2011 Volkswagen Jetta Priced at $15,995
The 2011 Volkswagen comes in S, SE, SEL and TDI trims. All Jettas come with six airbags, daytime running lights and a rear 60/40-split bench. All models also get Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance program, which gives owners free regular maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
It’s important to note that there are important mechanical differences between the various trims. The S and SE trims come with front disc and rear drum brakes, while the SEL and TDI come with four-wheel-disc braking. All models come with a rear torsion-beam setup, though a yet-to-be-announced GLI model will come with a multilink rear suspension. These changes are significant as an independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes were standard on the 2010 Jetta.
The S trim comes with a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a five-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic transmission is a $1,100 option. VW said the 2.0-liter will get 24/34 mpg city/highway with the manual and 23/32 mpg with the automatic. The S comes standard with air conditioning, a four-speaker sound system, power locks/windows, keyless entry, heated power mirrors, cloth seats and 15-inch steel wheels.
The SE model starts at $18,195 ($2,355 less than the 2010 SE Jetta) and comes with all of the features on the S trim. It has the same 170-hp, 2.5-liter five-cylinder found on today’s Jetta mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The 2.5-liter will get 23/33 mpg with the manual and 24/31 with the auto, which is an improvement from the 23/30 mpg rating of the 2010 Jetta with an automatic. The model comes with 16-inch steel wheels, leatherette upholstery, cruise control, body-colored side mirrors, floormats, a rear center armrest with pass-through, illuminated vanity mirrors and glove box, and chrome accents on the interior knobs and dials. A Convenience Package on the SE will add a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and washer fluid, an MP3 jack and six-speaker audio system for $1,350. A sunroof and LCD touch-screen adds another $1,250 to the SE.
The SEL model starts at $21,395 ($2,050 less than the last 2010 SEL Jetta) and has all of the SE with Convenience Package features plus 17-inch alloy wheels, a touch-screen navigation system with SD card reader, push-button start, trip computer, driver seat lumbar adjustment, fog lights, exterior chrome accents and four-wheel-disc brakes. A power sunroof is a $900 option. You can get a sport-tuned suspension and sport bucket seats for an additional $1,600.
Finally, the Jetta TDI starts at $22,995 (a $165 increase over the 2010 TDI). It comes with the 2010’s 140-hp, 2.0-liter diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual. The TDI’s automatic transmission option differs from the torque-converter six-speed found on the gas models. Instead, it sports a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The TDI will now get 30/42 mpg with both the automatic and manual transmissions; the 2010 Jetta with a manual transmission got 41 mpg highway. The TDI includes all of the features found on the SE model with the Convenience Package and Sunroof Package. A Navigation Package comes with a navigation unit, push-button start, fog lamps and exterior chrome accents. It adds $1,200 to the TDI model.
In the marketplace, the Jetta competes with the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010 Honda Civic and 2010 Toyota Corolla. The Jetta has a $280 pricing advantage against the Cruze and stays competitive throughout that model’s trim levels, with similar gas mileage and content. The Honda Civic is $340 cheaper at the base trim level and has better gas mileage for gas-powered models; the Civic remains cheaper throughout the trim levels compared to the 2011 Jetta. The Corolla costs less than the Jetta throughout its trim levels. It’s also more fuel efficient (gas-powered models) and has similar content offerings compared to the Jetta.
