2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Volkswagen Jetta overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, and includes safety, reliability, and fuel economy information for the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta.

For 2011, the Jetta may finally become the affordable American car Volkswagen always dreamed it would be. And it just may cost them, some in sales and even more in loyalty.

The base S trim, a stripped-down version that does not even have A/C or a radio, will have a base price of $15,995. That’s almost $3,000 cheaper than the 2010 base S trim, which was almost $1,500 less than the base S trim from 2009. Company officials hope that by going with a more basic car, they can capture an American buyer who, in a worldwide economic slump, might otherwise try to squeeze another year out of the car they currently own. Many other changes await; you’ll want to pay close attention.

First, the good news. The 2011 Jetta is no longer based on the Golf platform. The platform for the sedan is brand new and the sheet metal is redone. The Jetta sedan is indeed larger, and with a length of 182.7 inches and a width of 70.1 inches, it is around 3 ½ inches longer than the 2010 models. Inside, that gives an extra 2.5 inches of legroom, all while having a new curb weight that is almost 100 pounds lighter. Also on the plus side are standard one-touch windows throughout. So far, so good.

Now, for some not-so-good news. On the base Jetta S and SE, you get rear-drum brakes, not disc brakes, and those are attached to a torsion beam suspension. More noticeable, however, is the lack of a front fascia that remotely resembles a fine-tuned, well-built European sports car. The front grille and design are, simply put, flat and unimpressive, and that is intentional. Rather than going after Acura or Lexus, Volkswagen has redefined its Jetta so it appeals more to American and Chinese audiences, and that means aiming further down the food chain, at the Toyota Corolla and the Kia Forte, to be precise. Knock around the inside and you will find a cheaper, hollow dashboard with knobs and touches that are more plastic than solid.

Other disappointments include the elimination of the trip computer (offered as an option on the SE and higher). No leather is offered anywhere, and almost everything else that used to be standard is now optional or gone (for now, we guess). Further, all 2011 Jettas sedans will return to standard all-season (instead of performance) tires.

Not interested in the new and improved Jetta? If you are longing for the Jetta of yore, namely 2010, the Sportwagen trims remain the same: same platform, same trims and same options as last year. Enthusiasts need not go looking elsewhere, since VW Jetta wagons have always been more sporty and sedan-like than they are station wagon.

Welcome to the all new Jetta!

Trims available for 2011 for the new sedan include the S, SE, SEL and TDI (turbo diesel). For the Sportwagen, the same trims from 2010 – S, SE, TDI and a TDI with DSG (Dual Shift Gearbox, a specialized automatic transmission) – will again be available for 2011.

The base S sedan trim is an odd combination of minimalism (no A/C, manual doors) and creature comforts (one-touch windows). Go up just about $800 and you can get an S trim that adds A/C, power windows and mirrors, anti-lock brakes, cloth upholstery, stability control, AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input, keyless entry, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.

The SE, starting at $18,955, adds 16-inch steel wheels, vinyl seats, floor mats, integrated turn signals, cruise control, illuminated vanity mirrors, chrome interior trim and a rear center armrest. Volkswagen is hoping this will be their bestselling new sedan trim for 2011. (So, why did they go with a stripped-down base trim under $16K?)

The Convenience Package for the SE adds $1,350 to the price and gives you 16-inch aluminum wheels, heated seats, satellite radio, two additional speakers, iPod, Bluetooth, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. For a few dollars more ($1,250, to be exact), you can also get a sunroof and a touchscreen stereo with a 6-disc changer and SD card reader.

The SEL starts at $22,155 and comes with everything on the SE and in the Convenience Package, plus 17-inch aluminum wheels, touchscreen navigation system, chrome exterior trim, fog lights, 4-wheel disc brakes and keyless start. Add a sunroof for $900. Add the Sport Package, which will add $1,600 to the price, and you will get stiffer suspension tuning (though still through a torsion beam arrangement), sport seats and aluminum pedals. Honestly, we can’t say the SEL, with or without the Sport Package, is worth the money.

Starting at $23,755, the TDIs will get rear disc brakes and all the equipment standard on the SE, and in the Convenience Package. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard but DSG can be had for an extra $1,100.

For the Sportwagens, the base S starts at $19,825 and includes standard 16-inch steel wheels with performance tires, heated mirrors and washer nozzles, A/C, cruise control, keyless entry, tilt-and-telescoping steering column, eight-way-adjustable front seats with power recline, heated front seats, a 60/40-split rear seat and an eight-speaker stereo with a single-CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The Jetta SE wagon adds a rear-seat armrest, a 10-speaker stereo with 6-CD changer and satellite radio. The Sportwagen TDI is equipped similarly to the Sportwagen SE, and adds a trip computer.

The base engine, not seen since the fourth generation of the Jetta, is once again a 2.0L inline-4, rated at 115 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 122 pound-feet of torque. This engine is standard on the S sedan. Standard for the SE and the SEL sedans, and on the S and SE wagons, is the very powerful 2.5L inline-5 engine, rated again at 170 hp at 5700 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque. The inline-5, unique to Volkswagen, is a capable engine that combines the efficiency of a 4-cylinder with the get-up-and-go of a 6-cylinder.

The TDI trims, both sedan and Sportwagen, will get a 2.0L inline-4 turbo, rated at 140 hp at 4000 rpm and an even more powerful 236 lb-ft of torque.

All sedan trims will get a standard 5-speed manual transmission with an optional 5-speed automatic. The base Sportwagen S trim comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and optional 6-speed automatic. The SE Sportwagen, however, will get a 6-speed automatic transmission only, while all TDIs will get a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional Volkswagen 6-speed DSG, which is a twin (or dual) clutch “automated” transmission.

All are Front Wheel Drive only. All trims except the TDIs can also come as a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle), which means that it has zero evaporative emissions from its fuel system and meets the SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) tailpipe emissions standard. The PZEV (sometimes seen as “CA / NE”) designation is of particular importance to California residents.

Fuel-economy estimates for the base S engine are 24 mpg city / 34 mpg highway for the manual version and 23 mpg city /32 mpg highway for the automatic. For the TDIs, estimated mileage is an impressive 30 mpg city / 42 mpg highway.

Note: the GTI, while starting life as a Jetta, is considered a separate model and is not covered here, but you really should check it out if you are into power and performance. The 2011 models come with a 2.0L inline-4 offering 200 horses.

Standard safety equipment is admittedly not what it was just a year ago. The 2011 Jetta sedans get front and side airbags, and as you go up the chain, more and more features become available. You’ll need to check the safety list closely, as it does not contain much if you are buying below the magic $16,000 mark.

As for the Sportwagens, standard safety equipment includes ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, front side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, rear head airbags, front and side airbag supplemental restraints, Side Curtain Protection, brake assist, an emergency trunk release, tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lights and child safety locks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet rated the 2011 Jetta. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, the Jetta Sportwagens received the highest rating of Good for frontal offset and side crash protection. Consumer Reports gave last year’s 2010 Jetta high overall ratings, while J.D. Power and Associates has not provided any guidance concerning the 2011 Jetta.

Proceed with caution. The all-new Jetta sedan gets high marks for performance in the low-priced car category, and despite its trending lower, Volkswagen couldn’t completely remove the excellence that made the Jetta one of the bestselling cars in America. VW’s efforts to be a car for all reasons, however, may have cheapened the brand, though it’s too soon to tell. The Jetta S, SE, and SEL sedans will go on sale in early October, while the TDI won’t arrive until late November. If you like Jettas and want a new one, get a Sportwagen. You won’t pay that much more for a lot more quality in the Jetta tradition. As for the all-new sedans, we’re taking a wait-and-see approach. This effort by the German automotive powerhouse could be a stroke of genius, or something along the lines of New Coke. We suspect, however, that it won’t be long before VW returns to its roots – and price structure.