Every now and then an auto company manages to sneak in a new model, under the radar, which does just about everything right. Members of this low-profile clan, in my opinion, include the likes of Kia's Koup, Fiat's Bravo and the subject of this review - VW's 90kW 1.4 Jetta TSI.
The current Jetta is not new to the local market by any stretch of the imagination and in fact the next-generation version is due for local introduction around this time in 2011. What is new, though, is the introduction of the 1.4 TSI engine (and the common-rail TDI engines) into the range earlier in 2010.
These are the same latest-generation engines found in other VW products such as the Golf and Polo. Along with the engine introduction the Jetta has been tweaked with new exterior colours, interior trim, alloy wheels and standard multi-function steering wheels. Spec levels were also revised to include Trendline, Comfortline and Highline (which replaces the previous Sportline variant).
The 90kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine on test here is already celebrated in that it's the same as in the current South African Car of the Year, the VW Golf 1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline. It's also a sibling to the current and two-times overall International Engine of the Year winner, the 1.4 TSI twincharged (turbocharged and supercharged) engine.
On paper it doesn't sound like anything spectacular. It pushes a modest 90kW and 200Nm, with VW's claimed figures promising 9.5sec for the 0-100 sprint, a top-end of 200km/h and average consumption of 6.2 litres/100km.
Sprint times at our test facility near Pretoria seemed to just about agree, with our VBox recording 10.1 secs in the 0-100. Our consumption hovered around nine litres/100km, including performance testing, but in ordinary commuting we managed to get it down to as low as 6.9.
But it's really the overall package and execution which brings me back to the underrated-ness of this Jetta. OK, the looks are more Johannesburg Stock Exchange than Camps Bay, but you can see the designers were let out their cage with those flashy (sorry, couldn't resist) LED tail lights - with indicators in the centre of the ring-style brake lights.
The Golf-esque headlights are also not too bad - but that's pretty much as excited as the designers were allowed to get.
The driving experience is a whole different story, though. I expected the turbo'd 1.4 to struggle a little pulling that bigger C-segment body around - boot space alone is (a class leading) 572 litres. But it's very, very much the opposite.
That engine is cheerleader-perky, its traction-control light flashing even with the smallest of first-gear outbursts - there's no turbo-lag worth mentioning either.
And it's found its lifelong partner in that six-speed manual gearbox. Gear changes are quick, effortless and just about buttermilk-smooth - I'd be hard-pressed to recommend the optional seven-speed double clutch system over it.
TOP-NOTCH BUILD QUALITY
Ride and handling are just as convincing, with the Jetta offering sharp handling and an engaging drive - thanks largely to a well-sorted chassis. Even the electric power steering, which I expected to disappoint, was lively with very decent feedback. Overall let's call it family man meets petrolhead then.
Like most of VW's products, build quality in the Jetta is also top notch. Our test unit felt solid to drive and was rattle free. The ride was soft and handled bumps without breaking a sweat.
Interior space also felt above average, with the driver's seat plush and most comfortable (the heated seats, standard with the optional leather, were very welcome with the cold weather). The back seats and rear legroom, it must be said, are both very adult-friendly too.
My only gripe was the R28 860 optional satnav. Firstly, that's a ridiculous amount of money to spend on navigation when for a fifth of the price you could get a top-of- the-range hand-held unit. And secondly, in this case its touch screen wasn't user-friendly enough - it seemed to have a delay in comprehending an instruction, leading to repeated key-strokes.
VERDICT
I can't help but think of Thomas - the little tank engine that sang "I think I can, I think I can" - when summing up the gutsy little engine in this family-sized sedan. It really is a beaut and, combined with the solid handling and top-shelf fit and finish of the Jetta, makes for a really impressive (and underrated) package.
At R239 900 (for the Comfortline spec) I'd avoid the expensive options and simply sign on the dotted line.