Great car review once again. Really hits the sweet spot and describes the every day foibles of living with a car, including an emotional aspect. Great industry knowledge and targeting cars in the price ranges that 99% of the people can afford is smart. Can't wait for the next video, I don't even care what car is being reviewed, I learn a little more about the car industry and its thought process with each video.
Yup. And this was his most polite way of saying that this car is ass compared to the competition. Basically get this if looks is all that matters, and it ain’t all that good looking imo.
@@ChuckV192 He doesn't really do polite. If it's ass he calls it out. My takeaway is that it's about average performing, inexpensive, and has a timeless appearance compared to most. But I personally wouldn't touch it because it's German.
I know, a car reviewer who actually knows about cars?! That's crazy talk. I've been following SG for quite some time and my #1 favorite aspect of his channel is that he is NOT afraid to hold controversial opinions or criticize a car/manufacturer. And he's able to back up his opinions. You don't have to agree with him but you can't say he hasn't put a lot of thought into it.
Yeah but, for humor I have to give it to the Straight Pipes. Don't get me wrong, big fan of the savage, he's just kind of the deadpan guy. I feel like he needs a new partner because I don't know, I feel that Turbowski's heart just isn't in it. But hey, who am to tell anyone how to run anything.
@@pappyodanial this channel is more on the informative side, the straight pipes are more entertaining... With that being said I'm a huge fan of both channels and can see them overtaking long standing car reviewers
it's the difference between being sponsored and not being sponsored; when you don't have to worry about pissing them off, you can actually really say how you feel
I've owned one for 2 months. I disagree with MOST of his report. I can point to many other opinions that DO concur with mine. I recommend ignoring this review. Period.
Joshua Whiteneck: Everyone always has an opinion and most are based on what other's have said, or experienced. In the end, good for you on your new purchase. If you love the car and it is very nice based on your experience with owning it, that is all that matters.
And kudos for not having the engine have oil dilution, like the insanely priced Honda CR-V. What a ripoff. Everyone rips VW, but not many call out Honda on doing what they do, and then price gouge everything.
@@jptaylor I also don't know why people don't like Volkswagen. In Europe they are known for their reliability. I have had 3 jettas so far, 2 gas and one tdi, and no problems whatsoever. So far the 1.4 tsi engine has been great!
I do also, their mature image has always been a highlight over the Japanese and American competitors. That being said, this new generation is UGLY. Even in black with the R-Line trim, that front bumper underbite is a huge put off. The back end is the best view, and simply for the Audi-ish taillights. I still cannot get over the halogen headlights....unacceptable for this price, segment, year, and trim package.
@@DanUtley An Audi seems like its up your alley. You can get a rather powerful yet simplistic vehicle, all while being made by VW. The reliability of Toyota is a little harder to obtain XD.
@@constructionbootgazer I don't know what you are referring to as halogen headlights. Because every new Jetta is equipped with LED headlights. The only difference is that the lower trim levels get reflector LED headlights, just like the ones in the civic. And you get projector LED headlights on the higher trim levels. It's different from the Tiguan which offers halogen on every trim except SEL premium trim for US market
Just bought this car and this review is spot on. VW says the torque converter sound issue is normal (I noticed it immediately and went on forums), but I'm going to bring it in just so they have it on record in case there's a recall or anything. Really good review, all the thoughts shared here are what I had in mind when I bought the car, and describing the interior as a 'sterile space' I think really summarizes the character of the vehicle and people who drive vehicles like this. 10/10
We won't get this model in Australia and I'm glad for it. Already looks dated and awkward to me, horrible design "effort". But I wasn't going to be buying one regardless of how it looked.
My main problem is that it has been styled completely for the Chinese market - extremely conservative except for a big grille. There are more interesting ways to spend your money.
I really appreciate this review. Most reviews look at the loaded up versions of any particular model. So it is refreshing to see a review of an entry level car. Thanks and keep up the good work!
While most reviews are quick and shallow -- I really enjoy your videos that go in depth and you've consistently managed to deliver it without much dryness. Keep at it guys!
This review, as with the other SavageGeese productions, is a work of art (and, I must add, the absence of Mr. Turbowski only increases my appreciation). I feel we'd be unlikely to find the less-than-complementary remarks about interior noise(s), marginal seat cushioning, and unrefined transmission behavior from other reviewers. Thanks for the super-comprehensive, balanced and highly-useful reviews that are a pleasure to watch. Nobody does it better (yes, that was a song).
His reviews are indeed very good. Main issues are stressed and secondary issues noted to be secondary. So many comprehensive reviews get people lost when mixing these two. In his reviews they are clearly delineated. My take on this new Jetta is that it must be a great cheap manual model car, if one is looking for an inexpensive but good looking commuter. I could be interested myself in a car like that, i do mostly highway driving, slight floatiness doesn't bother me that much. The seats could be improved with a decent aftermarket set of thick sheepskin seat covers. I fixed my horrible Impreza seats that way. Entry level Subarus in the 1990s had bad seats, I mean really cheap.
I recently purchased a 2019 Jetta with a 6 speed manual transmission. The interior is very comfortable and easy to work with. The car in incredibly quite. I love mine!!
Wow . If it is quiet in manual, it should be quieter in automatic Tiptronic I guess. How is it so far with you? Thinking of getting one soon in Ontario, Caanda.
Talk about timing...this week I have a 6MT Jetta S. It has the same footwell buzz around redline. It also retains the kickdown switch accelerator pedal from the automatic, which feels weird when you’re driving stick. Great review 👍
Well I got the 2019 SEL trim line back in July and has about four thousand miles on it. Two things that I don't like about the vehicle. It is a little bit noisier override then I like and some of the quality of the Interior or a little bit cheaper looking. Other than that this car is an awesome car for the price point. I was looking at the Honda Accord when I was looking at the Jetta. I love the Honda Accord even though it's a different segment it was close to the same price. But you get so much more car in the Jetta in the warranty for the price than you do a Honda. I would have had to go up to over $30,000 on the Honda Accord trim line in order to get the same that the Jetta offers at 23000. The lines are sexy and it's a definitely a good running car with plenty of power. Love the beats sound, sounds are quality and the high and lows are perfect. The ambient lighting makes the interior at night. The 2019 jetta to me is just perfect in the price range . Just a few cutbacks that I didn't like, other than that it's a great car.
This. I tested the Jetta and although I really loved the handling, I found there was honestly just way too much plastic material in the cabin. And sure, this isn't an Audi, but I had expected a little better noise isolation at higher speeds.
It's sort of a weird review. When you're comparing it to cars in its class, you seem to generally think it's one of the better ones. It's almost like you're dinging VW for created a car that gives a first impression of being nicer than its class. By my way of thinking, that's a plus rather than a minus.
@@user59371I’ve had more Ford’s leave me stranded than VW’s. The only VW that ever let me down was a B5 Passat with the VR6 that would grenade itself. Meanwhile I had an escape that had a transmission blow up, the cooling system fail, and power steering fail, and a Fiesta ST that had the engine blow, the flywheel explode, the transmission blow, a reverse gear that would grind and pop out, a radiator hose melting and popping off, and a weird clacking at idle when the clutch isn’t depressed. My family meanwhile has leased 5 or 6 different VW’s and the biggest issue was a firmware bug in the infotainment system of a Tiguan
Never seen someone reviewed a car in such a detail, so thrilled with the level the knowledge you are providing. Thanks a lot for sharing this. Appreciate greatly.
@@joelvasquez4653 so far I've been enjoying mine. They take to mods really well also. 320whp is very easily attainable with just a downpipe and a tune.
I really appreciate your candor with this review. It seems like other reviewers just talk about how great these new cars are but you pair the realistic needs well with compliments.
Excellent editorial content as always on the spot. But the visuals were just pure eye candy. Nobody else is doing anything close to this, generally mounting Go Pro's everywhere and driving and talking. You guys put real effort into the variety from in the car, and from outside and the case vehicle with good cameras and lenses. Just wonderful. Look forward to next year.
Thank you for uploading this video. Your videos are always highly elaborated. I often look for car reviews outside of Korea because car reviews hear are so biased that I need another source for evaluating cars. I always feel your reviews are perfect for non-native English speaker because of accurate pronunciation to hear and kind vocabulary to understand even for kids.
I have never seen such a brutally honest assessment of a vehicle. I'm moving way from a Honda Civic sport because I had to downsize... I always drove Accords. But the Jetta R line in some ways gives you the mid-size feel and mid-size features I say that you would find in an Accord...in a compact. Civic looks better on the outside,it's peppy...it zooms off a stoplight...it attacks the road if you want...where as the Jetta appears to float on it...feels bigger than the Honda though slightly smaller. It depends on your stage in life. For me quite simply for good reason, I don't see many Jettas on the road anymore which makes you in a way unique. You might say after saying that..."get a Subaru " Well my search ended with the R Line.
I have had my 2019 Jetta S trim with the very awesome 6 speed manual since June and I have been really impressed and surprised. Mostly with the quality, features, tech and this new 1.4 motor is pretty amazing. For myself I really prefer this understated and more mature look, but I am in my 50s now so that makes since. The biggest surprise so far is the overall fun factor driving this non-independent rear suspension car. With the manual she really pulls quite a bit harder than the auto it seems. Honestly if you run premium fuel it does feel like the ECU is giving me a little more beans to work with by advancing the timing and boost a bit over the 87 octane gas. Highly recommended for a new driver wanting to learn clutch and manual transmissions. Super easy mode and very easy to teach a new driver. My oldest son hated trying to learn manual on my older 2011 Mazda 3 but this Jetta he had down smooth within minutes. I do feel this is by far the superior car in this segment. Plus the new 6 year / 72k mile warranty is kinda comforting considering the direct inject only engine. Just passed 10k miles and first factory service and she is perfect so far. So I am really having some great fun with mine and very happy with it. Awesome review, love the channel. Thank you!
I got 17 Jetta S manual and it's really easy. Trying to teach my sister on it! So far been having fun on it majority of the time. Some days it's a slog like rainy to hot days for me. Thinking about keeping it instead of upgrading to a GTI to save money but we'll see.
I learned manual with a Mazda 323 in an instant. I think it's because the Mazda 3 has a shorter travel for quicker shifting which is perfect for the target market of Mazda. We were gonna buy a volkswagen Polo but the automatic transmission is just slow to respond while the automatic Mazda 2 is as responsive as any manual. Though I noticed that volkswagen is really quiet which is nice.
I LOVE my 2019 Jetta SE. I got it in white, with black interior. It has a moonroof & with the cold weather package. BRB remote start, BRB heated seats in the front AND the back (yeah that’s right the back!) BRB heated steering wheel. I’m so happy with my decision & I sell Toyota’s for a living. No way I’d settle for a boring Corolla for the same price. Also the girls looooove it. Thank you for getting me laid VW.
I have driven this car as a rental for 2 weeks and I really like it. I think it’s super quiet and it’s a really solid and well made vehicle. The doors close with a thud unlike Japanese competitors and I’m not sure what wind noise this guy was hearing but to me it’s really quiet. The transmission shifts smooth (thank God there is no CVT) but the motor is a bit sluggish. I would definitely consider this car if I were looking to purchase a compact sedan. I would however want the R model or the SEL as they offer more features that I would use.
Idk why people say vw is so unreliable. I bought a 2004 Jetta gls with a 1.8 T and a manual transmission. I got it with 193k mikes and it now has over 204k miles. It’s very quick and is waaaay faster than any stock civic I guarantee you. I drive it hard every day but always keep up on oil changes and the only thing that’s gone bad on it was a crank sensor and a radiator fan. It’s been ridiculously reliable to me. Temperatures get down in the low teens at night and it always starts first try very quickly. I would definitely buy another one.
Frank Gutowski The manual isn't worth it with so little power. i tested both and the stick shift just ended up being a lot of work for little excitement.
It's the first video i see from you and what i have to say is: NOW THAT'S A REVIEW. You are covering everything and you clearly know a lot about cars not just mumbling about specs. Good job!
Wonderful review Savagegeese!! I just moved on from my Mk4 TDI this last year. I already miss the classic no-nonsense design over my new to me 08 civic. It's cool to see those classic lines carry through nearly 20 years down the line. I loved the design, and the drivability of that overweight sedan. However it was an absolute nightmare to maintain. The same issues are here on the 2019. 10+ torx screws on the MK4 to get to just the oil drain plug. No thanks, not for Dusty anymore. I want another Jetta, but I never want to work on a VW ever again.
This is the best review of this car that I have seen. I have a 2019 SEL and the points this guy makes are spot on. I bought the car because it feels like a car for adults in the a way that some of the others do not. I also does feel like a more upscale car compared to its competition. However, after you drive it for awhile you start to notice the warts. The seats are super comfortable for about an hour. The car is nosier than you think it is at first and I find the suspension to be a bit choppy. On the positive side the gas mileage is terrific and there is more tech than I was expecting for the money. If you accept this car for what it is then you will be happy with it.
Back in 2019, I rented 2019 Jetta for a week while traveling to Vancouver. To me, it is the best car I have driven in my life. Its acceleration goes up and down effortlessly and completely in sync with how my mind desires, almost as if I am controlling the car through my mind. Ride quality is also decent and comfortable.
The more things change, the less they remain the same. The new Corolla sedan will offer independent rear suspension and a 6 speed manual with a 168 hp non-turbo engine. It will be made in the USA. Why buy a VW?
It has more to do with where it's engineered vs. built. Toyota still engineers a good portion of their platforms in Japan. That has a huge impact on the design architecture and component specs. German engineering is an all-or-nothing type of approach. Great when it works, a nightmare when it doesn't; and a confused personality when you strip down to the basics lol.
@@99SVTBolt If by "boring" you mean completely reliable with a high resale value, I agree. If you're talking about looks, a new Corolla is certainly no more boring-looking than this Jetta - inside or out! I agree that most Toyotas have been super bland for many years (decades?), but in my opinion, they're heading in the right direction now - possibly even approaching their 80's mojo.
I just bought a new S3 on the same platform. I’d love to see a comparison of a base car and top level car off of a same platform to see where manufacturers spend the money to make them cost 2x more
Would love to see the gli vs the a3 as a comparison when it's released in 2019. Prob will start at 28k ish and have the same power plant as that a3 but be lighter and probably a little faster
@@marfrandema1884 same suspension, independent rear. Dsg is the same. In both cars. Audi makes less power due to awd. And I'm sure it'll be cheaper to get the digital dash in the jetta. A3 is faster 0-30. 30-100 I'm sure the jetta will pull away. The gti does the same to a3s
Great video @savagegeese, your reviews are my favorite, by the way for anyone with the jetta, go to bluetooth settings and change the "bluetooth" setting from minimum to maximum, it raises the gain and makes the audio less flat.
I'm new to your channel and I like your style and reviews. If I could make a suggestion, that would be to utilize a decibel meter to accurately describe road and wind noise levels. With regard to the new Jetta, the loudness you experienced might be subjective. I just sold a Mk7 GTI and got one of these Jetta's, and the Jetta is much, much quieter, as measured by the decibel meter. Having said that, your overall positive comments allowed me to purchase one. Have a great 2019.
I;m thinking of buying the Automatic Highline . What do you advice me to pick? I haven't had manual for a long time; it was fun tho but I am getting older to the clutch hassle. I hope it is a smooth drive on this Tiptonic Gear. He made me feel suspicious.
I appreciate your honesty in other car review videos, just not on my favorite car brand. Great video! Our 2014 jetta lugs first, we notice it doesn't do it in sport mode
Although Volkswagen isn’t ever really on the cutting edge, they make an essential package that would genuinely satisfy everyone’s needs (and more) in an unobtrusive, sophisticated, and affordable way. When you touched on the sound system, as far back as I can remember, VW’s base systems have always been laughable - even going back to our 1988 Jetta GL, it was downright miserable at times, but it was so incredibly easy to upgrade the sound, and the headunit could actually drive pretty decent power, so with minor speaker upgrades it went from piercingly bad to above average. No different now! I dislike the “Beats” branded systems, and would probably spring for the base system then upgrade with Infinity sound, but that’s just me. Otherwise, this Jetta is a phenomenal vehicle for the segment. It may not offer every single thing the others may, but it offers everything you’d want, need, and expect, and in a vehicle you could drive ten years down the road and still feel good about. There are definitely some cost cutting measures and omissions that even the last generation didn’t leave out, but all the important things are done well, and that’s what matters in this segment. Of all the vehicles, the Elantra/Forte, and this Jetta are probably my only recommendations, despite vehicles like the Corolla and Civic having better track records in recent years. The 1.4 TFSI is a robust, economical little thing, and VW (thankfully) still cares some about the driving dynamics and experience, so it isn’t soulless. Great video, as always!
I recently drove a Jetta S (base trim, cloth, 8-speed auto) and it is feature packed even in base trim. After having driven countless 2018/19 Corollas (sedans), the Jetta no doubt feels more upscale, and the audio system was better to my ear than the Corolla. That said, a good pair of aftermarket speakers in most cars, including the mentioned above, will be miles (or kilometres) better than the trash that is installed at the factory. My 2000 Nissan Frontier takes the cake on the worst audio system of any car. I already put in a cheap pair of 'just-get-me-by' speakers and now I am good. The Jetta also got excellent fuel economy. The computer said 44-45 MPG after a South to North Texas roadtrip from Galveston to the Red River (Oklahoma border). We calculated 43MPG so the computer is a bit inflated.
I noticed a big difference between Bluetooth audio and cable. Even a Lexus with Mark Levinson sounds like ass over bluetooth. I was pleasantly surprised to hear my Golf Alltrack via usb audio (after I EQed the bass almost all the way down of course)
Yeah fully agree with you there. Bluetooth as it stands now is far inferior to an audio cable or even USB audio (Android Auto & Apple CarPlay are designed to use USB for audio). The better your audio system is, the bigger the difference in the quality of sound between Bluetooth (crappier) vs by-wire (better).
This is all very true, but only to a certain degree. Volkswagen’s base soundsystems have been horribly lacking long before Bluetooth was even conceived. It is an objective fact that Bluetooth is inferior to a good wired medium, but since the hardware is already so miserable in this Jetta, playing via USB, AUX, Bluetooth, CD or whatever probably wouldn’t matter either way! Still, I think it’s just the speakers, because that’s traditionally been the case in VW vehicles. Upgrade those with aftermarket equipment for less than the cost of the “premium” audio option and you’ll have yourself a good value and great sound. The stock headunit is probably capable of driving fairly decent stuff, as it isn’t really that different from the upgraded sound system. The flaw I see in the argument for wired versus wireless for in-car audio though, is that we are mostly streaming or playing lossy, compressed files on the go anyway. Radio is a compressed transmission, streaming services are lossy, iTunes and Google Play purchased are compressed. So it’s not like your audio is suffering that much by using Bluetooth. If you’re using CDs though, or your files are all locally stored WAV/AIFF or ALAC/FLAC files, and you were using BT, then yeah, you’d definitely be hurting the audio quality by a fair margin. But that’s all besides the point - point is, VW has always had bad base audio, and I can say that from experience, having driven models from at least the eighties onwards, but it’s nothing some minor, relatively inexpensive upgrades can’t address.
your channel have one of the best car reviews on youtube... no smugness when reviewing regular cars, actually reviewing regular cars, everything is covered. :)
Apparently the vibration and noise you were hearing is a real thing on all Jettas. Lots of owners trying to work with VW to get it resolved. VW not doing anything but vw techs always admit they hear the noise too. Definitely a rattle coming from the tranny in gears 5-7 when the engine is in the 1500-1700 rpm range
These are selling in Atlanta 12/13/2020 starting at 14,000!!! I know two people that are using this as their daily commuter car. They are getting upwards of 40+ miles per gallon! I think VW did a very good job with this re-design. It is a lot of car for the money!!!
Reminds me of underneath a 90s gm product that's fwd, another thing is the undercarriage already looks like it's five years old...I know, underside, cheap car blah blah, but once corrosion starts... Yeesh. Doesn't look like much went into preserving the metal sections of the unibody that doesn't have a shield over it. Then again, I'm likely dead wrong I hope...
that's because is made in mexico, our popular cars are those cheap ones, jetta, versa, micra, spark, are the ones most people can afford, the base version with manual transmission obviously, the upper trims and cvt or automatic are a luxury. But hey we beat the hell out of those cars into extreme heat, traffic and terrible roads, and can stand the conditions, so maybe are cheap but rock solid cars.
I just got some 6spd manuals on my lot and it makes the Jetta feel like a much better car! I am a manual enthusiast so I am a bit biased, but I feel like the engine sounds better. The overall feel of the car is better. Granted, you can only get the manual in the entry-level S model(which can be had with a driver assist package including front assist and blind spot monitors w/ rear traffic alert). I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed that weird stalling sensation when in reverse on the 8spd auto. Great car for the price though! And a good and fair review. I sell the darn things and I learned something! That's what I love about your videos, keep up the great work!
Another great review. I think the overarching point you're trying to make is that some automakers blend their cost-cutting much better than VW did with the base & mid range Jettas. I am starting to notice this on the Civic the more time I spend inside the cabin. All the cheap plastic and thin materials are there in the Honda. But dash rattle aside, none of it really distracts from the driving experience. And to be fair, getting behind of the wheel of the Jetta GLI is a much different experience. It's still a conservative car, but the extra touches (especially the interior) make it a much more well-rounded platform. Too bad the MSRP is an extra 50-75% lol. Side note: Your productions are getting exponentially better with each new release. From the BGM to the camerawork, this is first rate stuff. Bravo!
FYI: VW has obviously realized that the trunk design doesn't work, because we just got a service action letter to get the trunk springs replaced with new ones so that the trunk will stay open, even if not in the fully-opened position.
@Jack Bower dsg + 240/250 hp and 270tq. Same as the gti. They claim 220 but hey dyno 230whp. And the dsg makes the gti and gli much faster than other cars in the segment. Especially after 30
@@IReahpZz If you believe the GLI will equal the GTI in power/performance you haven't been paying attention to VW's marketing strategy over the last few decades.
I would go for the gti instead. Tht being said, I would ditch the VW after 60-70k miles. Doesn't seem like they're built to last, and no one wants a money pit.
You must have never been new car shopping. The GTI payments are double the Jetta. I’ve been trying to get a gti for ten years. They’re just too expensive. I leased an Infiniti for same price as loaded Jetta. Not kidding....
If you think a VW is a money pit you’ve never owned a proper car. An old AMG is a money pit, an E92 M3 is a money pit, my Alfa Romeo is regrettably a money pit. But a 4cyl Jetta? Hahahahahaha
The production quality of these reviews is excellent. The camera angle looking in through the windshield; the shot of the gauges upon acceleration; it's just superb. There are other reviewers who don't put in nearly as much effort and they somehow have half a million subscribers. It's bizarre.
Just recently spent some time looking at cars for my daughter. We drove many of the models competing in the compact sedan category. This review is pretty much spot-on with my driving impressions for the Jetta. For quiet, comfortable commuting, I thought the Chevy Cruze topped the others. If you lean toward a sporty, fun to drive sedan, the Mazda3 had it in spades. Feature wise, the Hyundai Elantra offered the most for the money. It felt a little cheap and drove like an inexpensive compact, but you got more bells and whistles and a better warranty. The Jetta offered the best warranty, a comfortable if uninspiring ride and timeless styling in and out. Its compromises were acceptable for the class and it was the quietest on the road, save for the Cruze, which really drove like a larger, heavier class of car. If GM offered a better warranty, we would have gone Cruze. The Honda Civic had a nice interior, but the noise from the CVT and the feel of the engine/transmission combination constantly reminds the driver that you are in a compact, four banger. Anyone considering cars in this class really should drive the Mazda3.
Problem with the Corolla for example is that they go bare bones on the lower end versions and try to lure you in with the "upgrade" versions. Want sat radio and alloy wheels? Another $3000 please
Biggest trade-off: it's a Volkswagen. The timing chain tensioners will let go, the water pumps will fail, belts and hoses will prematurely disintegrate. Precision German Engineering ensures that it'll fall apart the moment the warranty is up. 1.4L DI turbo engine... it's like VW said "How can we make this engine any LESS likely to last for 60k miles?" The thing will sound like a motorboat before long, then it'll puke oil and die by the side of the road. Meanwhile the Corolla has a new 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with port and direct injectors and over 40% thermal efficiency. It also has independently rear suspension, rides on the TNGA-C platform and is generally a massive improvement over the old model while retaining all of the reliability that it is known for. There is no wasted space anywhere, like on the Jetta, and I'm also pretty sure you can access the oil filter without needing to remove a thousand bolts either.
Totally wrong, I have a 2003 GTI with 375k, 2014 SE Jetta with 175k and a 2016 SEL Jetta with 42k the last two have independent rear suspensions. Not real sure why VW dropped it but they did for now anyway. No issues other than regular maintenance, VW is just as reliable as any other manufacture. More so than KIA/Hyundai, in 2012 I bought 3 loaded new KIA vehicles, Sedona, Optima, and a Rio and 2 of the 3 were bought back under the lemon law. The Sedona needed the brake system rebuilt 6 times in 2 years, the Rio was total garbage, it leaked every time it rained, transmission failure at 8,000 miles, rear hatch door fell off due to broken hinges and more. The only one that was slightly okay was the Optima but, we traded it off before it started to have issues. So, I'll stick with VW thank you very much.
I have owned a 1997 Audi A4 Quattro, a 2002 VW Passat, and am now a proud owner of a 2015 VW Passat. Both my older cars went past 200k with very few issues. My newer car has 76k miles with the only issue being a faulty clock spring, which has a 10 year warranty on it and was replaced for free. And have fun trying to keep up with me from a stop light.
Here comes the "stories" from the hardcore fanboys of their "high mileage" VW heroes. "Never changed a thing, just oil and filters"..... Stop this fucking bullshit, nobody reads these fairy tales in real life.
Your reviews are great and you captured and addressed all of the issues that this car has. so actually lease this exact spec currently (orange r-line 2019). I've only owned VW/Audi vehicles for the last twenty years of driving. This mexican jetta really falls short of what i'm used to from the brand, but at $250/month you can beat it for a daily beater. You are correct about the stereo being horrible and the weird noise during acceleration. The seats are fine for short trips. Tech is good and torque gets the job done around town. I've found fuel economy to be excellent. keep up the good work. Your videos are superb.
Excellent video Sir!!! I was torn between the Jetta, Kia Forte, and Buick Regal Sportback. After doing my research and given where I live, I decided on the Buick (one hour to the GM dealership vs. 3 hours to the other two dealerships). Bought the Buick mostly because I got the interior colour I wanted and the Sportback seemed like a working man's Audi A7 -- happy camper!!!
It's a bland, boring car but nice to cruise around the city in. My girlfriend just bought one for her 20 mile daily city commute and she loves it. It is surprisingly powerful feeling to about 40mph. Excellent fuel economy besides.
Thanks for mentioning the seats. Scratch the Jetta!I have learned, the hard way, seats can absolutely kill an otherwise great car. Example: my 2015 Accord. 60k miles of pain that cannot be overlooked. An issue not mentioned in the many Car Of The Year awards.
I am 6'4" and 180 lbs and I find the seats very comfortable, I drive from CA to CO often and these seats are much more comfortable than the KIA optima.
@@tomwalma4762 After I or my wife drive about 1.5 hours our backs hurt no matter the position or added cushions. We are both under 6 feet tall and around 160 lbs. I am 62 owned many cars and never had this problem (66 Beetle included!) A friend suggested the seat is actually canted in towards center for crash test results and this is why our back pain is on the left side of our spine.
Hey savage, I love your reviews. Probably the best on TH-cam in my opinion. I am wondering about the sort of dark and subdued thumbnail though. Orange cars get clicks like crazy. Why not a shot more like 0:33 or 0:55? One other quick note in that Subaru uses IRS on the Impreza, and their full lineup AFAIK. Great work as always. It does look upscale. Bummer it doesn't drive like it looks.
I feel like it kind of represented the weather in the way that this video was shot. I didn't want to make something overtly bright it wasn't consistent with how the review was.
Rented a 2019 Jetta in NC last month and put almost 700 miles on it. I was perplexed why it had a big sunroof, yet drivers seat wasn't powered?. Quiet ride, and smooth over bumps. It could use 10...15 more HP and merging onto highways must be done with some care. Flipped seats down and shoved 2 bikes in trunk, and back seat. Best part.... I got 38.5 MPG. Remarkable. For price...a very good car.
The test of time.... they don’t last much. Anyways I’ve been a subscriber for a long time and honestly I don’t understand why you don’t have a million subs, your reviews are always top notch!
I don't understand how interiors from makers like Honda and Subaru are always reviewed as stale and trash, but when Audi, Ford or VW do it, it's "simplistic, back to basics, familiar, premium." I can't wrap my head around it. As for the rest of the car, it appears Hyundai esque, this would not be an easy car to DIY maintain. I think the Mazda3 is a better alternative to this. Good review.
Thorough review! I'm a fan of Jettas. They're well-built heavy cars with much of the driving benefits of German-engineering. For those expecting Audi finishes in a $18-$23K car are being unrealistic. If you're expecting hyper gadgets and tech, get a Civic, Corolla, or Mazda even. If you actually enjoy understated classic finishes, then you "get" VW. I think they know their core demo and their core demo doesn't like 'creative' curvy turvy trims. That said, I'm currently deciding between this 2019 R-Line vs. an SEL. I LOVE the way the R-Line looks aesthetically. It has sleek finishes and lines as well as the sleek double exhaust. Also has foglights and AI directed turning headlights. The two-toned interior is a nice touch as well. Things I dislike: No leather seating. No option to get the upgraded audio... WTH! I'm coming from a 2011 Jetta SEL that had the Fender speaker system which was great IMO. It's hard to go from that system to whatever the hell they placed in the R-Line :/ . Also wish the R-Line had the larger center digital panel that the 2019 SEL comes with. SEL also has the digital driver display which is sleeker I have to admit. Finally, the headlights on the R-Line are very bright halogen. But the headlights on the SEL are the DRL piping/eyebrows which I personally find sexier. Very frustrating that VW makes you choose between such divergent detailing. All that to say I'm leaning towards the R-Line and thinking of installing a better speaker system aftermarket.
Great review! (I own a 2012 Jetta TDI so I'm a little biased toward the Jetta.) Not everybody needs...or wants...a racecar. Not everybody needs the quickest acceleration or the best handling or the firmest Recaro-type seats. Some of just want a...you know, "nice" car that's fairly fun to drive. There is something about driving a German car, be it a Volks, BMW or Mercedes. They feel "different." Some don't like it...some of us do. Volkswagen's "problem" is one of identity. You can't really tell a Golf from a Jetta or a Passat very quickly; they all look the same. Brand-Identity? Or "Bland-Identity?" Maybe, but VW's styling is soooooo conservative. That's the Germans for you :-/ My Jetta feels solid as a rock at 76,000 miles. Since VW isn't selling diesels anymore, I have no plans of getting rid of it.
I love the design, I don't know but I feel like so many car manufacturers are trying really hard to make their car look sporty and aggressive when in reality it's a slow-ass 4 cilinder that doesn't inspire any sort of sporty driving. VW got this design right, it's clean, sensible and conservative.
The Buick Encore doesn't have rear independent suspension and neither, does the top end of the jeep line, the Wrangler. I was shocked to learn that. Something about the wheel spread or something off road?
Great review, @savagegeese ! I have to say, VW's body and interior designers did *fantastic* job making this car look simple, elegant, beautiful, and even slightly aggressive but without any gaudy features. However, I have some serious issues with their engineering priorities. While I recognize they've engineered this car to sell well with their target consumer group, a younger car buyer who favors electronic gadget compatibility over performance, it just does *not* sit right with me for them to actually be *downgrading* important core components of this car like the suspension and chassis in order to *upgrade* the surface-level features (e.g. the center console's touchscreen GUI performance). VW's marketing department and corporate executives are shrewd and understand the target audience for this car very well, but they shouldn't be going backwards in time with their suspension technology to make a snappier tablet UI or marginally improve smartphone-integration. Ideally, car companies should be putting in the time and effort needed to improve their manufacturing processes to keep costs down while retaining the advantages of better-engineered critical structural components which affect handling, efficiency, and longevity. Components and features like independent rear-suspension, reduced weight, tighter cornering, snappier shifting, as well as engine and transmission reliability and performance. I think Honda has taken steps in the right direction with their recent car design and engineering goals, they are saving money while retaining high performance and reliability by investing in the manufacturing technology for better efficiency through clever engineering.
I just picked up my 2019 Jetta R-Line the other day. I was leasing a 2018 GTI SE for 2 years and downgraded to save a bit more money. I was very very spoiled with the GTI, however I do appreciate the Jetta's smooth ride. I got remote start and the cold weather package, and that's something I didn't have with the GTI which I look forward to every morning as I live in the state of Michigan. I really only have one MAJOR complaint about the Jetta and you hit it right on the dot. It's the sound system... IT IS THE WORST SOUND SYSTEM IN ANY CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN! How can a manufacturer put this sound system in this car, sit in the cabin with music playing and say "yup, this is gonna sell"? Even my 2003 Toyota Highlander had a better stock sound system. The SEL model comes with BeatsAudio and Virtual Cockpit, but I wasn't going to compromise the R-Line styling for the atrocious wheels and grill on the SEL trim. On a brighter note, this car does drives well, is fuel efficient and is a great daily driver, so I'll be sticking with this for a little while.
Nice video! Really appreciated the great cinematography and your clear auto knowledge. Thanks to people like you for making my car research that much easier!
These are very solid cars, mine held up well despite me treating it like a cop car and flooring it (literally) 7-8 times a day everyday for the past 11 months I owned the car. I installed a Racechip which boosts power and it was night and day with performance. Fuel economy was excellent again despite my spirited driving style. Something about the car urged me to floor it constantly, some cars make you feel a certain way. I always disabled auto start stop to prolong the longevity of the engine for the next owner, and I alway used 93 octane gasoline or E15 when available. My only complain with the car was the ride quality, it is terrible. Oddly enough the Jetta cruises well at higher than average highway speeds. Oh and let's not forget the excessive use of cheap plastic, I understand a car needs to be economical and cost-effective, but the Jetta has so much plastic I considered it a safety hazard if I ever got into a crash. My other complaint with the car and apparently it is a real issue, the transmission will grind and it sounds like a metallic // whistling noise coming from the torque converter. I Googled this and it is very common for 2019-2021 vehicles. This issue was present before I took ownership of the car, and held up to my abuse very well. I unfortunately had to sell my Jetta due to oil coming out the heads of the engine and it loosing oil for some reason. At least the CarFax report shows "well-maintained" so I got positive equity for the Jetta in trading it in. I took very good care of the car, and hope it finds a great new home! I hope the new owner treats it as well as I did. I changed the oil every 5K miles with Royal Purple. It was a 2019 Jetta SEL (non-premium)
You tuned it and tramped on the gas many times a day, cause an oil leak and tricked someone into taking it off your hands. And you think you treated it well.
Great review Mr. Goose. Another big plus for this car is the 6 year warranty/72 k miles. I have a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen with a little over 76k on the 2.0 turbo motor with nothing but routine maintenance. Love the DSG transmisson and the heated leather seats, the sound system has sucked, but I found a great shop that replaced the entire head deck and so far it works well.
Great car review once again. Really hits the sweet spot and describes the every day foibles of living with a car, including an emotional aspect. Great industry knowledge and targeting cars in the price ranges that 99% of the people can afford is smart. Can't wait for the next video, I don't even care what car is being reviewed, I learn a little more about the car industry and its thought process with each video.
Well said.
Calm down
Yup. And this was his most polite way of saying that this car is ass compared to the competition. Basically get this if looks is all that matters, and it ain’t all that good looking imo.
@@ChuckV192 He doesn't really do polite. If it's ass he calls it out.
My takeaway is that it's about average performing, inexpensive, and has a timeless appearance compared to most.
But I personally wouldn't touch it because it's German.
Its only good in GLI form.
Your reviews remind me of older Car and Driver articles, just unfiltered thoughts from a knowledgeable enthusiast
That's a great way to put it.
I love the honest opinion of the reviewer
The cinematography and in-depth knowledge of the car puts this channel leagues above other "car review" channels
I know, a car reviewer who actually knows about cars?! That's crazy talk.
I've been following SG for quite some time and my #1 favorite aspect of his channel is that he is NOT afraid to hold controversial opinions or criticize a car/manufacturer. And he's able to back up his opinions. You don't have to agree with him but you can't say he hasn't put a lot of thought into it.
Yeah but, for humor I have to give it to the Straight Pipes. Don't get me wrong, big fan of the savage, he's just kind of the deadpan guy. I feel like he needs a new partner because I don't know, I feel that Turbowski's heart just isn't in it. But hey, who am to tell anyone how to run anything.
@@pappyodanial this channel is more on the informative side, the straight pipes are more entertaining... With that being said I'm a huge fan of both channels and can see them overtaking long standing car reviewers
Simply the best reviewer on the internet today. Well done.
Agreed!!!! In fact, I won't buy a car before checking the SG review.
it's the difference between being sponsored and not being sponsored; when you don't have to worry about pissing them off, you can actually really say how you feel
Perhaps you haven't been to the Regular Cars channel.
I've owned one for 2 months. I disagree with MOST of his report. I can point to many other opinions that DO concur with mine. I recommend ignoring this review. Period.
Paul M I dunno. He seemed kind of like a car snob to me.
I love my new 19 Jetta!!!
I love how people pick apart a car this cheap. I got a loaded SE for $21K. I cant complain. I think its a very nice car
Joshua Whiteneck: Everyone always has an opinion and most are based on what other's have said, or experienced. In the end, good for you on your new purchase. If you love the car and it is very nice based on your experience with owning it, that is all that matters.
A woman I know traded her Lexus on a Jetta SEL and she likes it even more.
I just bought a new 2018 GLI for $23k
@@tylertyler82 Bought an 18 Golf SE for 26.5 a couple months ago.It's been flawless so far,better than the Saab it replaced.
I love mine too I got the Jetta S though.
Kudos to VW for not using crappy CVT transmissions!
Also Mazda
No no, kudos for keeping the manual!
@@alfredocalzadilla7251 That too! Manuals are a blast!
And kudos for not having the engine have oil dilution, like the insanely priced Honda CR-V. What a ripoff. Everyone rips VW, but not many call out Honda on doing what they do, and then price gouge everything.
@@jptaylor I also don't know why people don't like Volkswagen. In Europe they are known for their reliability. I have had 3 jettas so far, 2 gas and one tdi, and no problems whatsoever. So far the 1.4 tsi engine has been great!
Hope you had a great Christmas. Huge congratulations on reaching 200k. Might have been overdue but, that’s ok. I hope you have a successful 2019.
This aged well :)
What I love about this channel is the absolute honesty. Too many reviews out there pick only the positive aspects and minimize the negative.
I always appreciate the uncluttered lines of a VW.
avlisk Yeah me too. I want a car that has the austere look of a VW, reliability of a Toyota, and the drive train of a muscle car.
I do also, their mature image has always been a highlight over the Japanese and American competitors. That being said, this new generation is UGLY. Even in black with the R-Line trim, that front bumper underbite is a huge put off. The back end is the best view, and simply for the Audi-ish taillights. I still cannot get over the halogen headlights....unacceptable for this price, segment, year, and trim package.
@@DanUtley An Audi seems like its up your alley. You can get a rather powerful yet simplistic vehicle, all while being made by VW. The reliability of Toyota is a little harder to obtain XD.
@@constructionbootgazer I don't know what you are referring to as halogen headlights. Because every new Jetta is equipped with LED headlights. The only difference is that the lower trim levels get reflector LED headlights, just like the ones in the civic. And you get projector LED headlights on the higher trim levels. It's different from the Tiguan which offers halogen on every trim except SEL premium trim for US market
No crazy waves or curves, that's why I like this car and decided to buy one.
Just bought this car and this review is spot on. VW says the torque converter sound issue is normal (I noticed it immediately and went on forums), but I'm going to bring it in just so they have it on record in case there's a recall or anything. Really good review, all the thoughts shared here are what I had in mind when I bought the car, and describing the interior as a 'sterile space' I think really summarizes the character of the vehicle and people who drive vehicles like this. 10/10
How has the car held up for you?
Super mature, will not look dated in ten years. A great buy for $18k without feeling super cheap. Agree.
It will fall apart after 4 years.
We won't get this model in Australia and I'm glad for it. Already looks dated and awkward to me, horrible design "effort". But I wasn't going to be buying one regardless of how it looked.
Affalterbach Brackley 1967 its a shitbox
My main problem is that it has been styled completely for the Chinese market - extremely conservative except for a big grille. There are more interesting ways to spend your money.
@@motormusique Nah. Maybe you just do not like classy conservative styling. Your probably more into the kid shit.
I really appreciate this review. Most reviews look at the loaded up versions of any particular model. So it is refreshing to see a review of an entry level car. Thanks and keep up the good work!
While most reviews are quick and shallow -- I really enjoy your videos that go in depth and you've consistently managed to deliver it without much dryness. Keep at it guys!
This review, as with the other SavageGeese productions, is a work of art (and, I must add, the absence of Mr. Turbowski only increases my appreciation). I feel we'd be unlikely to find the less-than-complementary remarks about interior noise(s), marginal seat cushioning, and unrefined transmission behavior from other reviewers. Thanks for the super-comprehensive, balanced and highly-useful reviews that are a pleasure to watch. Nobody does it better (yes, that was a song).
His reviews are indeed very good. Main issues are stressed and secondary issues noted to be secondary. So many comprehensive reviews get people lost when mixing these two. In his reviews they are clearly delineated. My take on this new Jetta is that it must be a great cheap manual model car, if one is looking for an inexpensive but good looking commuter. I could be interested myself in a car like that, i do mostly highway driving, slight floatiness doesn't bother me that much. The seats could be improved with a decent aftermarket set of thick sheepskin seat covers. I fixed my horrible Impreza seats that way. Entry level Subarus in the 1990s had bad seats, I mean really cheap.
I recently purchased a 2019 Jetta with a 6 speed manual transmission. The interior is very comfortable and easy to work with. The car in incredibly quite. I love mine!!
Wow . If it is quiet in manual, it should be quieter in automatic Tiptronic I guess. How is it so far with you? Thinking of getting one soon in Ontario, Caanda.
@@ahmedbayoumi1345 I recommend it.
Talk about timing...this week I have a 6MT Jetta S. It has the same footwell buzz around redline. It also retains the kickdown switch accelerator pedal from the automatic, which feels weird when you’re driving stick. Great review 👍
This is like a character from one TV series suddenly appearing in another show ;) BTW How is your GX handling the Michigan winter?
The kickdowmn accelerator is retained because it disengages the cruise control
@@richarddale76 and shuts off AC to reduce the drain on the engine, but only as long as the kick down is pressed.
@@richarddale76
Thank you!
I have a SEAT Leon manual based on the MQB with that same switch.
Now I know what it does!
@@sezwo5774 Unfortunately at least in the states, you can only get the manual on the BASE S trim car.
This guy is absolutely superb. His reviews are among the very best I have seen.
Savage is the G.O.A.T.‼️
Well I got the 2019 SEL trim line back in July and has about four thousand miles on it. Two things that I don't like about the vehicle. It is a little bit noisier override then I like and some of the quality of the Interior or a little bit cheaper looking. Other than that this car is an awesome car for the price point. I was looking at the Honda Accord when I was looking at the Jetta. I love the Honda Accord even though it's a different segment it was close to the same price. But you get so much more car in the Jetta in the warranty for the price than you do a Honda. I would have had to go up to over $30,000 on the Honda Accord trim line in order to get the same that the Jetta offers at 23000. The lines are sexy and it's a definitely a good running car with plenty of power. Love the beats sound, sounds are quality and the high and lows are perfect. The ambient lighting makes the interior at night. The 2019 jetta to me is just perfect in the price range . Just a few cutbacks that I didn't like, other than that it's a great car.
This. I tested the Jetta and although I really loved the handling, I found there was honestly just way too much plastic material in the cabin. And sure, this isn't an Audi, but I had expected a little better noise isolation at higher speeds.
If you still have your 2019 Jetta, can I ask does your brakes ever sound really bad in reverse?
It's sort of a weird review. When you're comparing it to cars in its class, you seem to generally think it's one of the better ones. It's almost like you're dinging VW for created a car that gives a first impression of being nicer than its class. By my way of thinking, that's a plus rather than a minus.
Until it leaves you stranded on the highway
@@user59371 What does that have to do with my comment or their review? Go away, troll.
@@user59371I’ve had more Ford’s leave me stranded than VW’s. The only VW that ever let me down was a B5 Passat with the VR6 that would grenade itself.
Meanwhile I had an escape that had a transmission blow up, the cooling system fail, and power steering fail, and a Fiesta ST that had the engine blow, the flywheel explode, the transmission blow, a reverse gear that would grind and pop out, a radiator hose melting and popping off, and a weird clacking at idle when the clutch isn’t depressed.
My family meanwhile has leased 5 or 6 different VW’s and the biggest issue was a firmware bug in the infotainment system of a Tiguan
I enjoy how you look underneath the car in your reviews, everyone should do it!
Never seen someone reviewed a car in such a detail, so thrilled with the level the knowledge you are providing. Thanks a lot for sharing this. Appreciate greatly.
Excellent review. I appreciate VW's simple and timeless approach to styling.
I was seriously looking into a VW Jetta yesterday and Savagegeese comes in clutch with this video! Thanks SG
Bought a 35th anniversary gli about a month ago and the car is sweet so far
@@MeltingRubberZ28 OMFG!!!! That's the next car I want to get from VW
@@joelvasquez4653 so far I've been enjoying mine. They take to mods really well also. 320whp is very easily attainable with just a downpipe and a tune.
I got the 6 speed manual transmission and it's a blast to drive.
I''m thinking of getting the same. Still enjoying it?
I just got the 2020 Jetta with the 6-speed and it’s great
I really appreciate your candor with this review. It seems like other reviewers just talk about how great these new cars are but you pair the realistic needs well with compliments.
Excellent editorial content as always on the spot. But the visuals were just pure eye candy. Nobody else is doing anything close to this, generally mounting Go Pro's everywhere and driving and talking. You guys put real effort into the variety from in the car, and from outside and the case vehicle with good cameras and lenses. Just wonderful. Look forward to next year.
Thank you for uploading this video. Your videos are always highly elaborated.
I often look for car reviews outside of Korea because car reviews hear are so biased that I need another source for evaluating cars. I always feel your reviews are perfect for non-native English speaker because of accurate pronunciation to hear and kind vocabulary to understand even for kids.
Very underrated car reviewer on TH-cam.
And doug is over rated.
@@behindthen0thing Doug talk about buttons for the first 20 minutes
@@m2steve2m yes. He doesn't deserve his wealth. He's also a diva
@@behindthen0thing divas are cool
@@m2steve2m not to me
I have never seen such a brutally honest assessment of a vehicle. I'm moving way from a Honda Civic sport because I had to downsize... I always drove Accords. But the Jetta R line in some ways gives you the mid-size feel and mid-size features I say that you would find in an Accord...in a compact. Civic looks better on the outside,it's peppy...it zooms off a stoplight...it attacks the road if you want...where as the Jetta appears to float on it...feels bigger than the Honda though slightly smaller.
It depends on your stage in life. For me quite simply for good reason, I don't see many Jettas on the road anymore which makes you in a way unique.
You might say after saying that..."get a Subaru "
Well my search ended with the R Line.
I have had my 2019 Jetta S trim with the very awesome 6 speed manual since June and I have been really impressed and surprised. Mostly with the quality, features, tech and this new 1.4 motor is pretty amazing. For myself I really prefer this understated and more mature look, but I am in my 50s now so that makes since. The biggest surprise so far is the overall fun factor driving this non-independent rear suspension car. With the manual she really pulls quite a bit harder than the auto it seems. Honestly if you run premium fuel it does feel like the ECU is giving me a little more beans to work with by advancing the timing and boost a bit over the 87 octane gas. Highly recommended for a new driver wanting to learn clutch and manual transmissions. Super easy mode and very easy to teach a new driver. My oldest son hated trying to learn manual on my older 2011 Mazda 3 but this Jetta he had down smooth within minutes. I do feel this is by far the superior car in this segment. Plus the new 6 year / 72k mile warranty is kinda comforting considering the direct inject only engine. Just passed 10k miles and first factory service and she is perfect so far. So I am really having some great fun with mine and very happy with it. Awesome review, love the channel. Thank you!
which trim you got
I got 17 Jetta S manual and it's really easy. Trying to teach my sister on it! So far been having fun on it majority of the time. Some days it's a slog like rainy to hot days for me. Thinking about keeping it instead of upgrading to a GTI to save money but we'll see.
Do you notice better fuel economy when you run premium?
the S trim level which is the base...sub $19k USD
I learned manual with a Mazda 323 in an instant. I think it's because the Mazda 3 has a shorter travel for quicker shifting which is perfect for the target market of Mazda. We were gonna buy a volkswagen Polo but the automatic transmission is just slow to respond while the automatic Mazda 2 is as responsive as any manual. Though I noticed that volkswagen is really quiet which is nice.
I LOVE my 2019 Jetta SE. I got it in white, with black interior. It has a moonroof & with the cold weather package. BRB remote start, BRB heated seats in the front AND the back (yeah that’s right the back!) BRB heated steering wheel. I’m so happy with my decision & I sell Toyota’s for a living. No way I’d settle for a boring Corolla for the same price. Also the girls looooove it. Thank you for getting me laid VW.
I've never heard of any girls wanting to have sex with a guy because he drives a VW Jetta.
I don't know about getting laid . But the girl-friends I have absolutely love my 2019 Jetta SE for some reason.
I have driven this car as a rental for 2 weeks and I really like it. I think it’s super quiet and it’s a really solid and well made vehicle. The doors close with a thud unlike Japanese competitors and I’m not sure what wind noise this guy was hearing but to me it’s really quiet. The transmission shifts smooth (thank God there is no CVT) but the motor is a bit sluggish. I would definitely consider this car if I were looking to purchase a compact sedan. I would however want the R model or the SEL as they offer more features that I would use.
Love my 2020 Jetta,. No problems at all! I bought it specifically for it being "simple".
I bought the 2019 Jetta S and no noises. Love the car . Drives very nice
Idk why people say vw is so unreliable. I bought a 2004 Jetta gls with a 1.8 T and a manual transmission. I got it with 193k mikes and it now has over 204k miles. It’s very quick and is waaaay faster than any stock civic I guarantee you. I drive it hard every day but always keep up on oil changes and the only thing that’s gone bad on it was a crank sensor and a radiator fan. It’s been ridiculously reliable to me. Temperatures get down in the low teens at night and it always starts first try very quickly. I would definitely buy another one.
Finally some American reviewer talking sense. Good review, sir.
I hope this channel never changes because it’s the BEST at car reviews.
I like the design aesthetic. Keep it simple.
Don’t complain about the automatic. Get the manual.
My sister has a Golf. Loves it. Paid
Frank Gutowski The manual isn't worth it with so little power. i tested both and the stick shift just ended up being a lot of work for little excitement.
Manual will be cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, more fun, and last longer without expensive repairs.
It's the first video i see from you and what i have to say is: NOW THAT'S A REVIEW. You are covering everything and you clearly know a lot about cars not just mumbling about specs. Good job!
Wonderful review Savagegeese!! I just moved on from my Mk4 TDI this last year. I already miss the classic no-nonsense design over my new to me 08 civic. It's cool to see those classic lines carry through nearly 20 years down the line. I loved the design, and the drivability of that overweight sedan. However it was an absolute nightmare to maintain. The same issues are here on the 2019. 10+ torx screws on the MK4 to get to just the oil drain plug. No thanks, not for Dusty anymore.
I want another Jetta, but I never want to work on a VW ever again.
Too many cheap plastic parts and even in places where they should not be, i.e., the engine!
This is the best review of this car that I have seen. I have a 2019 SEL and the points this guy makes are spot on. I bought the car because it feels like a car for adults in the a way that some of the others do not. I also does feel like a more upscale car compared to its competition. However, after you drive it for awhile you start to notice the warts. The seats are super comfortable for about an hour. The car is nosier than you think it is at first and I find the suspension to be a bit choppy. On the positive side the gas mileage is terrific and there is more tech than I was expecting for the money. If you accept this car for what it is then you will be happy with it.
Looks like fair car. It will work for some and not others I assume. Great review as always. I loved the new pantry storage space! Lol
Back in 2019, I rented 2019 Jetta for a week while traveling to Vancouver. To me, it is the best car I have driven in my life. Its acceleration goes up and down effortlessly and completely in sync with how my mind desires, almost as if I am controlling the car through my mind. Ride quality is also decent and comfortable.
The more things change, the less they remain the same. The new Corolla sedan will offer independent rear suspension and a 6 speed manual with a 168 hp non-turbo engine. It will be made in the USA. Why buy a VW?
It has more to do with where it's engineered vs. built. Toyota still engineers a good portion of their platforms in Japan. That has a huge impact on the design architecture and component specs. German engineering is an all-or-nothing type of approach. Great when it works, a nightmare when it doesn't; and a confused personality when you strip down to the basics lol.
Right Lane Hog it’s a Toyota...boring.
@@mezzb Test drive a Civic sedan with a manual transmission.
Every trim in Canada comes with the choice of manual. 👍🏻.
@@99SVTBolt If by "boring" you mean completely reliable with a high resale value, I agree. If you're talking about looks, a new Corolla is certainly no more boring-looking than this Jetta - inside or out! I agree that most Toyotas have been super bland for many years (decades?), but in my opinion, they're heading in the right direction now - possibly even approaching their 80's mojo.
I’m driving my jetta from last 7 months now and I love it 😻 my first car and an amazing car ❤️
I just bought a 2019 Jetta S 1.4T with a 6 speed manual and love it. It's a great car.
I just bought a new S3 on the same platform. I’d love to see a comparison of a base car and top level car off of a same platform to see where manufacturers spend the money to make them cost 2x more
Here you go: th-cam.com/video/yvn6vNTF0ZI/w-d-xo.html
Would love to see the gli vs the a3 as a comparison when it's released in 2019. Prob will start at 28k ish and have the same power plant as that a3 but be lighter and probably a little faster
You got multilink on the back + haldex + more power + bigger brakes and upgraded suspension + dsg + AUDI badge (for some is premium).
@@marfrandema1884 same suspension, independent rear. Dsg is the same. In both cars. Audi makes less power due to awd. And I'm sure it'll be cheaper to get the digital dash in the jetta. A3 is faster 0-30. 30-100 I'm sure the jetta will pull away. The gti does the same to a3s
@@IReahpZz you got a lot of facts wrong. He was comparing with his s3, not an a3
Great video @savagegeese, your reviews are my favorite, by the way for anyone with the jetta, go to bluetooth settings and change the "bluetooth" setting from minimum to maximum, it raises the gain and makes the audio less flat.
motor mouth and other big name publications in trouble. their cinematography is not at the same level as u. your dwarfing them man. good frikken job.
Especially that goof diva doug
Motormouth quit awhile ago. I mean as far as being a non bias journalist that is. The nicer the hotel you put him in, the more he loves the car.
I'm new to your channel and I like your style and reviews. If I could make a suggestion, that would be to utilize a decibel meter to accurately describe road and wind noise levels. With regard to the new Jetta, the loudness you experienced might be subjective. I just sold a Mk7 GTI and got one of these Jetta's, and the Jetta is much, much quieter, as measured by the decibel meter. Having said that, your overall positive comments allowed me to purchase one. Have a great 2019.
I’ve had three including this one. Enjoy it a lot. The Execline in Canada with manual. Great fuel economy. Thanks Goose. Fair review 👍🏻
Chauncey _VW Like to see a review of the manual transmission.
I;m thinking of buying the Automatic Highline . What do you advice me to pick? I haven't had manual for a long time; it was fun tho but I am getting older to the clutch hassle. I hope it is a smooth drive on this Tiptonic Gear. He made me feel suspicious.
I appreciate your honesty in other car review videos, just not on my favorite car brand. Great video!
Our 2014 jetta lugs first, we notice it doesn't do it in sport mode
My 2015 Jetta 1.8 TSi lugged the engine going up hills all the time, i had to take it out of drive and put it in sport mode
Although Volkswagen isn’t ever really on the cutting edge, they make an essential package that would genuinely satisfy everyone’s needs (and more) in an unobtrusive, sophisticated, and affordable way.
When you touched on the sound system, as far back as I can remember, VW’s base systems have always been laughable - even going back to our 1988 Jetta GL, it was downright miserable at times, but it was so incredibly easy to upgrade the sound, and the headunit could actually drive pretty decent power, so with minor speaker upgrades it went from piercingly bad to above average. No different now! I dislike the “Beats” branded systems, and would probably spring for the base system then upgrade with Infinity sound, but that’s just me.
Otherwise, this Jetta is a phenomenal vehicle for the segment. It may not offer every single thing the others may, but it offers everything you’d want, need, and expect, and in a vehicle you could drive ten years down the road and still feel good about.
There are definitely some cost cutting measures and omissions that even the last generation didn’t leave out, but all the important things are done well, and that’s what matters in this segment. Of all the vehicles, the Elantra/Forte, and this Jetta are probably my only recommendations, despite vehicles like the Corolla and Civic having better track records in recent years. The 1.4 TFSI is a robust, economical little thing, and VW (thankfully) still cares some about the driving dynamics and experience, so it isn’t soulless.
Great video, as always!
I recently drove a Jetta S (base trim, cloth, 8-speed auto) and it is feature packed even in base trim. After having driven countless 2018/19 Corollas (sedans), the Jetta no doubt feels more upscale, and the audio system was better to my ear than the Corolla. That said, a good pair of aftermarket speakers in most cars, including the mentioned above, will be miles (or kilometres) better than the trash that is installed at the factory. My 2000 Nissan Frontier takes the cake on the worst audio system of any car. I already put in a cheap pair of 'just-get-me-by' speakers and now I am good. The Jetta also got excellent fuel economy. The computer said 44-45 MPG after a South to North Texas roadtrip from Galveston to the Red River (Oklahoma border). We calculated 43MPG so the computer is a bit inflated.
I noticed a big difference between Bluetooth audio and cable. Even a Lexus with Mark Levinson sounds like ass over bluetooth.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear my Golf Alltrack via usb audio (after I EQed the bass almost all the way down of course)
@@newwavetheo My daughter's 2018 Honda civic sport has the worst audio i ever heard. A 100 dollar aftermarket unit would sound better.
Yeah fully agree with you there. Bluetooth as it stands now is far inferior to an audio cable or even USB audio (Android Auto & Apple CarPlay are designed to use USB for audio). The better your audio system is, the bigger the difference in the quality of sound between Bluetooth (crappier) vs by-wire (better).
This is all very true, but only to a certain degree. Volkswagen’s base soundsystems have been horribly lacking long before Bluetooth was even conceived. It is an objective fact that Bluetooth is inferior to a good wired medium, but since the hardware is already so miserable in this Jetta, playing via USB, AUX, Bluetooth, CD or whatever probably wouldn’t matter either way!
Still, I think it’s just the speakers, because that’s traditionally been the case in VW vehicles. Upgrade those with aftermarket equipment for less than the cost of the “premium” audio option and you’ll have yourself a good value and great sound. The stock headunit is probably capable of driving fairly decent stuff, as it isn’t really that different from the upgraded sound system.
The flaw I see in the argument for wired versus wireless for in-car audio though, is that we are mostly streaming or playing lossy, compressed files on the go anyway. Radio is a compressed transmission, streaming services are lossy, iTunes and Google Play purchased are compressed. So it’s not like your audio is suffering that much by using Bluetooth.
If you’re using CDs though, or your files are all locally stored WAV/AIFF or ALAC/FLAC files, and you were using BT, then yeah, you’d definitely be hurting the audio quality by a fair margin.
But that’s all besides the point - point is, VW has always had bad base audio, and I can say that from experience, having driven models from at least the eighties onwards, but it’s nothing some minor, relatively inexpensive upgrades can’t address.
your channel have one of the best car reviews on youtube... no smugness when reviewing regular cars, actually reviewing regular cars, everything is covered. :)
Apparently the vibration and noise you were hearing is a real thing on all Jettas. Lots of owners trying to work with VW to get it resolved. VW not doing anything but vw techs always admit they hear the noise too. Definitely a rattle coming from the tranny in gears 5-7 when the engine is in the 1500-1700 rpm range
Waow... This is called A REVIEW. subscribed 👍😍
These are selling in Atlanta 12/13/2020 starting at 14,000!!! I know two people that are using this as their daily commuter car. They are getting upwards of 40+ miles per gallon! I think VW did a very good job with this re-design. It is a lot of car for the money!!!
The shots of the rear suspension...those springs and shocks look so cheap
Reminds me of underneath a 90s gm product that's fwd, another thing is the undercarriage already looks like it's five years old...I know, underside, cheap car blah blah, but once corrosion starts... Yeesh. Doesn't look like much went into preserving the metal sections of the unibody that doesn't have a shield over it. Then again, I'm likely dead wrong I hope...
that's because is made in mexico, our popular cars are those cheap ones, jetta, versa, micra, spark, are the ones most people can afford, the base version with manual transmission obviously, the upper trims and cvt or automatic are a luxury.
But hey we beat the hell out of those cars into extreme heat, traffic and terrible roads, and can stand the conditions, so maybe are cheap but rock solid cars.
You obviously dont look underneath many cars because most of them are like that. a spring and a shock what else do you need?
I just got some 6spd manuals on my lot and it makes the Jetta feel like a much better car! I am a manual enthusiast so I am a bit biased, but I feel like the engine sounds better. The overall feel of the car is better. Granted, you can only get the manual in the entry-level S model(which can be had with a driver assist package including front assist and blind spot monitors w/ rear traffic alert). I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed that weird stalling sensation when in reverse on the 8spd auto. Great car for the price though! And a good and fair review. I sell the darn things and I learned something! That's what I love about your videos, keep up the great work!
I just got a 2019 GLI and it have the standard radio and I thought it sounded good.
same i have a 2019 highline and i have no issue with mine
Another great review. I think the overarching point you're trying to make is that some automakers blend their cost-cutting much better than VW did with the base & mid range Jettas. I am starting to notice this on the Civic the more time I spend inside the cabin. All the cheap plastic and thin materials are there in the Honda. But dash rattle aside, none of it really distracts from the driving experience.
And to be fair, getting behind of the wheel of the Jetta GLI is a much different experience. It's still a conservative car, but the extra touches (especially the interior) make it a much more well-rounded platform. Too bad the MSRP is an extra 50-75% lol.
Side note: Your productions are getting exponentially better with each new release. From the BGM to the camerawork, this is first rate stuff. Bravo!
Engines are really starting to sound like GTA IV cars.
Doctor Ferdinand fat 4 was the only gta I never played. And china town wars..... but do the cars sound good?
@@theerealatm only a few, so idk what they are getting at
FYI: VW has obviously realized that the trunk design doesn't work, because we just got a service action letter to get the trunk springs replaced with new ones so that the trunk will stay open, even if not in the fully-opened position.
Waiting to see what they do with the GLI.
@Jack Bower dsg + 240/250 hp and 270tq. Same as the gti. They claim 220 but hey dyno 230whp. And the dsg makes the gti and gli much faster than other cars in the segment. Especially after 30
@@IReahpZz If you believe the GLI will equal the GTI in power/performance you haven't been paying attention to VW's marketing strategy over the last few decades.
Now, imagine the same car. Same look. Add 50hp. There is your GLI.
Hopefully with IRS.
@@Neanderthal75 Not gonna happen.
Does it have a lot of electrical issues??? The 2019 vw jetta?
I would go for the gti instead. Tht being said, I would ditch the VW after 60-70k miles. Doesn't seem like they're built to last, and no one wants a money pit.
MaxSpeed lol
You must have never been new car shopping. The GTI payments are double the Jetta. I’ve been trying to get a gti for ten years. They’re just too expensive. I leased an Infiniti for same price as loaded Jetta. Not kidding....
If you think a VW is a money pit you’ve never owned a proper car.
An old AMG is a money pit, an E92 M3 is a money pit, my Alfa Romeo is regrettably a money pit. But a 4cyl Jetta? Hahahahahaha
oh ffs u again. VW r now 7 year 100k warranty just fyi
Manual ones can last a while, automatic ones become worthless pretty fast
The production quality of these reviews is excellent. The camera angle looking in through the windshield; the shot of the gauges upon acceleration; it's just superb. There are other reviewers who don't put in nearly as much effort and they somehow have half a million subscribers. It's bizarre.
I take pride in my work, and I feel like it will have more value long term than just doing things half ass. Its good to know others see it too.
Just recently spent some time looking at cars for my daughter. We drove many of the models competing in the compact sedan category. This review is pretty much spot-on with my driving impressions for the Jetta. For quiet, comfortable commuting, I thought the Chevy Cruze topped the others. If you lean toward a sporty, fun to drive sedan, the Mazda3 had it in spades. Feature wise, the Hyundai Elantra offered the most for the money. It felt a little cheap and drove like an inexpensive compact, but you got more bells and whistles and a better warranty. The Jetta offered the best warranty, a comfortable if uninspiring ride and timeless styling in and out. Its compromises were acceptable for the class and it was the quietest on the road, save for the Cruze, which really drove like a larger, heavier class of car. If GM offered a better warranty, we would have gone Cruze. The Honda Civic had a nice interior, but the noise from the CVT and the feel of the engine/transmission combination constantly reminds the driver that you are in a compact, four banger.
Anyone considering cars in this class really should drive the Mazda3.
Problem with the Corolla for example is that they go bare bones on the lower end versions and try to lure you in with the "upgrade" versions. Want sat radio and alloy wheels? Another $3000 please
One of the best car reviewers on youtube. P.S. the music is great..very tasteful.
Biggest trade-off: it's a Volkswagen.
The timing chain tensioners will let go, the water pumps will fail, belts and hoses will prematurely disintegrate. Precision German Engineering ensures that it'll fall apart the moment the warranty is up.
1.4L DI turbo engine... it's like VW said "How can we make this engine any LESS likely to last for 60k miles?" The thing will sound like a motorboat before long, then it'll puke oil and die by the side of the road.
Meanwhile the Corolla has a new 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with port and direct injectors and over 40% thermal efficiency. It also has independently rear suspension, rides on the TNGA-C platform and is generally a massive improvement over the old model while retaining all of the reliability that it is known for. There is no wasted space anywhere, like on the Jetta, and I'm also pretty sure you can access the oil filter without needing to remove a thousand bolts either.
Totally wrong, I have a 2003 GTI with 375k, 2014 SE Jetta with 175k and a 2016 SEL Jetta with 42k the last two have independent rear suspensions. Not real sure why VW dropped it but they did for now anyway. No issues other than regular maintenance, VW is just as reliable as any other manufacture. More so than KIA/Hyundai, in 2012 I bought 3 loaded new KIA vehicles, Sedona, Optima, and a Rio and 2 of the 3 were bought back under the lemon law. The Sedona needed the brake system rebuilt 6 times in 2 years, the Rio was total garbage, it leaked every time it rained, transmission failure at 8,000 miles, rear hatch door fell off due to broken hinges and more. The only one that was slightly okay was the Optima but, we traded it off before it started to have issues. So, I'll stick with VW thank you very much.
There are many VWs in shops because there are many VWs on the street. More cars = more cars needing repairs.
I have owned a 1997 Audi A4 Quattro, a 2002 VW Passat, and am now a proud owner of a 2015 VW Passat. Both my older cars went past 200k with very few issues. My newer car has 76k miles with the only issue being a faulty clock spring, which has a 10 year warranty on it and was replaced for free. And have fun trying to keep up with me from a stop light.
But besides all that it’s all about the VW ;-)
Here comes the "stories" from the hardcore fanboys of their "high mileage" VW heroes. "Never changed a thing, just oil and filters"..... Stop this fucking bullshit, nobody reads these fairy tales in real life.
Your reviews are great and you captured and addressed all of the issues that this car has. so actually lease this exact spec currently (orange r-line 2019). I've only owned VW/Audi vehicles for the last twenty years of driving. This mexican jetta really falls short of what i'm used to from the brand, but at $250/month you can beat it for a daily beater. You are correct about the stereo being horrible and the weird noise during acceleration. The seats are fine for short trips. Tech is good and torque gets the job done around town. I've found fuel economy to be excellent. keep up the good work. Your videos are superb.
9:24 Mr. Geese's deadpan delivery is hilarious!
How the fu*k does he manage to keep a straight face while I'm laughing so hard I'm almost crying?
Excellent video Sir!!! I was torn between the Jetta, Kia Forte, and Buick Regal Sportback. After doing my research and given where I live, I decided on the Buick (one hour to the GM dealership vs. 3 hours to the other two dealerships). Bought the Buick mostly because I got the interior colour I wanted and the Sportback seemed like a working man's Audi A7 -- happy camper!!!
It's a bland, boring car but nice to cruise around the city in. My girlfriend just bought one for her 20 mile daily city commute and she loves it. It is surprisingly powerful feeling to about 40mph. Excellent fuel economy besides.
Ryan Kirk Dude wtf are you talking about? lol
It's in no way boring.
wheres turbowski these days?
Have you seen Pulp Fiction? Gimp suit, in the basement.
wow I feel like I'm watching a movie dude, the quality on this video is absolutely incredible
Thanks for mentioning the seats. Scratch the Jetta!I have learned, the hard way, seats can absolutely kill an otherwise great car. Example: my 2015 Accord. 60k miles of pain that cannot be overlooked. An issue not mentioned in the many Car Of The Year awards.
Strangely many UBER drivers drive Accords... I would assume seat quality must be an important part of their lives... What was wrong with yours?
What seat maybe comfortable to one person can be hell for another person. Always take it out for a long test ride.
I am 6'4" and 180 lbs and I find the seats very comfortable, I drive from CA to CO often and these seats are much more comfortable than the KIA optima.
Dennis Canfield leather seats are great. Can’t speak to the pleather
@@tomwalma4762
After I or my wife drive about 1.5 hours our backs hurt no matter the position or added cushions. We are both under 6 feet tall and around 160 lbs. I am 62 owned many cars and never had this problem (66 Beetle included!) A friend suggested the seat is actually canted in towards center for crash test results and this is why our back pain is on the left side of our spine.
Hey savage, I love your reviews. Probably the best on TH-cam in my opinion.
I am wondering about the sort of dark and subdued thumbnail though.
Orange cars get clicks like crazy. Why not a shot more like 0:33 or 0:55?
One other quick note in that Subaru uses IRS on the Impreza, and their full lineup AFAIK.
Great work as always. It does look upscale. Bummer it doesn't drive like it looks.
I feel like it kind of represented the weather in the way that this video was shot. I didn't want to make something overtly bright it wasn't consistent with how the review was.
@@savagegeese Makes sense. I appreciate your consistency and integrity. Appreciate the reply!
I think it has a cool european vibe. Once I drove the manual, I bought it.
Rented a 2019 Jetta in NC last month and put almost 700 miles on it. I was perplexed why it had a big sunroof, yet drivers seat wasn't powered?. Quiet ride, and smooth over bumps. It could use 10...15 more HP and merging onto highways must be done with some care. Flipped seats down and shoved 2 bikes in trunk, and back seat. Best part.... I got 38.5 MPG. Remarkable. For price...a very good car.
1.4 is very nippy
If I get this right, the Jetta and Corolla traded places for 2019.
The 2020 Corolla sedan.
The test of time.... they don’t last much. Anyways I’ve been a subscriber for a long time and honestly I don’t understand why you don’t have a million subs, your reviews are always top notch!
I don't understand how interiors from makers like Honda and Subaru are always reviewed as stale and trash, but when Audi, Ford or VW do it, it's "simplistic, back to basics, familiar, premium." I can't wrap my head around it. As for the rest of the car, it appears Hyundai esque, this would not be an easy car to DIY maintain.
I think the Mazda3 is a better alternative to this. Good review.
Wow!!! Always a great honest in-depth review. I heard some things here that I didn’t hear on other reviews. Appreciate a discretionary review👍👍👍
You have a way of sounding like you’re complaining when you’re complimenting. 😉
Thorough review! I'm a fan of Jettas. They're well-built heavy cars with much of the driving benefits of German-engineering. For those expecting Audi finishes in a $18-$23K car are being unrealistic. If you're expecting hyper gadgets and tech, get a Civic, Corolla, or Mazda even. If you actually enjoy understated classic finishes, then you "get" VW. I think they know their core demo and their core demo doesn't like 'creative' curvy turvy trims.
That said, I'm currently deciding between this 2019 R-Line vs. an SEL. I LOVE the way the R-Line looks aesthetically. It has sleek finishes and lines as well as the sleek double exhaust. Also has foglights and AI directed turning headlights. The two-toned interior is a nice touch as well.
Things I dislike: No leather seating. No option to get the upgraded audio... WTH! I'm coming from a 2011 Jetta SEL that had the Fender speaker system which was great IMO. It's hard to go from that system to whatever the hell they placed in the R-Line :/ . Also wish the R-Line had the larger center digital panel that the 2019 SEL comes with. SEL also has the digital driver display which is sleeker I have to admit. Finally, the headlights on the R-Line are very bright halogen. But the headlights on the SEL are the DRL piping/eyebrows which I personally find sexier.
Very frustrating that VW makes you choose between such divergent detailing. All that to say I'm leaning towards the R-Line and thinking of installing a better speaker system aftermarket.
Boring my ass! That car looks good. Great color! Really like the simple interior design.
lmao!
That kind you. I agree. Looks better in person! Felt the same with my MK VI
A clean cut look
Great review! (I own a 2012 Jetta TDI so I'm a little biased toward the Jetta.) Not everybody needs...or wants...a racecar. Not everybody needs the quickest acceleration or the best handling or the firmest Recaro-type seats. Some of just want a...you know, "nice" car that's fairly fun to drive. There is something about driving a German car, be it a Volks, BMW or Mercedes. They feel "different." Some don't like it...some of us do. Volkswagen's "problem" is one of identity. You can't really tell a Golf from a Jetta or a Passat very quickly; they all look the same. Brand-Identity? Or "Bland-Identity?" Maybe, but VW's styling is soooooo conservative. That's the Germans for you :-/ My Jetta feels solid as a rock at 76,000 miles. Since VW isn't selling diesels anymore, I have no plans of getting rid of it.
Great review! I hope you review the 2019 GLI soon. 😎👍🏼
Yes please, a review of the new 35th anniversary gli manual. Thank you goose.
Nice review. Gives me renewed appreciation for my 2017 Jetta SEL ! Thank you.
Nice review. I've owned more expensive VW's made in Germany and they had rattles too. Go Bears!
hahahaha that's funny no I don't want bear sounds!
I love the design, I don't know but I feel like so many car manufacturers are trying really hard to make their car look sporty and aggressive when in reality it's a slow-ass 4 cilinder that doesn't inspire any sort of sporty driving. VW got this design right, it's clean, sensible and conservative.
The Buick Encore doesn't have rear independent suspension and neither, does the top end of the jeep line, the Wrangler. I was shocked to learn that. Something about the wheel spread or something off road?
Great review, @savagegeese ! I have to say, VW's body and interior designers did *fantastic* job making this car look simple, elegant, beautiful, and even slightly aggressive but without any gaudy features. However, I have some serious issues with their engineering priorities. While I recognize they've engineered this car to sell well with their target consumer group, a younger car buyer who favors electronic gadget compatibility over performance, it just does *not* sit right with me for them to actually be *downgrading* important core components of this car like the suspension and chassis in order to *upgrade* the surface-level features (e.g. the center console's touchscreen GUI performance).
VW's marketing department and corporate executives are shrewd and understand the target audience for this car very well, but they shouldn't be going backwards in time with their suspension technology to make a snappier tablet UI or marginally improve smartphone-integration.
Ideally, car companies should be putting in the time and effort needed to improve their manufacturing processes to keep costs down while retaining the advantages of better-engineered critical structural components which affect handling, efficiency, and longevity. Components and features like independent rear-suspension, reduced weight, tighter cornering, snappier shifting, as well as engine and transmission reliability and performance.
I think Honda has taken steps in the right direction with their recent car design and engineering goals, they are saving money while retaining high performance and reliability by investing in the manufacturing technology for better efficiency through clever engineering.
I just picked up my 2019 Jetta R-Line the other day. I was leasing a 2018 GTI SE for 2 years and downgraded to save a bit more money. I was very very spoiled with the GTI, however I do appreciate the Jetta's smooth ride. I got remote start and the cold weather package, and that's something I didn't have with the GTI which I look forward to every morning as I live in the state of Michigan. I really only have one MAJOR complaint about the Jetta and you hit it right on the dot. It's the sound system... IT IS THE WORST SOUND SYSTEM IN ANY CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN! How can a manufacturer put this sound system in this car, sit in the cabin with music playing and say "yup, this is gonna sell"? Even my 2003 Toyota Highlander had a better stock sound system. The SEL model comes with BeatsAudio and Virtual Cockpit, but I wasn't going to compromise the R-Line styling for the atrocious wheels and grill on the SEL trim. On a brighter note, this car does drives well, is fuel efficient and is a great daily driver, so I'll be sticking with this for a little while.
"Cheap" you're literally reviewing the high line version with added R-Line sport package. This is far from the basic option
Nice video! Really appreciated the great cinematography and your clear auto knowledge. Thanks to people like you for making my car research that much easier!
better then any Cvt...drive it in S mode
silkhead44 seems like Toyota and KIA finally got CVT’s right.
These are very solid cars, mine held up well despite me treating it like a cop car and flooring it (literally) 7-8 times a day everyday for the past 11 months I owned the car. I installed a Racechip which boosts power and it was night and day with performance. Fuel economy was excellent again despite my spirited driving style. Something about the car urged me to floor it constantly, some cars make you feel a certain way. I always disabled auto start stop to prolong the longevity of the engine for the next owner, and I alway used 93 octane gasoline or E15 when available. My only complain with the car was the ride quality, it is terrible. Oddly enough the Jetta cruises well at higher than average highway speeds. Oh and let's not forget the excessive use of cheap plastic, I understand a car needs to be economical and cost-effective, but the Jetta has so much plastic I considered it a safety hazard if I ever got into a crash. My other complaint with the car and apparently it is a real issue, the transmission will grind and it sounds like a metallic // whistling noise coming from the torque converter. I Googled this and it is very common for 2019-2021 vehicles. This issue was present before I took ownership of the car, and held up to my abuse very well. I unfortunately had to sell my Jetta due to oil coming out the heads of the engine and it loosing oil for some reason. At least the CarFax report shows "well-maintained" so I got positive equity for the Jetta in trading it in. I took very good care of the car, and hope it finds a great new home! I hope the new owner treats it as well as I did. I changed the oil every 5K miles with Royal Purple. It was a 2019 Jetta SEL (non-premium)
You tuned it and tramped on the gas many times a day, cause an oil leak and tricked someone into taking it off your hands. And you think you treated it well.
Great review Mr. Goose. Another big plus for this car is the 6 year warranty/72 k miles. I have a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen with a little over 76k on the 2.0 turbo motor with nothing but routine maintenance. Love the DSG transmisson and the heated leather seats, the sound system has sucked, but I found a great shop that replaced the entire head deck and so far it works well.