2022 Volkswagen Jetta - Re- Driven Review - Miss Passat?
PEOPLE'S CAR STILL INTO CARS : Notch another unceremonious send-off for an internal combustion powered family sedan earlier this year. This time the North American Volkswagen Passat has bitten the dust. During three decades in the role of sole volume European mid size family sedan in the U.S., the Passat never found solid footing as either too pricey a German import or too watered down a Tennessee NMS product. No big loss, right? Soon the on-the-market ID.4 battery electric crossover will be joining the VW Atlas & Atlas Cross Sport full size sport utilities on the Chattanooga assembly line.
Say what one will about the demand for EVs and SUVs, it is a truly improved MQB Mk.7 VW Jetta which has eaten Passat's lunch. The current Jetta GLI is a bonafide hot Q-car, imbued with plenty of Golf GTI attributes at a bargain price.
This year marks power and interior enhancements to a Volkswagen Jetta Mk.7 Teutonic compact sedan, which Roadblazing.com editors in 2019 assessed as a "...more flavorful butter for People's Car Maker's American bread..." Time then to consider whether these improvements can make the transition from Passat to 2022 Jetta SE owner that much more palatable.
2022 Volkswagen Jetta SE Driving Hits : (difference(s) vs. 2019 Jetta 1.4T in parentheses)
- new Gen.2 EA211 1.5 TFI engine: +100 cc, +11 hp, = torque vs. 2019 VW Jetta 1.4T
- 158 hp; 184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
- A real torque converter 8-speed manumatic transaxle; Smooth 6-speed manual = standard on S, Sport trims
- Moves briskly: estimated 7.1 seconds 0-60 mph acceleration
- 34 combined miles per gallon (vs. 36 MPG for 2019 Jetta 1.4T)
- 500+ miles fuel tank range
- MQB platform permits tauter body control despite softer damping
- 17" inch alloy wheels (16" on S), 205/55 H-rated M+S tires, 4 wheel ABS disc brakes, front vented
- Cabin impressively immune to road & drivetrain noise
2022 Volkswagen Jetta SE Driving Misses:
- Automatic transaxle shifts lazily at low speeds
- Start/ stop idle (defeatable)
- Rear torsion beam rather than VW Jetta GLI's independent rear setup
- Occasional rear axle tramp
- Little steering road feel
- Braking body dive
- Low all-season tire dry grip
What the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta SE Driving Has Got:
- Low price: from $21,360 (incl. destination) for a 6-speed manual 2020 Volkswagen Jetta S. Add $800 for the 8-speed automatic transaxle. As tested 2022 Jetta SE price w/ destination = $26,335.
- Expressive wide hood valleys; Inboard arrow headlights; Lateral boomerang wrap around taillights; Prominent tandem body creasing, with upper crease extending to taillamps; Beveled trunk lid deck, with prominent curve rear bumper cover.
- New for '22: Tri instead of quad bar darkened eggcrate grill; Smoother mid fascia; Front and rear dark grey "bow tie" lower fascia inserts; Segmented front headlamps; Taillight lens swaps amber for red; Simulated lower rear bumper corner trapezoid exhaust outlets vacated.
- Accommodates 5 adults & their week's worth of luggage
- 60/40% split folding 2nd Row seat backs
- vs. NMS VW Passat: - 4.6" inches wheelbase, -1.7" inches 2nd Row legroom, 6% cabin volume, -11% cargo volume
- New for '22: STANDARD multi view full color Digital Cockpit standard (from the VW Taos compact SUV)
- New for '22: STANDARD MBI 2.0 Composition Color embedded touch 6.5" inch LCD media display with voice commands
- Above par standard feature set
- Power windows, 4 x auto up/ down, power locks, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, rear window defogger, heated side mirrors, auto dimming rear view mirrors, illuminated dual vanity sunvisors, overhead retracting sunglasses bin, 2nd Row reading lights
- 6 speaker, 160W HD radio streaming audio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink phone projection, Bluetooth, USB-C x 2
- Acceptably good Safety Features & Ratings
- 6 SRS airbags, IIHS Good marks across the board
- Rear camera, IQ.Drive Blind Spot monitor, auto LED & high beam headlamps, Collision avoidance pre-braking, post collision brake lock, S.O.S. alert
- IQ.Drive Travel Assist advanced driver assist technology (Standard on SE and above, $995 option on S & Sport)
- Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance braking w/ pedestrian detection, blind spot & rear cross traffic warning, rain sensing windshield wipers
- 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty includes 2 years maintenance
- Car-Net subscription telematics services
What the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta SE Has Not (or Not Preferred):
- Seat cushions too firm, too shallow
- Fixed 2nd Row seat headrests
- No sliding front center armrest
- No 2nd Row USB power ports
- Apogee of cabin finish austerity
- Exposed door frames
- Hard plastics abound including rear parcel shelf
- Lacks Golf's felt lined door pockets and better panel fit
- Infotainment settings & instrument panel illumination locked out when in motion
- Dim reflector LED headlamps
- Advanced driver assist optional on S and Sport trims ($995)
- 2 years / 22k miles shorter warranty from 2019 MY
Standout Cool Volkswagen Jetta SE Feature(s):
- Leatherette seating, heated Row 1, power driver's adjustment
- 2-zone Climatronic automatic climate control
- Customizable variable night cabin accent illumination
- Oversized power moonroof (opt. $850)
ROADBLAZING.COM's Final Word :
The updated 2022 Volkswagen Jetta accomplishes 90% of what late Passat did as solid family transport at a better value. That it is still offered with a gem of a manual transmission is a blessing. RB.com editors' money would be on a 22' Jetta Sport manual (with GLI's XDS front axle e-limited slip differential, dark body accents) optioned with IQ.Drive for a bargain $23,355.
Contributing Editor: T. Paluch
2019 Volkswagen Jetta SEL - Bottom Line Review
GOLFING FACT 1: The U.S. has over 15,000 registered golf courses. GOLFING FACT 2: The European Union has less than 7,000 registered golf courses. Alas, the car named Golf, with its appropriately available dimpled ball shifter head, lacks the equivalent popularity of the small dimpled ball sport
George Straton
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