New 2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift India Review

The second generation VW Jetta has been one of the best executive sedans available in India. Now Volkswagen has given the Jetta yet another makeover - second to be precise. The first makeover of the VW Jetta was about a year-and-half-ago, when it dumped the tear-shaped headlamps for a sleeker set and loaded the car with a fresh range of features. And till date has sold over 9,500 units.

Design: rating_3.5_rating

This is makeover 2.0. The car we see today is more of a cosmetic upgrade than anything else. The top-end Highline (only diesel) model now gets new LED day time running lights along with Xenon headlamps and dynamic cornering system. The shape of the headlamp has been altered yet again, to appear sharper than before. There’s a new grille - larger, with three chrome slats, which now merges seamlessly with the headlights. The bonnet is also slightly different and along with the redesigned front now gives the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta a wider stance. The front of the new VW Jetta looks more premium and now closely resembles the bigger VW Passat. The top-spec diesel also gets these solid looking twin-5-spoke alloy wheels. New bootlid with integrated spoiler, new rear bumper and redesigned tail lamps complete the upgrade to the rear section of the car.

Interior and features: rating_4.0_rating

The cabin is top notch and more up-market than ever before. It now features a three-spoke, flat bottom, multi-functional steering wheel, which is also seen on the recently refreshed VW Polo and VW Vento series. But here it's comes with paddle shifters and a couple of additional buttons for volume and cruise control. The twin-cylindrical driver’s instrument cluster gets chrome accents, adding to the premium-tag.

Feature wise the focus is clearly on safety. The 2015 Volkswagen gets six airbags as standard, along with brake-pad wear indicator and fatigue detection system which recommends a coffee break when it sense (with the steering input) that the driver is losing focus. The top-spec Highline also gets touchscreen music system and dual zone climate control. There's no sunroof option or rear camera, so you'll have to make do with parking sensors. But it has other useful features like ABS, ESP and hill control on all variants.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Engine: rating_4.0_rating

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta continues to be offered with a 1.4TSI petrol engine producing 122PS of power at 5,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1,500-4,000rpm with six-speed manual transmission. And in diesel it gets a 2.0TDI with power rating of 140PS at 4,200rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1,750-2,500rpm and comes mated with six-speed manual or DSG transmission options. Volkswagen India did not consider launching the latest, the new and more powerful version of these engines seen on the new Skoda Octavia which is based on the MQB platform, probably because the 2015 VW Jetta still uses the older PQ35 platform as its base. The extra power would have been appreciated, but neither of the motors feel underpowered or a lag to drive.

Since there are no mechanical changes in this facelift, the 2015 VW Jetta still retains the solid European driving dynamics. The diesel 2.0 TDI with the dual clutch gearbox shifts up effortlessly in Auto mode, with equally seamless kick downs. Switching to Manual mode, the driver gets the rein of the gearbox via the steering mounted paddle shifters. This makes the drive a shade more engaging and fun, without being overtly sporty.

The petrol 1.4TSI is only offered in the lower and mid-variants of Trendline and Comfortline in India. The spirited turbocharged petrol motor is no slack either, and is pleasantly free-revving. The six-speed manual transmission further enhances the driving pleasure with its precise throws and well spaced ratios. Wondering why Volkswagen hasn’t introduced a petrol automatic variant with the new VW Jetta facelift, like the Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI AT?

Ride & Handling: rating_4.5_rating

The Jetta has been right on top of the segment when it comes to ride and handling. The VW Jetta is among the few cars in its segment which has maintained a fine balance between comfort and sportiness. The suspension setup is reasonably firm and yet compliant. On one hand it manages to bulldoze most of the road undulations, keeping the car’s occupants free from unnatural jerks and bumps, and at the same time darts through fast paced corner confidently and with minimum body roll.

The electronic differential lock and ESP further encourage the driver, as the Jetta claws on to the tarmac as you exit the corner. The Volkswagen Jetta feels solid and well engineered, with the suspension-chassis match made in automobile heaven. The steering, although light, is fairly communicative and adds to the joy of driving. In the Rs 15-20 lakh segment, there aren't many cars that can boast of such driving pleasure.

Verdict

Finally, now after a couple of facelifts is the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta better than ever before? The answer is an emphatic yes! It’s enjoyable to drive, is extremely well sprung, comes with top-class European built and now looks more premium than before. But the bigger question to address is whether the new Jetta is the best option in its segment? Probably not, since this is just a minor cosmetic upgrade and it still carries forward most of the equipment introduced way back in 2013, whereas the competition has more advanced and extensive list of features to bedazzle the buyers. However, this does not stop the VW Jetta from being one of the best driver’s cars in its class.