2011 Volkswagen Jetta Gets $500 Price Increase

The S-trimmed Jetta now starts at $16,495 instead of $15,995, not including a $770 destination charge. That’s still $1,800 cheaper than the 2010 Jetta. The S trim comes with a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The S has standard air conditioning, a four-speaker sound system, power locks and windows, keyless entry, heated power side mirrors, cloth seats and 15-inch steel wheels. A six-speed automatic transmission is a $1,100 option.

The redesigned Jetta is an effort by the German automaker to make a car that’s more accessible to mainstream buyers. A majority of Jetta trims feature a more powerful engine and more equipment. However, in a recent compact-car price comparison, the Volkswagen Jetta was the most expensive model in our test group when popularly equipped.

There’s also a sub-S-trimmed Jetta, which used to start at $14,995 but now costs $15,365, which is a $370 increase. That model doesn’t include air conditioning, a radio or power mirrors. It’s not heavily marketed by Volkswagen. All other Jetta trims retain the 2011 pricing structure the new model launched with.