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10 Things You Need to Know About the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Christian Wardlaw
by Christian Wardlaw
February 13, 2016
5 min. Reading Time
ABTL 2016 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium Profile Action ・  Photo by Volkswagen of America

ABTL 2016 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium Profile Action ・ Photo by Volkswagen of America

Volkswagen sells two family-friendly sedans, each sized between traditional segments in order to provide an extra measure of value to consumers. The smaller and more popular model is the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, and though six years have elapsed since the Jetta’s last complete redesign, the car has enjoyed a steady program of improvement to ensure that it remains a compelling alternative to a range of compact and midsize family cars.

For the 2016 model year, the consistent honing of the Jetta’s talents continues with the installation of a new turbocharged engine in the base model, updated infotainment systems, and important new safety features. Volkswagen has also done away with its free maintenance program, which the automaker has been quietly phasing out since 2014. Also, as you might have heard, the Jetta TDI with the turbodiesel engine is taking an extended vacation while VW figures out how to make it comply with emissions regulations.

If you’re interested in learning more about the 2016 Jetta, what follows are the 10 most important things to know about this conservative but entirely satisfying automobile.

1) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Affordable

Let’s assume that you have no plans to row your own gears, and you want the least expensive 2016 Jetta you can buy. Equip the Jetta S with an automatic transmission, and the price tag is $19,600. That’s not bad for a car that can legitimately serve as useful family transportation for many years.

Of course, you’ll probably want to upgrade to SE, Sport, SEL, or SEL Premium trim in order to obtain a Jetta with more equipment. Volkswagen also offers the Jetta in racy GLI and efficient Hybrid trim, and when you add all of the factory options to a Jetta Hybrid, the price remains below $32,000. That’s well below what the average American spent on a new set of wheels in 2015.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

2) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Dependable

Lots of people think Volkswagens are prone to trouble, and while the Jetta hasn’t proven itself quite as dependable as some competitors, it certainly is more reliable than several others.

Since 2011, when the latest version of the Jetta first debuted, the car has received favorable overall ratings from Consumer Reports, with most owner complaints related to the car’s power equipment. Speaking from personal experience, a family member of mine bought a Jetta over two years ago and the car has been absolutely trouble-free, requiring no more than routine maintenance.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

3) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Safe

Volkswagen has added a new post-collision braking system to the 2016 Jetta. This technology brings the car to a halt just as soon as is possible following an initial collision, with the goal of eliminating or minimizing secondary collisions. It is standard for all models.

Unavailable for the Jetta S, optional for the Jetta SE, and standard on other variants, Car-Net subscription services include several helpful safety features. Automatic collision notification and emergency calling are available, along with speed and boundary alerts that are perfect for parents with teenaged drivers in the house. After an initial free trial, a paid subscription is necessary to use these features.

Several versions of the Jetta are offered with adaptive headlights, which bend illumination to help the driver to see around dark corners at night. Upgrade to the Jetta SEL or SEL Premium in order to purchase the new Driver Assistance option package, which installs adaptive cruise control, a blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. The blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems are standard for the Jetta GLI SEL model.

In crash tests performed by the federal government, the Jetta earns an overall rating of 5 stars, which is the highest number possible. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the 2016 Jetta a Top Safety Pick and, when equipped with the Driver Assistance package, the rating is Top Safety Pick+.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

4) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Entertaining

Volkswagens are entertaining to drive, and thanks to new infotainment systems debuting for 2016, that observation applies in more ways than one.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link smartphone projection technologies debut for 2016, transforming the Jetta’s touchscreen infotainment display into a facsimile of your device’s screen. In theory, this helps make it easier to access smartphone functions and applications in a less distracted way. I’ve used the Jetta’s Apple CarPlay system, and it is remarkably intuitive – until something doesn’t work the way you expect it to. Then, it is distracting.

Volkswagen also offers a Fender premium sound system for the Jetta, and it sounds terrific.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

5) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Comfortable

Sized between traditional compact and midsize sedans, the Jetta is very comfortable for four adults, and five people can fit for shorter trips.

Front seat height adjusters ensure excellent thigh support and a taller seating hip point, and generous door openings make it easy to get into and out of a Jetta. A center armrest is available, one that slides and ratchets up for optimum comfort. Unfortunately, the Jetta’s upper door panels are rendered in hard plastic, even on the most expensive variants of the car.

Rear seating is equally comfortable, and the Jetta’s more formal roofline makes it easy to enter and exit the car. Legroom and foot room are commendable. A family of four will be happy inside of a Volkswagen Jetta.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

6) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Commodious

Family road trips are easy to take with a Jetta. The trunk is huge, measuring 15.7 cu.-ft. That amounts to more than a typical midsize sedan, let alone the compact models that typically compete with the Jetta.

Additionally, the cube-shaped space is perfectly configured for hauling a maximum number of your things. In this photo, it is easy to see a full-size suitcase rolled forward, leaving space for a compact folding stroller between the luggage and the trunk lid.

Some versions of the car have a rear seat pass-through, which allows four people and long items to be carried simultaneously. The rear seat also folds down to increase utility.

Notably, Volkswagen supplies places to grab the inner trunk lid on both sides of car, making it easy to slam the lid from either side of the vehicle without getting one’s hands dirty in the process.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

7) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Turbocharged

Every engine offered for the 2016 Jetta is turbocharged, providing each model with a broad torque curve and plenty of muscle even in cities at elevation, such as Denver, Colorado.

The new standard engine is a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder making 150 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. It represents a massive improvement over the previous 115-horse engine, and is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine is standard for the Jetta S and SE models.

Jetta Sport, SEL, and SEL Premium models have a more powerful 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard for the Sport. A 6-speed automatic is optional for the Sport, and standard for the SEL and SEL Premium.

A performance-tuned version of the Jetta, the GLI features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 210 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. A 6-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a 6-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) optional. The DSG is an automated manual transmission.

Jetta Hybrid models combine a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric assist motor and a battery pack to produce a combined 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The only transmission is a 7-speed DSG.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

8) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Efficient

Many car companies tout turbocharging as a way to deliver maximum fuel economy without a loss of performance, but most automakers fall short of the mileage promise. In my experience, Volkswagen is not one of them, able to deliver impressive efficiency combined with effortless acceleration.

According to the EPA, the 2016 Jetta will get between 27 mpg and 33 mpg in combined driving, depending on the trim level, engine, and transmission. The Jetta GLI is the thirstiest model, while the Jetta S/SE with a manual gearbox is the thriftiest.

These figures do not include the Jetta Hybrid, of course, which is rated to get 44 mpg in combined driving.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

9) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Fun

Imbued with German driving dynamics, the Jetta features sharp and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and a communicative suspension that simultaneously provides a compliant ride quality. From behind the steering wheel, this car feels light, engaging, and enjoyable to drive.

For a more athletic Jetta, try the GLI model and install the optional summer performance tires. In addition to its more powerful engine, this version has a sport suspension, larger front brakes, and bigger wheels, all designed to deliver improved handling. Larger seat bolsters and a flat-bottom steering wheel help the driver to take advantage of the GLI’s enhanced performance capabilities.

 Photo by Volkswagen of America

Photo by Volkswagen of America

10) The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is Sophisticated

Often overlooked, the Jetta Hybrid has a sophisticated gas-electric hybrid powertrain. It pairs a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, an electric motor, a battery pack, a 7-speed DSG, and regenerative braking to maximize mileage while maintaining performance. The main downside to this version of the Jetta is that trunk space shrinks to 11.3 cu.-ft.

Electric mode is the default powertrain setting, powering the car up to 37 mph under light acceleration, and capable of traveling a mile without engaging the gasoline engine. An E-Mode drive setting allows more aggressive throttle inputs and speeds up to 44 mph using nothing but electricity.

A Boost mode allows the drivetrain to make its maximum 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque for passing, or when the driver has selected the transmission Sport mode or is shifting manually.

When braking, the gasoline engine decouples from the drivetrain and the vehicle maximizes its ability to capture kinetic energy and to recharge the battery pack. When coasting, the engine also decouples to reduce drivetrain drag and to maximize efficiency.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen


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