Looking for a sedan with generous interior space and a range of lively engines? The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta might be a good match. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.
Transcript
JOSH SADLIER: This is automotive editor Josh Sadlier with an Edmunds Expert Rundown of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. The 2017 Jetta is notable, because Volkswagen has finally done away with that strange proprietary electronics interface. Now there's just a USB port. And that's how it should be. So that's good news. The Jetta also continues to have a remarkably large back seat for this segment. Technically, it competes against cars like the Civic and the Corolla, so we call it a small sedan, except it's not. Really more of a mid-size. But the Jetta's always been a tough one for us to evaluate. On the plus side, it's got great power trains, three turbocharged engines, starting with a 1.4 that's just fine in the base models, 1.8 in the mid-range, which is even better, and then a 2-liter turbo in the GLI that you see here. It's actually a carryover from the previous generation GTI. And it's a gem. It's smooth and strong and everything you'd want at this price. But then you step inside and this is the rest of the story. Now, we mentioned the big back seat. And there it is. This really competes pretty well with some cars in the family sedan segment. So if you're looking for a roomy car in the small car class, the Jetta's pretty much the best. But if you look at the materials quality, that's where the Jetta really falls off, especially relative to Volkswagen's historical norms. The door panels are all hard plastic. Feel hollow when you rap your knuckles on them. There's just a sense that Volkswagen cut a few too many costs in here, especially given the company's reputation for quality in the past. The bottom line is that if you're looking for something German in this class, there's only one option and it's the Jetta. And it's fundamentally a pretty good car. But we just can't escape that kind of smarmy feeling, like they cheaped out on us. Hopefully, next time around, we'll see a better Jetta out of VW. For more Edmunds Expert Rundowns, click the link to subscribe.
Ever since the Jetta was redesigned in 2011, we've had trouble accepting its new mission in life. Jettas of the past represented the best of European cars, more refined and better to drive than competing compact sedans. The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta is all about offering big interior for a small price, as if it were designed not for demanding drivers but for stingy warehouse-club shoppers.
To be fair, Volkswagen has made a lot of changes to the Jetta over its model run, refining the interior and replacing some of the low-cost mechanical bits with more sophisticated hardware. And when it comes to passenger and trunk space, the current Jetta trounces its predecessors, not to mention a few midsize sedans. Backseat comfort is excellent and trunk space is generous.
That said, the Jetta's cabin consists of staid styling and cheap trim bits. Lower-trim models are characterized by hard, shiny plastic, a cheap material that most automakers did away with years ago. At least the Jetta's technology is up to date, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and ? finally! ? a proper USB port in place of VW's proprietary media port (which required an expensive dealer-supplied connector to hook up a smartphone).
Base-model Jettas used to come with an ancient 2.0-liter eight-valve engine that (literally) dated from the last century, but VW has since replaced it with a slick 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 150 horsepower. However, it's the 170-hp 1.8-liter turbo that's the real gem. You can also get a 210-hp 2.0-liter turbo engine (sourced from Volkswagen's vaunted GTI) in the sporty Jetta GLI model. EPA fuel economy estimates range from a high of 33 mpg combined (28 city/40 highway) for the 1.4T manual down to 27 mpg combined for the GLI.
As a group, Jettas are comfortable and engaging to drive, though they no longer stand head and shoulders above the competition the way the previous-generation Jetta did. And while the GLI is very quick in a straight line, its road manners lag behind those of its high-performance competitors, including Volkswagen's own GTI.
Volkswagen has simplified the Jetta lineup for 2017 by reducing the number of available options; equipment is now largely determined by trim level. The S model offers most of the creature comforts we expect in a compact sedan, while the SE adds several nice-to-have features. SEL is the luxury version of the Jetta, and the GLI stands alone as the performance-oriented model. Which is the best one to buy? Edmunds can help find the perfect 2017 Volkswagen Jetta for you.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta Overview
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta is offered in the following submodels: 2.0T GLI, Sedan. Available styles include 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), and 1.8T Sport 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A). Jetta models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The 2017 Jetta comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic. The 2017 Jetta comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What should I pay for a new 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?
2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $30375. The average price paid for a new 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) is trending $8398 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $8398 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $21977.
The average savings for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) is 27.6% below the MSRP.
We are showing 1 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $29275. The average price paid for a new 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) is trending $2716 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $2716 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $26559.
The average savings for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) is 9.3% below the MSRP.
We are showing 1 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $23135. The average price paid for a new 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) is trending $4705.3 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $4705.3 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $18429.7.
The average savings for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) is 20.3% below the MSRP.
We are showing 2 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $26375. The average price paid for a new 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A) is trending $6100 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $6100 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $20275.
The average savings for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A) is 23.1% below the MSRP.
We are showing 1 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 Jetta featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process All of our reviews are written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What do people think of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Jetta a 4.1 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Jetta.
Vehicle 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
Review This is the bottom of the VW line......but the top of the line for MPG. VW purchased (buyback program) my immensely competent (but EPA says incompetent) TDI. The Jetta S 5M seems a very good value - noting the end of the model year discounting. Test drive was positive. Purchased late August 2017 for less than my 1988 cost for an Acura Integra 4- cyl hatch. First refueling calc's 477.5 mostly city miles on about 12 gallons of RON 87. UPDATE: (08 March 2018). Odometer now reads 5509 and Fuelly dot com reports an average of 39.9 in 70/30 City/Highway use. Brakes, clutch and 5M shift synchros make for very smooth operation. I like the LED daytime running lights, the USB enables a small flash drive to store all the 6 CD music leftover following JSW TDI 6M buyback. Incidentally this 1.4 turbo out of door price was almost exactly one-half the new car OTD price of my 2013 TDI wagon.
2017 Volkswagen Jetta inventory listings Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 441 new and 1190 used and CPO 2017 Jettas listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 8977 and mileage as low as 0. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 8398 on a new, used, or CPO 2017 Jetta available from one of 2632 dealerships in your area.
How can Edmunds help? Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta safe? The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Roof Strength Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 5.0 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
MPG
2017 volkswagen jetta 1.4T SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), 6-speed shiftable automatic, regular unleaded 32 combined MPG 28 city MPG/38 highway MPG
2017 volkswagen jetta 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), 6-speed shiftable automatic, regular unleaded 32 combined MPG 28 city MPG/38 highway MPG
2017 volkswagen jetta 1.8T Sport 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A), 6-speed shiftable automatic, premium unleaded (recommended) 32 combined MPG 28 city MPG/38 highway MPG
What options are available on the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?
Available Volkswagen Jetta 2017 Submodel Types: Sedan, Diesel, 2.0T GLI, Wagon, GLI SEL PZEV, 2.0T GLI SEL, GLI SEL, 2.0T GLI SE PZEV, GLI SE, GLI SE PZEV, Hybrid
Available Volkswagen Jetta 2017 Trims: 1.4T S, 1.4T SE, SE PZEV, S, 1.8T SE Sport, 1.4T Wolfsburg Edition, S w/Technology, 2.0T GLI, TDI, SE, SE PZEV w/Connectivity, SEL PZEV, 1.8T Sport PZEV, GLS, Wolfsburg Edition, 2.5, 1.8T SEL, SE PZEV w/Connectivity, Navigation, Sport, TDI SE w/Connectivity, 1.4T S w/Technology, Wolfsburg Edition PZEV, GL, GLS 1.8T, 1.8T SEL PZEV, SEL, TDI S, S PZEV, TDI SEL, 1.4T SE w/Connectivity, GLI SEL PZEV, GLX VR6, Base PZEV, GLS TDI, TDI Value Edition, Value Edition, 1.8T SEL Premium, 1.8T Sport, Base, Limited Edition PZEV, SE w/Connectivity, Navigation, SportWagen TDI, SE w/Connectivity, Value Edition , 2.0T GLI SEL, 2.5 PZEV, GL 1.8T, GL PZEV, GLI, GLI SEL, GLS (1999.5), SEL Premium PZEV, SportWagen S, SportWagen SE, SportWagen SE PZEV, 2.0T, 2.0T GLI SE PZEV, GLI 1.8T, GLI SE, GLI SE PZEV, GLI VR6, GLS VR6, GLS Wolfsburg Edition 1.8T, Hybrid SEL Premium, Limited Edition, SportWagen SEL, TDi
Exterior Colors: Platinum Gray Metallic, Black, Pure White, Reflex Silver Metallic, Black Uni, Silk Blue Metallic, Cardinal Red Metallic, Tornado Red, White Silver Metallic, Moonrock Silver Metallic, Candy White, Tempest Blue Metallic, Toffee Brown Metallic, Platinum Gray Metallic/Black Roof, Tornado Red/Black Roof, Deep Black Pearl, Pure White/Black Roof, Salsa Red, Blue Graphite Metallic, Platinum Gray, Dark Bronze Metallic, White Gold Metallic, Campanella White, Deep Black Metallic, Galactic Blue, Bright Green Pearl, Reflex Silver, Shadow Blue, Silver Arrow, Wheat Beige, Galactic Blue Metallic, Silver Arrow Metallic, Alaska Green Metallic, Baltic Green Pearl, Blue Graphite, Blue Lagoon Metallic, Cool White, Indigo Blue, Mojave Beige, Spice Red
Interior Colors: Titan Black leatherette, Titan Black cloth, Cornsilk Beige leatherette, Palladium Gray/Black cloth, Titan Black/Palladium Gray cloth, Titan Black w/Black Headliner leatherette, Black/Ceramique leatherette, Titan Black w/Gray Contrast Stitching leatherette, GLI Titan Black leatherette, Gray, Anthracite leatherette, Ceramique (Gray) cloth, Pure Beige leatherette, Titan Black velour, Titan Black/Carbon leatherette, Art Gray leatherette, Black, Latte Macchiato cloth, Beige, Anthracite velour, Beige/Black leatherette, Art Gray cloth, Art Gray leather, Gray leather, Gray leatherette, Latte Macchiato velour, Pure Beige leather, Titan Black/Art Grey leatherette
Popular Features: Fold Flat Rear Seats, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, Post-collision safety system, Aux Audio Inputs, Trip Computer, Bluetooth, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Heated seats, Back-up camera, USB Inputs, Sunroof/Moonroof, Keyless Entry/Start, Blind Spot Monitoring, Power Driver Seat, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Alarm, Navigation, Auto Climate Control, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Parking sensors, Upgraded Headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-collision safety system, Leather Seats
