Worst review ever from Consumer Reports. Even if this guy thought the car was a s*itbox, he should have pointed out specific reasons why. I test drove one today and fell in love with it, and have decided it will be my next vehicle as soon as I find a gently used one with the mileage and options I want. I love the way it drives and handles and the interior is simple, classy, and European compared to its Japanese and American counterparts. I didn't notice too much body roll when I curved around the exit onto the highway. Plenty of room, even in the backseat and the overall shape is reminiscent of Audi. And it's one of those cars that looks so much better in person than in photos and on video. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent "volks", I guess.

Looks like this goon doesn't like the Jetta, huh? Well, I have one (2011 SE 2.5) and I'm absolutely happy about the car. No problems, 30 MpG average (I just LOVE the manual transmission - I'm Italian) and enough power to be fun to drive. Great handling and good grip, too. Don't turn down the rear drum brakes... They require a LOT less maintenance and work absolutely great. Two GREAT points that win hands down over the Corolla? SAFETY (It's extremely tough) and the rear leg room. Also, the trunk is huge.

This guy is high or something... either way these cars are great!!! I've test driven them and the handle way better than my old mk3 did. I currently own a 2013 and 2014 Golf with the same 2.5 engine and the are both very fun :D

I own a 2013 Jetta TDi and so far it seems great. It is really REALLY good on fuel. The steering feels tight and responsive. There isn't too much body roll at all. The grip is more of a cheap stock tire problem. Get better tires = fixed. My other car is a Honda Prelude Type SH that is supercharged and has Tien EDFC suspension , so I figure I know what the F I'm talking about. My wife and I both really love our TDi, and I would recommend it. See you at the gas station, or not....

Really ?lol..this guy is crazy..putting down jettas like there there the worst car...lol...come on now ..shaking my head 😕

is jetta 2011 and 2013 engine about same... If I get 2011 engine repair manual would it work for 2013 as well ?

which BMW did you have...

I'm owning a VW Jetta 2011. First Im happy with it but after few months, the signal stick's broken. And recently, I have another BIG problem. The ceiling next to my back doors pop out. I brought to the dealer at Yorkdale and they said "Oh it's like that, we have 10 cars like that and nothing we could do about it". I was like "WHAT??" I couldn't believe what I heard. Im so worried that theyll deny to fix it. Anyone has same prob? ..plz help. This's my 1st time having the car :(

the info center differ by the cars of jetta in some it is big near the speedo meter but some vary in size.............

I have a 2012 jetta se with almost 14000 miles. and i absolutely love it. i think it is fun to drive. good on gas and have even had people say it almost looks like an audi.

For 2014 they have the new 1.8T TSI (based on the 2.0T) replacing the 2.5L, gets 36mpg hwy on regular unleaded, IRS, electro hydralic steering and rear disc brakes. The car i'm leaning towards :)

Dam dude pretty harsh review, I own an SE 2.5 and its a pretty good car for the money, maintenance is included and it takes me from point A to point B better than any Corolla or any Civic I have ever driven!

Same here traded in my e 46 325 xi for a 2013 Jetta so far its been grate

That 2012 Ford Focus is a dream come true. I have one. Never looked back.

Really enjoy my 2012 GLI.

We have had no major problems with our Jetta since we bought it. Only 1 recall in 30 months and the trunk light shorted out & was fixed under warranty. This car is really quiet and my wife finally got used to the start up noise from a 5-cylinder. Absolute quiet on the freeway, so quiet you don't realize your doing 120 mph up Raton Pass on I- 25. Our dealer has been great and our next car will be a Volkswagen..

who looks at the trunk lid?

@cabrioglx Absolutely. And then in their "reviews" of the Elantra/Cruze, they mentioned NOTHING of the lackluster handling in both, and the ride quality of the Elantra. Of course in their quest to compare the old Jetta to the new one, they "forgot" the new jetta's ride/handling are still best in class.

I have the 2013 gli and handling is fantastic

I have a 2012 jetta se with convenience and sunroof. I absolutaly love my car. It accelerates great. Good fuel economy. And i think it looks great to. Almost like an audi in some ways. I also tinted my windows 18% to give it a really classy look. I don't understand some of these reviews. Like i said i really do love this car. Its awesome. And i came from a bmw.

Of all the new cars out there in this price range, this one looks more classic, runs faster, handles better, the workmanship is better, and you can SEE better! I've been out there for a couple weeks comparing, and this will be my next car. I can't believe this guy...

hopefully the new 1.4 TSI will make its way into the Jetta

The dealer where I live is selling this car at $25k starting price! (WTF) and they are also selling the previous Jetta as "Jetta Classic", for $18k (taxes already included), and the car has A/C, ABS + EBD, leather seats, Airbags, Allow wheels, power windows, power locks, power mirror, sun roof.... and it is know to have a very good driving and the engine is a 2.0 litres (they also offer the 1.8T). Why should I buy the new model when the previous is superior?.

Hmm. I've owend VWs all my life. The only problem I was disappointed in the trunk as the weight of it is considerably less than the MK4 and has no insulation. The faux leather is also quite disappointing. But aside from that, the 2013 SE is a good buy.

Reviewers hate this car and whine about its interior and drivetrain...living with this car is different. The TDI is a beautiful engine and in the Jetta its much better. Its fast, and gets great fuel economy, and Ive only driven it twice!

What he said is totally different to what other reports say.

The previous Jetta probably could have been a class leader now.

We get it; this guy hates the Jetta. I personally am a fan of it. The only con I can think about it is the harsh plastic interiors. People drive Jetta's for safety and that sporty, yet cute feel.

The truth. Vw made some backslides with the 12 Jetta. However. I have had a lot of Vws and Jettas and I have the 2012. Also I know how to drive VWs fast. The car is more than adequate for the person who is not driving on the limits. They should have not changes the rear suspension, steering but they are still fine. As far as the tranny the key to driving these cars is to use the manual side of the auto version. Quality and tolerances are above other imports and USA. Safety is A++. Good

Because you want a Golf with a trunk? :-) Seriously, I have a Jetta and a Rabbit... Couldn't be happier.

I just scrapped mine for a focus

A Civic and a focus just blows this one away

@tuolumne9 They complain more bc the old Jetta was a class leader in interior quality and materials. VW went backwards and thats why they complain, its completely legit reasons. The new Jetta isn't even that cheap when you equip it with the necessities. A well equipped SE model cost $21 grand or the same as an EX civic but the Jetta lacks a sunroof and alloys. VW also went back to rear drum brakes and got rid of the independent rear suspension. Its not just the cheap interior they screwed up.

I should have waited a few weeks and got the 2014

If you want a quality, brand new Jetta, the Jetta wagen still hangs around. It's based off the Golf, so it isnt cheap and drives much better.

FYI: The cheap interior is gone for 2013 the SEL has soft touch dash, and in Canada independent rear suspension, discs are standard now, the SE has alloys and the sunroof is an option. Civics suck, corollas suck

Cool

Well, looks like nobody is taking this review, if you can call it that, seriously; Jetta sales are through the roof. Seems like customers are ok with the "compromised handling". Seriously, this review lost every ounce of credibility when they complained about the handling (and the trunk lining). Give me a break - the 2011 Jetta handles better than just about any other car in this segment, save the new Focus. The torsion beam rear axle? A B5 A4/passat have one too, 2 fine cars for "handling",

Lets see.. I have owned VW since 1986 and have owned more than 35 cars mostly MKII . The best VW engine was the 1.8l folloowed by the 2.0l which i have in my 2013 Jetta Comfortline. BTW after 137,000 kms i am finally changing my water pump, timing belt,(kit) $135.00 and my Radiator. Other than that bupkus . Oh oil changes & filter (wix,Mann) only every 12,000kms. Yes the car is cheap inside but fun to drive because when you own VW you drive manual not Auto. 5 thumbs down to Consumer Report. My other cars is a Phaeton, EOS,TDI.

I'm with all the other VW owners. Just bought a used 2.5 SE and I couldn't be happier! Handles AWESOME! Seriously I make excuses to go out and drive it, the engine sounds so... Muscular??? Interior is a little cheapened, but who's gonna be feeling up the dash? Any way, before you listen to this douche go out and test drive one! I promise you won't be disappointed!

he just ripped that jetta a new a hole

Am I the only one who really doesn't like listening to Consumer Reports reviews? I am a huge car enthusiast and don't really see and feel all the things they b*tch and complain about. I test drive a car almost every week and just recently test drove a 2012 Jetta TDI with the 6 speed manual. The clutch did take some getting used to. I thought highly of the design and the materials used. There is nothing wrong with harder plastics (most people aren't going to intentionally smash their faces against the dash, expecting it not to hurt). I think the Consumer Reports' comparisons are unjust, overlooked, and think too much. It's like they try to search for every flaw (no matter how small) in the vehicle and that's their main focus and try to exacerbate (to make worse) it, making the vehicle undesirable.

Comsumer reports just spent an entire review comparing the new Jetta to the old Jetta. What's the logic in that? The interior materials are no worse then their beloved Corolla, Civic or Mazda3. Wow - somebody(ies) at CR really have it out for VW. They always have.

I think this guy woke up on the wrong side of the bed

American car manufactures hired this guy... or just maybe his wife fell in Love with all the VW's she saw at her last vacation at Ocean City..and she's still there waiting for H2Oi 2014.... buhahahah.....

i have never owned a Jetta and this is just my opinion/observation. i have had two 2.0L and a 2.5L Jetta for loaner while my Tiguan is in for service. i was shocked to see how not German the new Jetta is, i concord with pretty much everything CR said in the video. Cheap plastics, dial feel, handling etc. while the GLi is a lot better, it is still not what i would expect from a VW. i believe VW had made changes to the 2014 Jetta, independent rear suspension is back. hopefully nicer interior soon

at my high school all the kids own jetta's and think the're the shit............mean while im eating them up on the highway with my impala ss

Ouch

@xoquixxoqafxo that's why mom has a 2010 Jetta and I'm getting the 2012 Focus!! You suck Volkswagen for taking away the awesome old Jetta!!!

@xoquixxoqafxo So in other words, Volkswagen's are held to a higher standard than a comparable Toyota or Honda. Could you imagine if this Jetta had a Toyota badge on it and was labeled the '12 Corolla? CR would be gushing about how improved the design is, how much the driving experience has improved. It's only because VW set such high expectations for itself that when it truly releases a car that competes with the Civic and Corolla, you get amateurish and nonsensicle reviews like in this video

Found a much better review if anyone is interested by autobytel for a 2012 Jetta SEL. Just search the KZfaq :D

@xoquixxoqafxo That's absurd. Please compare the vehicle to other competitors, not the pricier car it replaced. So the '11 doesn't have audi/mercedes levels of interior quality anymore - like ANY of the Asian competitors do! But of course the standards for them are different - they seem to get a pass for malaise, safe, anonymous styling, inside and out, with Fisher Price interior quality AT BEST, I'm so tired of the transparent double standard the American press uses in judging VWs new products.

I would rather have a Golf TDI.

i own a mkiv jetta 1.8t and i will definitely not be buying a mkvi jetta. totally abandoned the look and feel of a tight, well built german car. very disappointed. looks like the gti is my pick now!

Why buy a Jetta when you can buy a Golf ?

man VW really fucked up this Jetta.

fugley

He is not lying! I have this car and I regret buying this piece of crap! The car has major technical issues.

I don’t see or hear anything wrong with The Jetta.... He must not like VW.

@xoquixxoqafxo and who would buy this over a Hyundai Elantra or Sonata? Nobody's laughing at Hyundai anymore.

I just rented a 2012 Jetta SE and WOW was I disappointed!!! I have been a Jetta fan since the mid 1990s and this car was complete garbage. I seriously have never been so disappointed in a car in my life.

This dude is a Ford guy or worse he only knows about getting from point A to point B in a Chevy Equinox!!!

This is not a review, more like reasons to hate the jetta!

Wow this has to be a joke.

German technology falling apart!!

Drum brakes on 2011 car = FAIL

This review is a waste of time. Most of all of Consumer Reports reviews are a waste of time. This guy just can't seem to find anything good about this Jetta. The VW Jetta is a great little car!

Redesigned Jetta was a total failure

I have had this car for 6 years and I agree 100% with the review. Cheap piece of crap.

Who would buy this junk over a new 2012 Focus?

consumer reports never met a Toyota they didn't like. How did they miss all the problems with the Prius and other models. consumer reports reporting is biased , very inaccurate and mostly useless.

As mentioned above, yes the negativity is highly justified. The amount of cheapness is a depressing direction for VW. The engines are the same but materials quality plunged whilst the cost savings are very little.

Honda civic or corolla over this junker

Fake Review

omg, this guy bashed the jetta so hard that his review lost credibility. Awful review and quite boring.

crap

This guy is clueless, CR should be embarrassed by this garbage review. Amazing what they think is such a disappointment is outselling the previous version in spades. But what does the buying public know? LOL

this new jetta is the new epitome of boring. cheap crap if you ask me. hell, i'd rather get a hyundai or a Kia, which rather stands out in this segment.

this is cheap made all plastic mexican jetta for us markert nothing in this car stands out with competition this is not golf its a cheapen out jetta

VW... If you're trying to take Kia's place at the bottom, CONGRATULATIONS!!