Used 2018 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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Traded '15 SportWagen TDI SEL for 2017 Jetta SEL
Traded '15 SportWagen TDI SEL for 2017 Jetta SEL. Very happy with the purchase. Already put 1,500 miles on it driving throughout Texas. I love the safety features and these help overshadow the pitfalls such as the cheap plastic interior parts on the Jetta doors, etc. The golf wagon has much more cargo space but the Jetta has more comfort space, very roomy and open, feels much higher off the ground than it is.
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Got a great deal
Not quite as nice as my 2009 TDI, but very good for the money. Fun to drive. Great features. Manual is very nice. Mileage is exceptional for non-Diesel. Things I miss from my 2009, no locking glove box, no AC outlet in the back (built in inverter). The interior is "cheaper", but the features like Apple Car Play, Backup Camera and Heated Seats are very nice. 39MPG on highway trip.
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- 1.4T SE SedanMSRP: $12,995116 mi away
- 1.4T S SedanMSRP: $12,599187 mi away
- 1.8T SE Sport SedanMSRP: $8,998186 mi away
2017 Jetta S Manual
Great car! I love my jetta! 1.4 turbo! 40 miles per gallon combine using gasoline 91 octane is awesome! Great Value for you money!
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Great car for the money.
Comfortable, roomy, fast, car-net app and sat nav are great. Leather seats are better than the standard leatherette seats. If I could change anything would be to the cheap looking plastics on the dash and add auto lights/wipers and dimming rear view mirror and autonomous braking.
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Vw
Better than I thought it would be. Great pickup and gas mileage.
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Must own or lease one
Check don't get the cloth seats they are very to clean , if you try and clean them it only makes look worse.
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2018 VW Jetta SE Sport
Great value for what it offers. I highly recommend it!!! Coming out of a BMW 335i it offers all bells & whistles (Except for the 3.0 twin turbo) for less then half price. It comes preloaded with "Carplay, Bluetooth, backup camera, sunroof, and much more. No optionals which makes it great to negotiate.
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If you can get in:
I’m having difficulty getting accustomed to this new VW Jetta. (1) I’m short. With seat and steering wheel set for me, it’s difficult getting in and out using driver’s door. If seat adjustments were automated, this wouldn’t be a major problem, but with manual control, it is. (2) There’s no back window wiper. (3) There’s no dome light. The front inside lights work in same way the dome light does, but doesn’t illuminate the back seat area. I think this is a safety concern. (4) There are no storage pockets behind the front seat. (5) Dashboard construction doesn’t allow easy key insertion. If you have anything attached to your key ring, it takes some juggling to start the car. (6) The plug-in for charging under the radio is misplaced. If you leave the plug-in plugged in, it restricts the opening to the storage area. (7) When remote control is used to open the trunk, it pops open only about 1 inch. (8) There is no beeping/warning sound connected to backup camera.
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Handling is not very good. Reliability issues
Highway driving does not feel safe. Car is not handling well on speeds over 75 mp/h (I drive fast in the morning to pass traffic). Car feels like floating on the road with steering wheel is not responsive at all. Is this an electric motor drive? Tires are new, pressure is according to the VW recommendations. I used to have 2010 VW Jetta 2.5 and when it wasn't in the shop , it was driving extremely straight on the highway. Unfortunately, I didn't test a car on the highway during my initial test drive. Another problem with 2017 model is its automatic transmission: it is slipping from 1 to 2 and when I'm slowing down at the traffic light from 2 to 1. On the highway it does it too but shifting to Sport helps. Anyways, strange suspension and possibly new drivetrain-related problems. Dealer now said that "turbo is not reliable and usually you need to change it at around 100,000 miles... but you just trade this car and we'll get you a new car!" Knowing how expensive VW service is, it is freaking me out. Someone here has mentioned similar problems. What should I do with a car? It's currently under 15,000 miles. Please advice.
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Same transmission problem
I just got back from trip from Ohio to D.C. At some point I was not sure if the car will make it back. Cruise control actually won't control a car while driving down the hill (long downhill areas in PA state if you don't take I-70 toll). On up-hill driving the transmission is slipping (with and without cruise control). It was slipping this morning too while driving on flat surface. It didn't happen before. I took Jetta to VW dealer and "they will investigate it... but most likely this is nothing... ". This is third dealer. Two dealers didn't want to take a car and didn't want to "investigate" the transmission issue. So, I've got "nothing" and I am just wasting people's time? Another issue: Front Rotors are made of cheap metal and it will wobble. I am leasing Jetta because I wanted to see if they fixed previous issues. VW didn't. VW is still just a neat looking car with low reliability. I need to talk to someone with same issue! Random JettaTSI drivers I've talked to, all had manual transmission because they did have Automatic transmission failures in the past. This is my first VW. Why would you buy another VW if it failed? Hope this car will break and I'll end up the lease and I'll get Japanese car. One more thing: do not use synthetic Mobil because it won't like it. Search for dealer with oil change coupons instead (here in D.C. it's $46 - same you will spend at Walmart plus your time). Dealer has good oil. Good oil is important for these engines because VW has plastic parts inside such as chain tensioner. How long will this part last?
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Don't buy it
At about 10,000 miles auto-transmission started making funny clunk sound and at 25,000 miles transmission started slipping even more. VW dealer said "it's normal" and mechanic said: "they all do loose their transmission". This is my leased vehicle. In the mean time I bought Golf Rabbit 2.5 (4 doors) and its transmission died on me next day I registered it. While test driving it, I am thinking: this is normal clunk. Both transmissions are NOT serviceable (there is no hole to add oil or check the transmission fluid level). I traded-in "Rabbit" for Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. I am going to terminate Jetta's lease soon. No more VWs or any other Euro brands (last mistake was SAAB). Yes, they look cute but reliability is zero. Services are expensive: oil change is $86 + tax. If you don't change oil at VW dealer, they will void your Warranty, they said.
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Love it
Nice car and runs great I love it
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Cheap Seats, Stellar MPG: Gem or Ticking Time Bomb
I purchased the S with the 5M in September of 2017 for just under $13K. It was a good deal at the time, and I was moving from a Tahoe to a more fuel efficient vehicle for commuting. I have continuously ranged from 32- 42 mpg, depending on the driving conditions. City driving will be from 32-34, and long trips on the interstate are between 40-42mpg. Hard to beat that. It is a fun car to drive with the 1.4l manual transmission. Not a lot of getup and go, but definitely has it when needed. I wanted only a few things in a new vehicle, and this came with that and more. Power windows and locks, manual transmission, and bluetooth. The bonus was the heated mirrors and rear view camera. Mind you, this was on the base model. After owning for five and a half years, and putting 52,000 miles on the vehicle, I have little to complain about. Maintenance has been almost 0 other than normal oil changes. Complaints I do have are the seats. The cloth is so cheap that anything stains it. It is also already tearing on the drivers seat. I am now looking to sell, as I also owned a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The engine gave out at 80,000 miles. My cousin had a 2015 Jetta that had the exact same problem as my Passat. If that's any indication of Volkswagen quality, then I want to get rid of this one before it's totally worthless. If you're looking for a used vehicle, I would pass unless it is low mileage and you want to take that chance. I'll never purchase a Volkswagen again despite not having issues with mine.
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VW Jetta 1.4L turbo manual 5-speed
VW's backback of my JSW TDI funded a 2017 Jetta "S" 5M for this sailor. 65,000 miles with no issues at all...........not one! Fuelly calculates about 39 MPG since new - in 65 City use. I really have not complaints at all: the 5M shifts are positive and smooth; the light clutch adds to the "fun to drive" component..........plus the fully independent rear suspension adds to the decent road manners. The best part was the cost: $14337 out the door. ez
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2017 jetta 1.4L 5M
Brand new $14300 with Mfr/Dealer discounts - due to diesel gate.................... Close to 65000 now - - - no issues since new. Good shift feel, light clutch and fully independent suspension adds to driving fun. ez
Owned over a year now and have 20k miles
I traded my 2013 Jetta and 2015 Passat in on this car. Have had no problems at all. I have the Wolfsburg edition, best value in my opinion. Car is going in for the 20k service on Thursday. Great pick-up and handling. Great gas mileage. No problems out of the 2013 Jetta, the Passat had some bugs in it. Love the bluetooth and back-up camera(but think all cars have that now). Sound system is fine. Ride is run, you get to feel the road.
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Great MPG, falls short on everything else.
Bought a used 2018 Jetta SEL (1.8T) with around 10000 miles in 2022. While it is "loaded" with GPS system (not worth mentioning) a fairly decent sound system and the larger engine, it is probably the most uncomfortable vehicle I've ever owned. The (fake) leather seats are too soft on long trips and don't offer much support. I put about 30000 miles on it now, took it to the dealer for 2 services and that's where the negative review continues. The Dealership itself was great, friendly staff and a clean vehicle upon return. But, (around here in TX) a simple Oil change (which is all they did aside from the "complimentary" million point check) will cost over $120. Now that the car already has a whooping (almost) 40000 miles on the odometer, its no surprise that there are some noises (or a lot in my case). The interior rattles and vibrates as much as some other cars with 200000 miles. It shows the extremely cheap build "quality" with hard plastic all around. The AC system is also mediocre at best, especially in hotter climates, it can barely keep up and when you have it run a lot, the car will thank you by dropping a few mpg along the way. Speaking of AC, pray you never have to sit in the back in heat or freezing cold, since there aren't any vents for the economy class. The engine is probably the best part on the entire car, although it sounds like a hairdryer at times, it does push the car to Interstate speed pretty quickly. In the end, this car is a wanna-be premium German car, built on a non-existing budget. It shows inside and out and you can hear it too. This is my 2nd VW (had a 2016 Passat) and it will most definitely be my last. Aside from the maintenance, the insurance premiums are absolutely ridiculous too, with same coverage as the 2021 CX5 we have, it is about $35 more a month. Just my 2 cents on VW and especially the Jetta.
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Jetta 2017 (basic)
Absolutely in love with this car. My sister and I own 2. 10/10.
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Bad VW Service
Budget vehicle to get from A to B. Cheap interior. I've leased it because this is my first VW. I've heard from friends that VW service is bad. When you lease a car, most of the services shall be free. Not with VW. Dealer (Kings VW in Gaithersburg MD) tells me that NOT EVERYTHING IS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. And I get "contact VW on the phone" , and " we are not fixing this for free". And I don't visit a dealer anymore. Not changing oil (dealr's fee is $86 + tax). Nope. I am going back to Toyota, when your Toyota dealer has free coffee, juice, and water while I am waiting and the oil changes are $19.99 + tax ( I miss those days). I've leased 3 Toyotas in the last 10 years. Toyota people are great. I have 9K miles to go and when I go, I never buy or lease another VW.
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Excellent value
Bought this Jetta SEL on an end of summer deal. Purchased it through Edmunds pricing request. The dealer honored the price and it was a steal! Car drives very good. The new engine and transmission combination is excellent. Sure, I could find fault with some aspects of this car, but overall I am very pleased with the driving experience. The SEL trim level is worth the extra price. Key-less operation, sunroof, nav. Fuel economy is very good at just over 30 mpg. Driver seat could be more comfortable. Brakes are excellent. 10 months later I have 10k miles. All systems work perfectly. I have no complaints. The MPG seems to be about 30mpg, or slightly less. It uses regular which is great as gas prices are now rising. No rattles, buzzes, or other annoying noises. I did change the oil myself. Be aware you will need a large torx. Still remains an excellent value. If you read the reviews on this car, they complain about lack of road feel and numb steering. It is true. The technology in the SEL is excellent. Adaptive cruise, blind spot, automatic emergency braking all work perfectly. I still highly recommend. get ready to catch the end of summer sale. I know the 2019 is all new so this review is less relevant, but I'm still a happy 2018 Jetta owner.
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Engine block casting defects
How come there are no mentions of the engine block casting defects that can cause seizing and loss of control
Handles well while being struck by cows
If you drive near free range cattle this car handles exceptionally well while being struck by a cow. The sound system is just ok though.
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Fun car to drive
VW got it right here. Amazing value.
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you have to love volkswagons to purchase one
I bought a 2017 Jetta i have no complaints about this car its a very nice car ,but beware !! ,when you buy these cars ,you WILL lose about $11,000 within 6 months time. i tried to trade it in to upgrade and i was offered $8000 for my vehicle that is only 6 months old ... i felt like i got robbed when bought this car .i guess i learned that my 1995 chevy pickup is worth more than my 2017 Jetta how nice
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Not different than 2016
Very uncomfortable and not fun to drive in the city. Transmission is acting slippery. Trunk is very low. As always horrible resale value. Cruise control won’t hold downhill (be careful!) buy used Jetta 3016 or 2017 and save $10K
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Disappointed
I’m disappointed in how many things are wrong with this vehicle. I do NOT like the let’s turn off the engine to save your gas while at a stop sign or stop light. You have to put your car in park and turn the ignition back on to drive off. Another thing is it turns off your A/C so your A/C will start blowing out hot air at you instead of cold air. You also can’t pop your trunk open with car on idle, it has to be in park to open. There is also NO AUX plug in the car, so you have to use the USB port for your iPod and of course they only give you one port so you have to either choose to listen to your iPod or charge your phone. The car also didn’t come with a Spare tire so your pretty much screwed and have to rely on your phone being able to work to call for help.
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TDI Trade-in
2013 TDI Jetta turned in to VW and purchased a 2017 GLI - Price paid was the internet price quoted by Edmunds. Dealer got me the car I specified.
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Jetta GLI manual
Shop around for a better deal.
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VW is not good
this vehicle be making sound every time I break from the back and then dealership say that it doesn't need any breaks eye contact headquarters doing that buy it back from me I will not be by the next to Volkswagen again Volkswagen headquarters say they can't buy it.
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Great Car
Best car in its class by far. More space than some cars in the full size class. Best fuel economy. No bad things to be said. Roomy back seat and a huge trunk. Over 40 mpg on the open road. Sound system and navigation A+. Safety features prevented at least two accidents. put 45,000 miles on it no repairs of any kind. Dealer is always pleasant to deal with. Offer discounted service coupons. I can say one bad thing about this car. I have driven the other top rated cars in its class and it is easily better. Go test drive a civic and then the Jetta SEL. Its a no brainer.
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Getta Jetta
It feels very strong, handles nicely , got plenty of power
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This ride kicks @$$
I love my car
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Awesome
Great value, awesome reliability
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Managementable
Pretty good car..
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2017 Jetta 1.8T TSI Sport
I have purchased a lot of cars and I hope to purchase many more. However, none of those will ever be a Volkswagen product. I have and still own a 2004 Mazda 6 V6 and I was in need of a commuter due to a 89 mile per way commute each day. I purchased a brand new 2017 Jetta 1.8T Sport. This was by far the worst car that I have ever purchased. I complete all repairs and oil changes myself. These cars have major electrical issues. The car had the same designed fan and auxiliary fan design that dates all the way back to the 1999 Jetta. The auxiliary fan failed while it was sitting in the driveway. I fixed it and traded the car in, which I have never done. I was forced to trade it in because the best part of all of this is that NO ONE wants to buy a one year old Jetta! Parts should not fail this soon and I have found that Volkswagen is aware of the issue and they take the Russian Roulette type of stance to the issue. Some cars work and some don't - DAS AUTO.
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2017 Jetta lease - horrible
don't get a lease, payments may be low but its nothing more than a big headache
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