Used 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

Great Value

As this is my 4th VW, I thought I knew of all the features this car offered but several time with the past 2 weeks of ownership I've found new features that my Rabbit did not have. Performance, comfort, features and free maint for 36K miles cannot be beat.

Nice car when its not in service dept

I've had this car a month and its been in VW service for half of that time with three different episodes of having the check engine light on (oxygen sensor replaced, EGR gasket replaced, software update). I suspect they disconnected the check engine light after the last time... I've also had the windshield cracked by a rock... When I can drive the car its been very good. The fuel economy is astounding - 40 mpg in mixed driving 47-50 on the highway. Interior is very nice with high quality materials and finish for this class of car. Touch screen stereo is nice. Large trunk. The car overall seems very solid and the handling is first rate. Bluetooth has been funky - after one call it shuts off.

TDI Jetta: Awful Brakes! 23MPG Total

Beware, as the TDI Diesel engine is Heavy, causing this car to Brake horribly. I have had 3 slow driving near misses due to braking being massively delayed. Folks these brakes are the worst I have ever driven. 23 MPG combined, you can call this good, but forget about all these 40 and 50MPG FALSE CLAIMS.

Lesson learned

This car was fun to drive once you were moving. The DSG transmission was jerky and sometimes would scare the daylights out of us because it was clunk when downshifting. The interior smelled funny from the day we bought it until the day we traded it in. The VW dealer said this is the proper operation of the car. As far as the smell, the dealer did an AC service to "clean" the system months after getting it and then it smelled like cleaner - which was better than the other smell. Once the cleaner smell started to fade the original smell was returning. Very unhappy - would never buy another VW again.

Great buy

I baught this car in 2019 with 85k miles on it. I drive for lyft&uber . I put 50k miles in one year and not a single repair.

Not happy with reliability

I bought a 2010 model Sportwagon TDI in January 2011. Last model available on clearance sale. It is the fully loaded one with the huge sunroof and all the goodies. DSG transmission. Had it 3 and half years it has 70K on in and this is the list of problems I have had. Sun roof problem Injector failure Injector wire harness failure Transmission cap broke and leaked tranny fluid out. Now the AC went out this weekend The transmission is extremely expensive to do regular maintenance on. I would only recommend a stick shift to anyone buying a VW TDI.

Norm from Mississauga

I have a 2011 Golf Sportswagen (Jetta in U.S.A.) and knew precisely what I was getting into. I was aware of the DSG problems that have been fixed . I knew that these were perhaps the finest seats that you can get in a car because I have a very bad back and these seats were the tonic. I loaded up the options list because I travel a lot each year - about 60,000 miles per because we have a home just north of Maine and I drive about 16 hours at a stretch. My only complaints have been the trim seals for the rear doors that were fixed under warranty. Other than that I knew to get a mid cycle refresh model so that all the bugs were worked out.

A Lot of Car For Your Money!

I have owned this car for about 2 weeks ago and I've been really enjoying it. I had a Hyundai Sonata SE V6 before this and the gas mileage was pretty dismal (around 22 mpg combined). Now with this car I am getting about 30 mpg combined which really benefits as gas prices are going up and my commute got longer. The ride is comfortable even for a sports suspension. Going over rocks or bumps doesn't rattle the car, it stays sturdy. The car is fast, that is for sure. The 200 horsepower direct injection 2.0 L turbo engine is outstanding and it really takes off at about 2,000 rpm. The interior is very well laid out, seems like a much more expensive car inside. Get out and look at this car!

More diesel, please!

I decided to give up the commuter/family mover (Prius) in favor of the inspired driving characteristics, superior cargo room, and better looks of the JSW. Not wanting to give up on the efficiency, however, made the decision for the TDI flavor much more of a "need" than a "want". Well worth the premium price. I often find myself forgetting when the last time I refueled. The interior treatment is far superior to the JSW's competition, with excellent audio/entertainment accompaniments and vastly superior quality of materials/workmanship. Cargo hauling is also a big plus; after moving our household, I can attest to the versatility of having a wagon vice a sedan, or an mpg nightmare (SUVs).

So far so good

I bought a 2010 Jetta S about a month ago and I enjoy driving so far. Driving is not as smooth as 2010 Camry but I prefer this design to Toyota or Honda cars. The car is also slim, which makes it easy to park in my narrow garage. The car has a weight to it which I like. Even the doors and trunk are heavier than Toyota cars, which makes it safer. Overall, it is a very safe and fun car. I wish I had gotten SE instead of S. S has cloth seats and I prefer leatherlike seats and an upgraded interior touch screen.

6 Months with '10 Jetta TDI

First, the good: the car is very fun to drive, the interior compares with much higher priced cars and the fuel economy is good. The, bad: two "campaigns" within 6 months, oil leak, sway bar (common problem I've read) and lower control arm bushings (common problem I've read) all replaced. Now, it's leaking diesel after 18,500 miles and just about six months. There is a problem with some of the high pressure fuel pumps failing. Hopefully, this is not a precursor of the failure for me. I loved the car at first, but service at the dealers is poor and VW customer service is less than helpful. Be forewarned about the high pressure fuel pump failure and poor service from dealers

Frustration!

Bought the TDI Sportswagen manual trans because it was a good looking little car with nice styling and good fuel mileage. Car can't stay out of the shop! In the first 25 days of owning it has been back twice for multi-day stays in the dealership service dept. Dealer is trying hard but the car has mechanical problems. VW just isn't building reliable cars. Spent good money and didn't get good quality.

A combination of Corolla, BMW and Lexus

The inside is luxurious with lots of fine touch. Windows keep on closing even when the ignition is turned off. With the engine off the excellent radio can be turned on. The trunk closes without crashing the contents. This is the first car that I enjoy just taking

Still love this 10.5-year-old car

Update: I've had the fix. I’ve noticed no performance changes. To my amazement, mileage seems a bit better. I had expected the opposite. Add in the remarkable extended warranty and I'm sure I made the right choice. I still love the car. BTW, to me it seems to ride and handle better than the 2018 Sportwagen. I don't know if that's better suspension, tires, or ? My 20 10 car is also more refined. The quiet little beep for locking the doors contrasted to the modern deafening blast, the interior lights that dim on and off, heated seats -- all in all the 2010 feels more like a luxury compact while the new one screams "economy." I would really love to have the modern driver aids, but at this point I wouldn't trade the car. It’s now 9/8/2020. Edmunds has asked for another update. As I get older I drive less and less. At the 10.5 year point I have put only 90,000 miles on it, mainly because I’ve remained locked in my house during the Covid 19 pandemic. My opinion is still the same. The car is a delight to drive with a ton of diesel torque when I want to play, handles and feels like a luxury sport car and still great economy — around 35 in town and 45 on the road. Economy seems very susceptible to headwinds and cold temperatures, like any small, light car I suppose. It feels like and is a small car, but the ride and space are more like a midsize SUV. I’m very sorry to hear that VW has discontinued the Sportwagen. It’s sad because in a few years drivers will probably be demanding wagons again. In case you couldn’t tell, I really dislike SUVs and crossovers. They don’t ride as well or handle as well. I love the maneuverability and short turn radius driving in the city and speed and luxurious ride on the highway. One surprising thing to me about my car has been its reliability. It has actually been more reliable than the Japanese cars I have owned: two Hondas, a Toyota and a Datsun (Nissan). I’m surprised to see that at 90,000 miles, mostly stop and go driving in the city, my brakes are nowhere close to needing their first replacement. Overall, my opinion hasn’t changed. The car looks and drives like new inside and out. I’d still love some driver aids, but I haven’t seen or experienced another car I would trade this TDI for. My current guess is that I will never trade it. But never is a long time. I am 82 years old now. During the past year the Check Engine Light came on, requiring a new oxygen sensor which was covered under the new warranty. Otherwise,the car continues to be dependable and fun to drive. I still have no plans to trade it.

NOT meeting Expectation

2010 Jetta TDI rated 42 on the road and getting 38 on the road. MPG indicator always reads higher than actual MPG. Fun to drive...MPG does not meet implied MPG. Car will lope and/or miss fire dealer finds nothing and has no way to correct issue of very low MPG.

Sporty Diesel

Really happy, that sums things up nicely. If you are looking for a sporty sedan that gets better gas mileage than most hybrids, you found it. The first reasonably priced sporty diesel in the U.S., I can carve corners and still be good to the environment (and my wallet).

Really great daily driver!

We bought our 2010 Jetta brand new in 2009. It was so sporty! took corners really well, plenty of power, great steering. I absolutely LOVED the interior- soft touch materials and everything fit together really well. The controls were super easy to use, and the seats were great. Our Jetta got upwards of 35 MPG on the highway. Got lots of compliments on the car- it was black with 19" alloys. Other than routine maintenance, it held up VERY well. The only thing to go wrong was a seal on the door that failed. Got it re-glued and that was ok. The other issue was that while going through a car wash, the guy drying the car wiped the "Jetta" letters right off the back. I'd recommend it! :)

What everyone should own...

Have put 37000+ flawless mile on the vehicle. Not one problem. Been to the dealer three times for free oil change and service. Always get 42 to 44 per tank with individual drives of over 50mpg. Seats are very comfortable, ergonomics are first rate. Vehicle is very easy to live with on a day to day basis. Did not get nav system, GARMIN is much less expensive.

Reliable, strong, economical

Review after 7 years at 82k miles The car drives and looks like almost new. Jut a bit worse stability (perhaps needs alignment) and the engine a bit louder. The mileage depends on external factors and is a bit worse, perhaps because of computer reprogramming; same trip can be 38 or 46 mpg. Review at 70k miles The car looks and drives like new with minimal maintenance. Replaced battery at 60k miles, fixed real brakes and one glow plug at 70k miles. Would be perfect if a) less road noise on poor surfaces and b) better fuel economy when colder (< 70F) especially under short runs, a clear sign of emission controls. Old review ========= No problems in 36k+ miles. Drives like glued to a road. Great city acceleration or when lights turn green, and pretty good on interstates when downshifted. Mileage depends on the number and frequency of stops: 32-40 in town, 45-52 on secondary roads and close to 50 on interstates. All with dynamic driving. Excellent radio and cell bluetooth integration. Large cargo volume with non-crushing hinges. Quiet engine except for occasional louder turbocharger heard on quiet surfaces.

2010 VW Jetta SE

I am leasing a 2010 Jetta SE sedan with the 5sp manual. Manual provides a little more control and makes the car more fun to drive. Great interior design and finish, though the headrests get complaints from my wife. Sporty drive and solid feel on the road.

Love this car

I love this car! 2010 jetta wolfsburg preforms and handles awesome! Gas milage is average for this class and design is on point! I love the touchscreen that comes standard on the wolfsburg and the new interior redesign for 2010 is amazing. I really preferred this model over the 2011 ( felt cheap and like they cut LOTS of corners to get the price down). This is my second jetta, so I know the german cars require maintenance to be able to last ( like all good things) but I don't mind it for the driving experience. Great Job VW!

jetta tdi

After 10,000 miles i can't think of a more comfortable car for the money. A little more cabin noise than I expected. Now getting 43-45 mpg on the highway. Great car. Interior definitely showcases german build quality and attention to detail. Transmission is very smooth. Very happy and satisfied with it.

Second Diesel

I originally purchased the Golf TDI, and returned it. Brought home the TDI Jetta with the DSG. This car comes standard with incredible features. Satellite Radio, and bluetooth are excellent. The DSG shifts very fast, and sport mode makes this car really go when the turbo kicks in. The Golf TDI was a lot more fun to drive, and the sport seats were much better than the leatherette offered in the Jetta. Gas Mileage is great, but the dealer recommended that I do not fill it up with Biodiesel. I have been averaging 30 to 34 mpg in city, and managed 43 mpg on the highway. Also purchased at 0.0% financing. Great Car, but not as much fun as as the Golf.

one month very good

Great mixture of fun to drive and fuel economy. Getting about 36 mpg city and 45 highway. great stereo, love the sd memory card feature. Surprising trunk space; I like the bluetooth connectivity.

German sports sedan at a very good price

I was in the market for a used Audi/BMW but I decided to buy a new Wolfsburg Jetta instead. I have to say that I am not disappointed in the decision because the car is very fun to drive. The shifting action with the manual is very clean and precise. The engine makes a lot of power when you stomp on the gas or you can make it conserve fuel if you baby the accelerator and keep a conservative shift pattern. Coming from an economy car, this Jetta feels very tight when going around corners or merging into traffic. I do have a few gripes. The sunroof even when closed is very noisy at highway speeds. There also does not seem to be a lot of storage space.

Great bargain german vehicle

I am pleasantly shocked at how much I like this car. I am coming out of a high power sport sedan and thought I would miss the power and handling. However, the Jetta handles as well as any of the three BMWs I have owned - almost as good as my M5. Torque steer is nonexistent. Pickup in sport mode is very good for an in-line 5 cylinder. I actually preferred the performance of the SE to the Wolfsberg edition (Turbo 4 and DSG tranny). I am very pleased at the performance results for such an affordable car. Interior build is pretty good. The touch screen audio controls make the interior pop. I wish it had more creature comforts, but for the money, I cannot complain.

Great car, not great fuel economy

Bought this car at a used car sale by our credit union. Had no intention of buying a Jetta but took a test drive and I was sold. My previous car was a Volvo S60, before an A4, so I was used to a European car. The Jetta was a lot less expensive than the Volvo or the Audi but the ride was comparable. I owned this car for about 18 months before moving to a VW Tiguan but had no problems with it.

First Time Volkswagen Owner

1st time owner of a VW product and I am satisfied so far. The first 2 noticeable advantages I have experienced have been the excellent handling on the road and the precise braking. The visibility from this car is great - I feel I am sitting in an SUV instead of a compact car.

do not buy a jetta with navigation

the car runs well and gets great mileage, but the navigation system does not have all the maps and does not connect to the phone (despite phone buttons). i am most annoyed because all VW customer service says is to talk to navteq and buy new, several hundred dollar, map upgrades. very poor customer service in my opinion. minor gripe, but there is a noticable delay with the horn.

Fine car with Bluetooth issues...

I finally reached the tipping point with filling my pig of an Audi with fuel every week and had read many positive reviews of VW's 2.0 TDI engine. I have owned several Audis and VWs so I am well aware of their iffy reliability and expensive maintenance, but I've got a good warranty and free maintenance for 3 years. The engine and DSG transmission are perfectly matched. The powertrain is peppy, smooth and relatively quiet, considering it is a diesel. Beware of the Bluetooth option as the wagons have a crude and different module than the TDI sedan that seriously limits the functions. You can only receive incoming calls with the wagon; no downloading of phone contacts or voice control, etc.

Love it, but one regret

3 months and 3000 miles later and what a great little car! Fun to drive, 45 mpg highway (cruise on 69) overall average of 35 mpg +. Flexibility of a wagon is great. Ipod integration nice, if a little slow at times. Had I known that the navi system was navi only, no upgrade on the bluetooth, I may have thought twice about this option. VW has a bluetooth "Low" and "High" and the JSW TDI is low, so no voice dial or phone book import. Presented upgrade instructions found on line to the dealer and they offered to swap in the 9W3 unit for a mere $600 or so ($465 control unit, $25 for the antenna, 80 labor). They were as accommodative as could be, so no hard feelings... Oh well, live and learn

2010 Jetta LE

Bought this car to replace my 2000 Jetta GLS. The 5-cylinder engine is very smooth and has plenty of power, especially above 3000 RPM. The 5-speed in this car is light years ahead of the 5-speed in my old Jetta, in terms of shift feel. The car, for the money, really is beautiful inside and out. Very high-quality, well designed interior, nice paint and tight panel gaps on the outside. Lots of features you won't get on any other car in this class, like auto up-down windows on every window, nice switchblade key fobs, standard heated seats. I really love this car.

50,000 mile review for 2010 TDI

I've owned the TDI for 50,000 miles and I have had no problems. The car gets better than 42 mpg's as I drive between 55 and 60. I bought my car on July 30th, the last day of the government $1,200 tax rebate scheme, and the car was manufactured in May, so any early production bugs were probably all worked out. I want to keep the car for another 200,000 miles, let us see how that goes.

Did not like overall

I was very dissapointed in the car, it was a demo when I bought it with less than 10,000 miles but still in perfect condition and the price was acceptable but right away it started over heating and had electronic & ignition problems, I was not getting the gas mileage I should have and it completely shut down one time and left me stranded while out of town. repairs were made but still had electronic issues to date, This was my first Volkswagen purchase and I was not impressed at all, I recently traded the car in at a loss just to get rid of this headache machine.

I am stocked

I have not drove a VW since my brothers VW transporter in 1972 trip to Baja Mexico. We bought a clean Diesel TDI Jetta wagon I have drove 280 miles and my tank is still 1/2 full. I had to junk my 11 year old Buick Park Ultra Sedan. The steering collapsed. I am a big guy 6' 4" the Jetta fits me great. Leg room elbow comfort, hip space head room comfy seats. Lots of electronics the radio and speakers are concert hall quality. I can put my entire CD collection on one 4gb flash card and plays the all. Next year a HOMELINK feature would be good. I love it what a nice car. After reading the history I did not know the British ran the company.

Head of the Class

This is our 3rd new Jetta ('04, '06, '10) in what I am sure is a long list of more to come. All you have to do is shop the competition in this price-point (we paid just over $22k) to realize that there is no competition in this price-point. The German styling, euro-inspired handling and performance, and refined interior make you feel like you are driving in a car worth twice the price. One word of caution...if you feel the urge to "shop around" before deciding to buy, make the Jetta last on your list, otherwise it won't be fair to the others :)

So disappointed I traded it in within a month

I am a 4-time VW owner (Fox, old Jetta, new Jetta, Touareg), so I was eager for a reasonably priced wagon that gets great fuel economy. The vehicle was not fully explained to me at the dealership and I never would have bought it if it had been. The transmission is so incredibly jerky and when the car shifts gears, you actually jerk along with it. The brakes are so tight that they are shockingly sudden. I never had this before in my VWs. The seats are so uncomfortable that I feel like I am sitting on rocks, which could have been less expensive. I have needed to see a massage therapist and chiropractor due to these seats. I am petite-maybe someone taller can tolerate these seats.

Crazy Fun

I have had this car for 6 months - mostly driven in Wisconsin winter conditions. After 8,500 miles all I can say is WOW! Fun would be an understatement. I spent about $800 for a winter set of alloy rims and Michelin X-Ice tires at Tire Rack - highly recommend winter tires given the torque in this engine. Averaged 38 to 40 MPG over coldest months driving 40% city/60% highway. Now above freezing and getting 42 to 44 MPG. If I really keep off the gas pedal I can get high 40s, but hard to do when you have that engine under the hood. Beats the heck out of my wife's Camry Hybrid and gets much better highway milage (city milage too in cold weather.) Manual is a little touchy until you get feel.

Love it so Far

Just bought the car a week ago but I am really falling in love with it already. Only used one tank of gas but I'm averaging 47MPG on mostly highway driving. Got the base TDI with no options except the Southern kit which is pretty much just extra floor mats and a trunk divider. Traded in a 06 Mazda3 and while the TDI is not as nimble on the road, it is much more compliant and comfortable for my commute. Amazing set of features for a "base" car: Touch screen satellite radio, ten airbags, heated seats and mirrors, and much more. Also like the VW 3 years/36,000 mile recommended services that are included. If the car turns out to be reliable it will be the perfect vehicle.

Overall a good buy

A few things that bugs me about the new jettas is the fact they are down grading materials like toyota and honda for example rear drum brakes whats up with that thats what id expect from civic or a corolla not a VW it came standerd all wheel disc breaks up in till now and the premium feel of the dash gone now hard plastic cheper cloth unless you upgrade whats up with that "you get what you pay for."

unhappy with new jetta

I just bought a new Jetta. In only 2 weeks, I have already had 2 different problems requiring 2 different trips to the dealership. Neither VW nor the dealership offered a free rental car while my car was being repaired.

Well I buy vw again! Well we well see.

Great car fast reliable but vw has shown that they can't be trusted.Hope in up coming months they prove to me they can be trusted

Green Car

Very satisfied with the Jetta TDI. The drive (on dry pavement), comfort, and fuel economy are outstanding. Good green car and alternative to a hybrid. One can tell it is a diesel on a cold morning. When temperature is below 30, the car does sound like a diesel truck. The car does not handle well in snow. Does not have good traction.

I truly hate to part with my Jetta TDI!

so far it is great

This TDI is great. The road dynamics are excellent and the build quality is truly remarkable for the price. It has not needed fuel yet and has over 500 miles on the odometer. The manual transmission is one of the best I have ever had, since I have never owned an automatic I am a very experienced with how a manual transaxel is supposed to feel. I test drove the DSG and althouth it seemed fine I was afraid it would be the only thing to eventually break since I keep a car for about 12 yrs on average. If you get a Jetta make sure you get the TDI It comes with most of the options. Love it

TDI Convert!

I've owned this car for almost a month and have just over 1,000 miles and really love it. Very nice luxury interior and features without the luxury price tag. I got the 2010 TDI and the only options I got was the 17" Avignon wheels, which were reasonably priced at $450, and the rear spoiler for another $500 to give the TDI that sporty look. I'm getting over 40 mpg on the highway and got 48.1 mpg on a long road trip. I love the touch screen radio, blue tooth, steering wheel controls and the multi-function display. The V-Tex "leather" interior is nice and the other standard features such as heated seats and heated windshield fluid will be nice when it's cold. Overall it's a great car!!!!

Great Car...Engine noise when cold

Previously have driven the Passat since 2003. Lease every 2 years. First experience with the Jetta. When starting from cold, annoying engine noise until motor warms up. Usually only last for 15 seconds or so...but very noticeable. Dealer tells me the oil needs to get into the lifters b4 noise will go away. Haven't found any recalls or so regarding this condition. Miss the 2.0 turbo. What a treat to drive that engine. Perfect fit for the VW line.

My firs lease

Have had the vehicle for one week. Rides smooth. Handles well in heavy rain. This a first time leasing, I feel comfortable with it.

Recurring Emissions Problem

In theory, I absolutely LOVE this car - - it's sleek & maneuverable, with refined interior, great features package, excellent power and mileage (45+), BUT...the "Check Engine" light has come on for the THIRD time, and it only has 620 miles on it. VW has tried fixing it twice, but they now acknowledge there is no known fix at this time. Unless they iron it out this time, I'm invoking Lemon Law and taking my money back.

Well-rounded car

I have a little over 4K miles. Excellent mpg, mid 30s around town, mid 40s highway. Plenty of pep for merging/passing. Manual trans is smooth. Seats are very supportive and long drives are not tiring. Interior is well designed. Radio sound quality is good and voice activated bluetooth calling works well. The iPod interface is slow to dial through playlist. Great trunk space. I have 17 inch wheels and the handling is very precise and solid. Is very quiet on the highway, but I like the sound when accelerating.