of trunk space.

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As far as driver and passenger comfort is concerned, the Jetta is furnished with ‘Sienna’ fabric seat upholstery, height adjustable front seats, 60/40 foldable rear seats, adjustable front armrest and rear armrest as well as a ‘Climatronic’ automatic air conditioning system with 2-zone temperature control and rear air-con vents.

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The Jetta’s old RCD310 has been replaced with  the new RCD320 radio with multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth, SD-card slot, USB with iPod interface and AUX-In. This multi-function display comes with multi-language support and its audio system is further supplemented with 6 sound quality speakers (down from 8 speakers in the CBU)

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Safety Features

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Nothing has changed in the safety aspect. You’d still get dual front airbags with front passenger airbag deactivation, dual front side airbags and curtain airbags for front and rear passengers (making a total of 6 airbags), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA) as well as hill-hold control and rain sensor. The locally assembled Jetta also comes with safety-optimized front head restraints and child seat anchorage points (ISOFIX system), same as the CBU.

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Ownership and Maintenance

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The Jetta is available in four colour choices: Candy White, Platinum Grey, Reflex Silver and Deep Black. The German-engineered, Malaysian-assembled Jetta will be available for booking at all Volkswagen dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia from 2 May at the compelling price of RM 130,888. That’s a cool RM21,000 drop in price, no longer making it the most premium C segment in the market. Since Volkswagen has discovered a permanent solution for the premature mechatronic failure in the 7-speed DSG gearbox, it is a very tempting choice for buyers looking for a C segment vehicle.

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