Used 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S Sedan Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S Sedan.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Great Basic Car
Bill, Harrisburg, PA, 09/19/2018
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I was looking for a basic commuter car for 100 mile daily round trip to work. The new Jetta looks great, understated but with some character. It is very quiet and comfortable on the road. Acceleration and handling are adequate, but nice for a base model car. Averaging 39 mpg over the first 1,500 miles with a max of 47 mpg for a 50 mile trip to work. It's great being able to drive the 500 … miles a week for commuting to work on one tank of gas. Yeah, it's the first year of a major redesign, which is usually a non-starter, but the 6 yr, 72,000 warranty puts my mind somewhat at ease.
UPDATE: After 2.5 years and almost 60,000 miles the Jetta has been a great car. Still averaging around 40 mpg. Everything has held up well - looks almost new and no mechanical issues. I've been very happy with the car.
Fantastic car but serious ding for weak A/C
trutell, Wethersfield, CT, 07/16/2019
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Went for a test drive today and the car is superior in most every way especially for the price. Have been comparing the Honda models which are also quite good. But at 85 degrees, the A/C couldn't cut it for the front seat occupants let alone the guy in the back seat. If you get hot weather in the summer you will not be happy with the results. We also tried the Golf for comparison's sake. … A/C was also a dog. You would think VW would get the message after decades of experience with the bug which never could supply enough heat. Now we have the opposite. People actually care about climate performance. Dealer's excuse was they had to shrink compressor/evaporator capacity to preserve top mileage.
great commuter
Bernie, Pine Brook, NJ, 09/09/2019
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
A few things first - I drive 110 miles daily through the hills of NW NJ/NE PA. The drive is ok in the morning (I leave before the rooster crows) and sucks on the way home. I am not looking for a "driving experience", just to retain what little left of my sanity remains. I tried several cars in the price range, with the Mazda 3 coming the closest (and was quite a bit more $), but … didn't like the high beltline, the handling was a little stiffer, and the mileage wasn't as good. The Jetta has great visibility, the base seat works very well for me (supportive yet comfortable for a short, fairly lean guy), handling is good enough, and while not a sports sedan, I can easily merge or pass trucks on the hills. The truly magical part is I can get 44 mpg doing 80 mph through the hills in the morning. I cut my trips to the gas station in half, and I don't drive to optimize fuel consumption. Due to the stop and go nature of my return trip, only get about 37 mpg on the way home. The trunk is also cavernous - more than once I have loaded 8' pipe into the car (with the back seats down), and had no issues. Overall, I'm thrilled with the vehicle, but there are a few downsides:
- The base tires are only ok in rain, and quite poor in snow. You'll need snow tires if in the snow belt. The price you pay for great gas mileage.
- For some reason, at the slightest hint of humidity, the front windshield fogs. My defroster is almost always on.
- It is a pretty bland looking car, especially compared to the Golf, Passat, or any of the Audis (I'm indifferent to the appearance, but tend to go to the wrong car when in parking lots, which wouldn't happen to any of the others - probably should not have bought white).
- No one carries the specified oil, except VW dealers, and the dealer isn't conveniently located. This is the only "con" that truly bothers me.
- When driving in eco mode, early shifts at too low revs, and the trans sounds a little rough. Less so when taking out of eco mode, only impacts the highway mileage by 1 mpg.
- VW reliability scares me a bit. Fingers crossed that I can get 200k without a major issue.
If you just want to get through a commute in a comfortable, quick, fairly agile, quiet car while stopping at the gas station as infrequently as possible (or about every 550 miles for me), this is a great choice.
1 year update: I'm now at 40k miles after a bit over a year. I've had 1 minor oil leak (fixed under warranty), and the tires are about shot (surprised me a little, as I typically get 60k+ out of tires with mostly highway driving). I feel exactly the same on the car. I'm getting a touch over 39 mpg with spirited highway driving, experiencing no odd noises or decreased performance. The seat is still firm and comfortable, and the car has required no major work. This is still the perfect commuter car for me (roomy, comfortable, handles well, decent acceleration, great fuel economy).
If you are looking at a Corolla, Civic, or Elantra, throw the Jetta in your search. You may be quite pleasantly surprised.
Update 27Mar2021
With almost 80k miles on the car, it hasn't changed much. The seats are still firmly comfortable, I still get almost 40 mpg in mostly highway driving, no odd squeaks,... I replaced the stock tires with General Altimax, and do much better in the snow. The tradeoff in mileage (about 1 mpg worse) equalled out due the lack of traffic (still much lower than pre-Covid levels). I've had nothing besides routine maintenance (except when I knocked off the mirror casing when backing out of the garage). Routine service costs a bit more than most American or Japanese cars, but not by much (although this year I have to get the brake fluid flushed, not sure what that goes for). Overall, still pleasantly surprised, and if I had to buy another car today, a Jetta would still be in serious consideration.
Update 29Sept22 - At 130k, only standard maintenance, another set of tires and alignment (another Altimax, got 70k out of the previous with good wet weather performance, decent in the snow). No noticeable change in performance or odd rattles, still comfortable on long trips. Mileage is down to about 38.5 mpg (from just over 40), but due to increased traffic post covid. My only complaint is the driver's side sun visor clip broke, Volkswagen doesn't sell it separately (that I can find), and they want $370 for the assembly. Will get creative this weekend. After 3-1/2 years, still very happy with the vehicle. Maybe I'm just lucky, but if looking for a compact commuter, I suggest adding the Jetta to your test drive list.
A premium sedan deserving a more premium interior
Jonathan, San Francisco, CA, 06/18/2019
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I rented a spanking-new Jetta for a 10-day Alaska vacation with my wife and adult daughter. We put about 700 miles on the car and my overall impression is that this is a premium sedan that deserves a more premium interior.
The trunk swallowed three big roller cases with some room to spare though a lower lip would have made loading and unloading easier. I appreciated the … spring-loaded trunk lid. My daughter had plenty of room behind her 6-foot parents and we all found room to put our road-trip things.
Bridging our trip was a 300-mile drive from Anchorage to Valdez and back. It begins and ends at sea-level with mountains in between, and with cruising speeds mostly in the 60s and 70s, we received a truly impressive 42 mpg. The two-lane road required frequent passing and the tiny 4-cylinder turbo never wanted for power. Using manumatic for engine braking on down grades, the eight gears, meant a few downshifts at a time; sometimes all the way down to 3rd gear. Paddle shifters would have been nice, but gear changes were sufficiently quick. Passing and engine-breaking were the only time I heard or felt the engine.
Echoing, Edmunds, the steering was lifeless around town, but felt fine on the highway. The ride was stately and composed rather than sporty, which was perfect for family hauling. In this respect, the car felt a step or two above its class, which I think also can be said for its exterior. I can’t speak to the headlight quality as it never got dark.
This being a base model, I appreciated having Apple CarPlay for navigation. It was my first experience with the app, and if there is a way to zoom in and out on the nav screen, I didn’t find it. The base audio is merely adequate, and the base cloth seats were terribly plain in appearance but perfectly comfortable on both 5-hour trips. I found no need for a lumbar support control.
As mentioned, a car with this level of engine and ride refinement deserved a more upscale dash, like say, the Golf’s. That said, the controls are clear, feel good, and the steering wheel looks quite nice with well-laid out controls, particularly for the cruise control and gauge-cluster display. Were I to own this car, I’d quickly stitch on a leather wrap for the rim.
I’m a big fan of the Mazda3 for this class, and it still may be my choice, but the more efficient Jetta may be my choice if my daily driving were significantly longer.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S Sedan
What’s new
- Fully redesigned
- More in-car and safety tech
- New SEL Premium trim
- Part of the seventh Jetta generation introduced for 2019
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Ride comfort is on par with luxury cars
- Pro:Lots of places inside the cabin to store your stuff
- Pro:Beats premium audio system is excellent
- Pro:Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- Con:Brakes feel grabby at low speeds
- Con:Steering wheel controls take some getting used to
- Con:Cabin feels more plasticky than others in the class
Which Jetta does Edmunds recommend?
The 2019 Jetta R-Line could be the way to go. It adds a lot of desirable features to the base Jetta S such as simulated leather upholstery, heated seats, a sunroof and 17-inch wheels. We also like that the R-Line has a blacked-out front grille that's more visually appealing than the ungainly chrome piece.
Full Edmunds Review: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan
Driving
7.0The Jetta feels quick around town thanks to the solid torque output from the turbocharged engine. It also handles curves well, staying controlled and stable. But the numb steering and chassis and lack of top-end power make the Jetta less engaging than it could be. It's undeniably competent in typical driving, but it lacks the character of some competitors.
Comfort
8.0It's disappointing that only the highest trim gets adjustable lumbar because the lack of support is a real pea under an otherwise comfortable mattress. The Jetta has a good ride quality and suitable noise insulation, along with nicely cushioned seats. But your lower back will be left wanting.
Interior
7.5The Jetta's interior looks nice, but it's chock full of hard plastics that create some unfortunate pressure points for taller drivers. The highly adjustable driving position is a plus, but overall interior accommodations are only average. Strengths such as rear legroom balance out against weaknesses such as the front passenger's cramped footwell.
Utility
8.0The Jetta has plenty of room for your stuff. Small-item storage is copious, even if the Jetta doesn't offer as many organizational options as class leaders. The trunk is large and easy to load, and the folding rear seats will accommodate long items. There's also plenty of room for car seats.
Technology
7.5While you get some nice features such as smartphone integration standard, it's really in the higher trim levels that the Jetta's tech shines. Examples include the excellent upgraded stereo and flashy features such as the Digital Cockpit. Competitors give you some extras at lower trim levels, especially with driver aids.
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Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta in Ohio is:
$53.92 per month*Legal