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Saloon
The Jetta may not have the ultimate practicality of the VW Golf hatchback it’s based on, but the saloon does have some advantages. Rear passengers get a better deal, for a start: it’s easier to get into the Jetta’s rear seats and there’s plenty of the room in the back.
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You also get the same sort of boot space you’d find in a Ford Mondeo - it’s massive - although it could be better shaped and there’s quite a high load lip. There's plenty of room up front, too, the steering adjusts for rake and reach, and the driver’s seat is height-adjustable. Quality is impressive, as are safety and security, but, like many cars of the era, the thick front A-pillars create a slight blind spot. Other than its body, perhaps the biggest difference over the Golf is that the Jetta has stiffer suspension. That means it handles very well, although the ride is slightly firm ride around town.
Running Costs
The Jetta may have a premium image, but the insurance costs are reasonable. Even the high-performance, 197bhp, 2.0-litre turbo is rated in group 15, which is two groups lower than the Golf GTI, even though the Jetta is pretty much as fast. Both, for the record, are rated at 35.3mpg. The most economical Jetta is the 53.3mpg 1.9 TDI, but the 2.0-litre is not far behind, returning an impressive 48.7mpg. The entry-level 1.6-litre petrol returns 40.9mpg and is the cheapest of the lot to insure with a group 6 rating. Like the Golf, the Jetta has variable service intervals, so the way you drive could save you money. Look after your car and it could run to 15,000 miles before needing servicing. Servicing costs are pretty similar to what you’ll pay for the Golf. Neither are as cheap to look after as the Jetta's Volvo S40 saloon rival, though. The Swedish car is also marginally more economical and, due to its depreciation, less expensive to buy second-hand.