VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.6/1.9 TDI

Volkswagen’s second model for India, the Jetta, is like a mini-Passat. Now that means it looks and is built like a peacetime battle-tank (whatever that means) and rides and handles like its bigger sibling too. Well, almost. What it has and the Passat doesn’t it s petrol engine option. The Jetta’s 1.6 is just a token effort to get more people into showrooms. It is feeble compared to the Japanese competition and is fairly under-speced too. The diesel 1.9 however is a different animal and is torque, frugal and decent fun to drive. VW clearly knows what its strength is, which is why the turbo-diesel Jetta comes with more options that should please its prospective customers. What goes for the Jetta Vis-à-vis the Japanese cars in its league is its ride quality, build quality and the VW badge. But the real tragedy is that it competes with its own cousin, the Skoda Laura.
AUTODATA:
Engine: 1596cc, 1-4/ 1896cc, TD
Transmission: 5-speed manual/ 6-speed auto.
Power (bhp@rpm): 100.5@ 5600.
Torque (kgm@rpm): 25.5@ 1900.
Dimensions:
LxWxH (mm): 4554x1781x1459
Wheelbase: 2578mm
What’s it got: all the strong VW attributes.
What it ain’t: Exciting, high revving, light Japanese nature.
Anything else? The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and of course, the Skoda Laura.