Volkswagen Jetta

I took it for a test drive and i bought it – I took the car for a test drive and traded my Toyota for the VW Jetta. The car has heated seats, is a little noisy on road but i think it's the tyres with the road base. It has a sporty engine too so that's the difference with the car not being quite also. We have bought all our cars from there. I sked does it have a reversing camera he said no… Read more

but they are putting one in for me. I wouldn't of probably taken it if he said no but he said he would put one in the car. I'm happy with the car and the colour, dark grey is nice and also an older man owned it too.

If you earned money with hard work don't ever think to buy VW cars – I bought Vw jetta with complete service history from Volkswagen after owning the car for a while i had face issues with car like , transmission was about to gone oil leaks , piston cracks ,over heating engine For god Sake don't buy VW Show details

Good solid car for the money! – Hi I own a 2008 diesel Jetta we use it for our daily commute, it was my wifes car at first, then got handed down to my daughter, now passed onto my son. He uses it for work. Its travelled 255ks, its done its fair share of work. We were in the process of selling it but the son smashed his car and it was unrepairable so he started using the Jetta… Read more

and guess what he loves it, calls it a cracker. The major issues we have had are air conditioning compressor failure at 200k and turbo replacement at 248k. I think thats fair after 8 years of owning a second hand car which we bought with 100k. We like the cars economy and gadgets, and the heated seats are a must. Has Bluetooth, great premium stereo and handles fantastic. Best ever fuel economy we recorded was 1250kms to a tank. Also, If you are thinking of purchasing one get the leather interior its more durable. We service it every 10k even though the manual says 15k. Its been a great car, our local mechanic services it and its no more expensive than any other car. Turbo is actually half price to replace compared to a japanese or Korean cars. We replaced the brakes only once in 8 years and they are excellent. I do recommend the vw Jetta its a good value car with German ingenuity. Has a huge boot which is currently full of my sons tools. I cant see him getting rid of it because its to comfortable. Hope this was helpful. Also we now drive a VW Tiguan which the wife loves. When it hits 100k Ill write a review. Currently on 80k.

Fantastic, reliable car – Purchased the vehicle new back in 2007 and just sold after more than 11 years trouble free ownership covering 135,000km, mostly country/highway trips. Only issue was a faulty electric motor on the front passenger door window that was fixed under warranty. Has proven to be an exceptionally reliable, comfortable, solid, quality built car with very… Read more

good driving dynamics. The 2.0L turbo diesel matched very well with the 6 speed manual, giving consistent 4.9-5.0 L/100km economy (2 people plus boot full of luggage mostly and a/c on during summer) and well over 1000km between tank refills. Though annual maintenance costs were fairly expensive in regard to any parts required, they look reasonable by comparison to those for other European car makes. Always replaced key items like timing belt and water pump as per the service schedule interval and never had any maintenance issues whatsoever. Fitted with Michelin XM2 tyres from new, these were replaced at 75,000km, more due to age related degradation of the rubber (sidewall cracks) than lack of tread. Current Michelins at 60,000km still have plenty of tread remaining and should easily achieve 80,000km before requiring replacement - clearly a case of a tyre being well suited to a vehicle's characteristics. The build quality of the Jetta has been very impressive and the exterior paint finish and interior materials remain "as new" in appearance at the time of sale. Easily the best car I have owned from a list 12 over 40 years.

Drives Well. Looks Great. Handles Well – Performance is good for what it is... a 1.4 litre 4 cylinder, supercharged/turbocharged car with 118kw of power and 240Nm of torque. The Jetta uses a little more fuel around town than on the window sticker, as most cars I have owned do, but on a trip with two of us and luggage for two weeks, it returned a miserly 5.4 litres per 100km on average. … Read more

It has a DSG 7 speed transmission which is fun and predictable, once one gets used to this kind of box. Handling is pretty good for a 4 door sedan of this size and speaking of size, I chose this car over several on my shortlist, as it has the best rear legroom, (for my adult passengers) and bootspace. The bootspace is amazing for a car of it's overall size.

Exterior fit and finish is great for it's price range. The interior, though comfortable and very functional, lacks a little in the plastics, such as the door trims. It all fits together nicely, but could do with softer touch plastics for a more upmarket feel.

On a smooth freeway surface, the ride is brilliant, however, once on a more coarse bitumen a fair amount of road noise is present, although, not as bad as some I have owned or test driven.

Comparing it to my previous car, a Hyundai i40 Premium crdi wagon, it looks a little plain, doesn't have the luxury of leather, heated/cooled front and heated rear seats, a panoramic top and a few other tid bits, but overall, the Jetta is a much better drive. I have owned it for about 15 months and I have grown to like driving it very much.

It would be great if Premium fuel wasn't necessary as it's quite expensive, but I do like the surprisingly zippy performance from a car with a small engine.

Servicing costs are a little expensive at $425 for the 15km service.

I could have purchased a cheaper car that looked as nice as the VW Jetta, but I paid a little more for what I believe to be better quality and performance than some of the cars I was considering.

In summary: Great performance out of a 1.4 litre engine and 7 speed DSG transmission.

Good overal fuel economy.

Comfort is good.

Ride and handling are also good.

Interior/exterior fit and finish are good, but interior plastics could be better.

Value for money? You get what you pay for, no more, no less. Good.

Perfect mid sized car 103tdi highline – Great fuel economy, better road cornering, road grip, heaps of boots space, plenty of options which you cant find in competitors Japanese cars. I drive 500kms per week, with both in and out of city travel.  Show details

Sad they’re no longer around – Couldn’t fault the 2009 Jetta TDI I owned, great run around and good for long distance too. In the time I owned it, I had completed around 70,000km and not a single thing needed replacing (except for tires). I also the previous Jetta, VW Bora v5, clocked up over 240,000km and the only problem was the sunroof starting to leak around 230k km, easy… Read more

fix though. One of my favourite cars i owned and I still miss it. Highly recommend. I’ve also heard they’re one of the most reliable Volkswagens around.

solid – this is a very economical car, not a lot of frills on the comfortline, but not missing out on any features either. dsg gearbox takes a while to get used to.

Appalling catastrophic faults – Engine timing chain stretched, waiting on a catastrophic engine fault if it blows before the $1500 repair. Automatic clutch also on its last legs, another $2000 in repairs. ALL KNOWN FAULTS TO VW! Car is almost 5 years old. Avoid like the plague!! Reasonable use of a Car engine should last way more than 100,000km, IMO do not buy one  Show details

OK, but no rave – We had a 118 Jetta Trendline my16 manual model. At first I thought it was quite a nice car. It drove well, felt reasonably solid. Then the AC went. OK everyone has bad luck - replaced under warranty. Then a part between the supercharger and turbo failed - tow job. Then the ECU went. And finally the dual mass clutch shat itself -VW claimed it was… Read more

wear and tear even though an internet search will reveal multiple customer problems. And then it went again. Mmm. the gloss has now worn off.

Having been a huge fan of german made stuff in the past, i have been systematically disappointed.

Wont be buying VW, Bosch or Miele again.......

Needs lots of attention – 2014 Jetta TSI 1.4 manual purchased new. Great car but I have always changed the oil and filter (Mann oil filter and synthetic 5w 30 castrol) every 5,000 ks and spark plugs every 30,000ks. Always use 98 octane fuel. No problems with this regime. Show details

Is a good car 10/10 – Is my partners daily drive, he loves it. Costs the same to fill as my car & he gets more kms. Gets serviced twice a year. It gets driven over mountain ranges regularly & never misses a beat. Show details

Good customer support – This is our family car and has travelled 56000kms from new. Excellent to drive and very impressive performance and economy. We've had two issues though, one under warranty for a fuel flap problem that was promptly replaced at no charge. The second issue was with the water pump and supercharger clutch (all one unit). Even though some months out of… Read more

warranty, Volkswagen Australia did a 'good faith' replacement and included labour at no cost and informed us that this mechanical issue was unacceptable for a car of this age.

Very happy with the service we've received through Vokswagen Ferntree Gully.

Thank you!

Excellent twincharger – We bought new and haven't had any issues with the non cavd engine as this has a cthd. Consistently getting 5l/100k have had 1 issue where the rhf door mech stopped working, dealer fixed it straight away.Love the superchargers torque which still surprises people when I tell them its a 1.4l  Show details

Nice car – Brought this car secondhand 2 1/2 years ago Very luxury performance car , very zippy in traffic has a lot of tork easily five adults can fit in the car boot is massive few things went wrong in couple of years like pcv valve,dv valve,coil pack but that is all Easy and simple to do it yourself  Show details ·  1

I love this car – I purchased my 2008 VW Jetta three years ago second hand. Even though it is a little bit older than most Jettas you see on the road, it is the best car I've ever owned. Handles really well, has leather seats, seat warmers, skylight, etc. Feels like a luxury car, and is very elegant. Not too expensive to run either.  Show details

Oldie but a Goodie – My partner purchased this as his first car and I -even if it’s not mine- fell in love with it. You can always tell the quality of a car by how loud a thump the door makes when you close it. Any Volkswagen is a durable and SAFE car you can tell it isn’t just a tin box. It’s heavy and protective. I’m blown away by the new age thing an 07 model has.… Read more

Stuff that you’d pay thousands for in something like WRX. Plenty of leg room, and the boot space is out of this world, the largest boot I’ve ever seen in a car. Buttons easy to use and understand, car drives smooth and the cabin blocks out so much noise, just an all round amazing car. My boyfriend is already planning on purchasing the newest model because we’ve both become avid VW lovers. Affordable when it’s comes to filling the tank and it’s fuel efficiency is incredible.

The only drawback is the roof lining which has slowly come from its corner and is just falling apart in general. The car seat fabric is perfectly fine, just anywhere else within the interior with fabric is falling apart. But other than that, an amazing car.

Great & Stylish Car! – I purchased my Jetta in 2015. Prior to this purchase i had a VW passat so i was a little nervous downgrading from a passat to a Jetta. In saying this, i love my Jetta!! It drives very well (smooth) and still feels very luxurious inside. Plus the boot space is SO spacious which i did not expect! I do miss having a center console and a few other… Read more

luxurious icons however if i dont compare this car to the passat and compare its actually an FANTASTIC car! Very happy with my purchase even 2 years later and would highly recommend this car!

Best Car – Not a single problem for the past 10 years. Lovely car to drive. Looks like a sedan but drives like a sports car. We have the 2.0 Turbo. Drinks a bit of oil. You need to check oil level every 1,000 - 2,000 km. Looking to replace it with a VW Passat.  Show details

Love my Jetta!!! – I love my Jetta and when it comes time to replace it, I will seriously consider buying another one. I live slightly out of town so I do both highway and city driving. I have a diesel and have found the fuel usage very economical especially on long trips. I have found the car to be very reliable and safe. It is very quiet and comfortable to drive… Read more

and has the quick extra 'get-up-and-go' if needed in emergency situations or when overtaking.

I love the large size of the boot and how you can either place the whole back seat down or just the middle if you have large or long items to move.

I have found the interior cloth on the doors and roof does not last and it is near impossible to replace. It cannot be replaced to the same quality and standard and the plastic clips always break no matter how careful the repairer is. After having repairs from two separate roof liners, I have given up having my Jetta look as it did prior to this. Now bits and pieces hang off and panels cannot be re-fitted. I have also found some of the other plastic breaks and even though I have been careful with them, I cannot say the same for the mechanics' and other repairers who have used my car.

I have a good mechanic and they have always been helpful so the costs has been reasonable. I will say that original parts are very expensive. In all this time additional to the regular service, I've only ever had to replace the internal window system, have the aircon and vents check, and the roof lining and door lining replaced. Oh, and the windscreen wipers are a bit of a nightmare to replace and more expensive than most others. It does blow a bit of smoke sometimes, but it is a diesel. I've been very happy with the diesel performance - much better than I thought it would be and definitely just as good if not better than a petrol car.

This car is coming up to 10 years old and has spent the last few years out in our hot northern sun. Except for the plastic interior, it has weathered very well. I would love to see a few more different colours besides those 'safe' more 'popular' colours. I still love driving this car and feel safe when driving it.

Great value in just 22k price – Bought my first car Jetta 118 tsi manual in July 2015 in 22k. I considered buying toyota corola, mitsubishi Lancer, Mazda 3 2.0l, hyundai i30. However, ended up buying Jetta. there were several reasons to buy a european car (which I always thought expensive on maintance and not reliable as saw thousands of bad reviews). As soon as I took test… Read more

drive at five docks dealer, I just finalised my mind to buy this car. what a nice simple and sober interior, smooth gear shifting, great quality sound system with 8 speakers, decent power (enough for daily commuting) etc. All japanese or korean car can't stay even closer according to my choice after test driving this car. Jetta has got very good breaks.

First month experience:

Great pickup, nice and loud music system, great fuel economy (13km/litre). Turbo sounds great. Had some problems with Cruise control and music system (some times restarted) then took it to the dealer. They just updated its software and problems never came back.

Current status:

Have done around 27000km on odometer. Have been serviced twice from Parramatta Denlo. Started to hear some squeeking noise from somewhere under the bonnet. I did take to Denlo service center during recent service, they tried fixing it but problem is still happening. It is still not very bad. I was advised by their very friendly staff that if problem doesn't go away I should take it back to them. However, I never get time to do so. I am going to try next month to get it fixed.

Overall experience: You can never get car like this at this price. Highly recommended. However, heard a lot of things about the same car in automatic (dsg) transmission. so i would recommend every Jetta lover to go for Manaul transmission.

Extremely Fuel Economy – Jetta 2015- Overall really good experience. Feels luxurious internally and overall good value for money. Good speed and fuel economical. We bought from 1st owner at 97km. Despite of higher KM the car manage to impress us. Good speakers. There are lots of internal features which came as standard options however with other cars its premium.  Show details

reliable car – its good to drive but not so quite as inside , fuel is efficient about 8.2 98 petrol per 100 kms service regularly will keep 15000 for each circle, i changed the timing belt and stuff cost me 1000 which are a lot to this level of cars good for first car  Show details

Standard feature were beyond my expectations – The jetty having a solid 2L engine and having the extras and huge jump in luxury... However the vehicle it self had me in awe. The options, seat warmers, auto climate control along with climate control too. Best car I've had. Overall speed' drive ability... And laziness features makes the overall choice easier at such a beautiful vehicle. Ju Just a bigger golf gti  Show details

Not particularly happy with the car or the lack of ongoing care – I bought a VW Jetta 118TSI Sedan brand new in early 2015 though it's 2014 plated. Had the radio fuse blow within the first couple of months, didn't have time to waste going to service centre and wanted to replace it myself but found it incredibly difficult to find the fuse box map, like it's top secret. Got it eventually and changed the fuse, but… Read more

they shouldn't make it so hard.

I'm still not used to the road noise, even after almost 2 years, and keep checking that the windows are up.

My main gripe is the temperamental cruise control. I reported it within a few months of getting the car, was told that it was a known glitch in the computer system that they were trying to fix, that they'd put my name down to contact once they'd worked it out. Still waiting. The cruise control might work fine for weeks or even months but just when I least expect it, it won't work, simply won't turn on, very frustrating as I drive on 100km/h motorways every day and like to use cruise for them.

Despite my complaints, it's a well thought out car with plenty of room, decent quality fittings, and drives well. If it wasn't for the cruise problem and trying to access the fuse map, the road noise would have been my only issue.

Reliable and Comfortable – The car performs exceptionally well on the road, is a pleasure to drive and very comfortable. A trip from Melbourne to Queensland proved that I had made the right decision purchasing this car, the car is exceptionally reliable, on start it was always humming. The cost of fuel from Melbourne to Queensland return was $500. Although this is a… Read more

diesel engine, the noise is barely noticeable. There is plenty of leg room in the front and rear and the dashboard has all of the mod cons. The only negative is the navigation system is outdated as it does not recognise our street name which has been around for 8 years, and an upgrade from VW costs over $300, yet Google maps is free and has recognised our street for 5 years!

An ideal car for all the right reasons – I am driving my third VW Jetta and I love them. My first one was a 2006 2.0 litre Turbo petrol of 147kw. It was great with GTI performance. At 237K kms and out of extended warranty I then bought a 2009 2.0 TDI with 103kw which I thought may be well under-powered for my tastes. I was delightfully surprised that the torque of the diesel… Read more

engine closed the power gap considerably. Economy went from about 7.5L per 100km to about 4.5L per 100km which was also a pleasant bonus. Two years ago I decided to update and hunted around for a 2014 2.0L TDI of 103kw. It was late in the year and they all seemed to disappear. My wife found one online with a VW dealer in Victoria. I flew to Melbourne to pick the car up and drive the coast road home. The 2014 had a number of lovely refinements but I was instantly comfortable in familiar yet varied surrounds. Bluetooth connectivity and a GPS screen were new additions that are very handy and easy to operate.

All three of my Jettas have exceptional boot space. They have all been very comfortable though being a mid sized vehicle. The ride and handling is superb with plenty of cabin space and headroom.

The build quality is first-rate and all dials and controls are exactly where you expect them to be, although I am not surprised with knowing the German engineering skills.

Economy seems to improve with each model and I regularly achieve 4.3L per 100kms when on the long runs down to Sydney. With the A/C on (and appreciated) I get 4.4l per 100kms. My personal best fuel rate has been 4.1L per 100kms on an interstate run.

My wife and daughter both drive VW Golf 2.0L 103kw TDIs - my daughter has recently purchased a near new VW Tiguan with the same motor. My son drives a 2013 VW Golf GTI. So when all are at home our house looks like a VW Dealership.

A few months ago I took my wife to an Art Exhibition at Coffs Harbour about 170kms north. It was a slow trip due to extensive roadworks and a number of 80kph limits. We were not in any hurry and meandered north with the cruise control set. At Coffs I was surprised to note that I had obtained 3.9L per 100kms! Some hours later we returned home at the same pace and was amazed to note a 3.6L per 100kms (about 79.1 mpg in my language). It was probably due to have a warm engine before heading home. Regardless I still cannot believe the economy - any lower and I would be making diesel.

Yes, I love my Jettas and I don't believe that there is another mid-sized car out there that can match all of its qualities. The build quality, reliability,comfort and handling, combined with great economy sure put it at the top of my list. And yes, I am now completely biased.

Happy Motoring, - Kim

The Diesel is a powerhouse. Unbelievable economy – Had the 2008 Jetta Diesel for 3 years and 60,000ks now and must admit its a car that ticks so many boxes it amazes me why they aren't more popular. Many people confuse it with a Passat of the same year and in reality it is almost as big on the inside even though it is narrower outside. It is a really well thought out design, room for 5, enough… Read more

boot space for 5 (the boot is huge) split fold seats for even bigger storage, and storage trays under the front seats and handy pockets everywhere. Super comfortable, handles really well and there is effortless power from the 2.0 litre diesel which really surprises when you put your foot down.

Put it in sport and it is a totally quicker car again and its hard to pick it as a diesel. I really can't fault it and apart from the normal servicing costs and a few headlight globes that needed replacing it is incredibly affordable and reliable to own. Five litres per hundred is easily achievable when you are cruising and I'm getting 6.2 as an average in city driving which for a car with as much space as the Jetta inside is fantastic. Having stepped out of an Alfa into the Jetta my only message to VW would be to put a better sound system in the car, but to be fair the Jetta does cost $40,000 less and some after market speakers are way less than that. Best value car I've ever bought.

December 2nd 2016 Update: Diesel is the one to get.

Had for 4 years, comfortable,is big on performance and way better on economy than the petrol ones.Very economical 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel with a healthy 320Nm on hand from just 1750 revs meaning effortless cruising. Brilliant DSG gearbox which you can flick to manual mode if you wish or S sport performance mode if you don’t mind speeding fines. Has rave reviews in motor mags.

Love this car – I have a 2010 2.0 TSI - fantastic car and has never missed a beat. Well put together and nicely styled. Even though it's from the last generation the dark leather interior is still very contemporary. Servicing costs are on the high side but this is ameliorated somewhat by the fact that it is only required annually. The engine has enough poke… Read more

to keep things fun and the slightly lower and firmer ride than the standard Jetta gives it reasonable handling. I love the DSG gearbox - it adapts to your driving style and will automatically kick down a gear when you touch the brakes going down hill or when starting an ascent. Those used to a standard auto may find it takes some getting used to as it really replicates how a manual gearbox is used.

Huge boot, plenty of space up front and reasonable space for rear seat passengers as well.

The latest model will be on my shopping list when I finally decide to part with this one.

No complaint, OK CAR ! – I bought Jetta 2014 model in Nov 2014 and since then I have no problem with the car. Cruise control, brake and lightnings are all working OK. On slopes the pick up is not satisfactory. On level road at 80-100k it is noiseless and I like it. Only concern is service cost. So far I have no complaint with this car.  Show details

Don't make the mistake – This car is under a year old and stalls in the morning when is cold and the brakes always makes a noise like it's out of brake pads. The cruise control has a fault and stops working and can't be turned on. I have a old car that runs better then this!! Very disappointing  Show details

Great car but buying secondhand do your homework – Personally would not buy a used DSG unless you know the mechtronics unit in gearbox has been changed even in earlier models, even in the wet clutch model. These are a time bomb waiting to happen. You also have to factor in very high service costs which counteracts any diesel savings so it will cost you heaps which ever way you look at it. … Read more

Really gets down to do you want a cheap diesel and if so go get a Hyundai diesel passenger car or want something

with more comfort and safety and better driving which will be a European car.

Would I buy another new VW... No, customer service suxs, ask any VW owner.

Car for Middle Child – The background... middle child from middle class background at University and we, the parents, decide to buy her a car for her 22nd birthday. Initially we wanted cheap and cheerful, so we looked at Mazda 121s and the like (e.g Hyundai Mairitz). Then started looking at safety ratings and suddenly the $3000 we'd set aside became in the region of… Read more

$5000-7000. We used both ANCAP reports and research from Monash University to try to narrow the cars down. We eventually decided any car needed:

To be 10 years old or less

Have side airbags as well as front ones (rear seat or head airbags a bonus)

ABS

Electronic stability

Traction control

The car could be older than 10 years, but only if the same model was a safe one.

Short List

Initially I looked at all sorts, only to find small Holdens from 2004 until 2010 were often rehashed Daewoo cars, Honda Jazz cars had problematic CVTs, Toyota Yaris are priced very highly, as with Suzuki Swifts. I concentrated on BMW 31x from 2000-2004 (E46) with 8 airbags, etc. or SAABs. Only problem with SAAB is the factory no longer exists and, unlike Toyotas, membership into the 200000km + club is limited. I looked at one VW diesel, but the dual mass flywheel problems put me off.

VW Jetta

Then, in the local wholesaler, saw a 2007 VW Jetta 2.0 Turbo with 206000 on the clock. Bit hesitant, but the price was in the $5000s and less reluctant once I discovered it had a wet clutch DSG instead of the problematic dry clutch.

After an inspection, both by myself and with Ultra Tune, who vouched for the transmission and engine, bought it. As it turned out, it needed timing belt replacement, new tyres and radius bushes and service -- so not quite the bargain I hoped for -- but once these were done I drove it to work for the following week and these are the observations.

Good

The turbo is punchy, the DSG smooth, and body plus suspension good. It has six airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control, EBD, and most other things that make a car safe. It was a recommended car from the Monash University study that examined actual cars and accident outcomes. It comes with heated external mirrors, auto dipping internal mirror, auto wipers, auto lights, dual climate control and heated seats, all of which work, and air pressure monitor for tyres.

Its history has 100% VW service, so all recalls and advisories done. It drives well, and all internal lights plus rear reversing sensors all work. Electric windows all work too.

Despite being built in Mexico, build quality looks really good.

Not So Good

Some idiot put an after market muffler on it so it sounds like a coffee can muffler. Why!!!!???? The burble becomes quite tiresome.

Mileage only good when driven sedately. Too much turbo means fuel consumption goes up to 12+/100 ltrs/km.

Worried about turbo and DSG. If these go then the car is not economical to repair. However, all being equal, I hope they'll last at least 50000km or more.

Some of the headliner dropping around the sunglass holder. Just a little, but does detract. Looked up VW sites and this is a known problem.

Rear bushes will need doing next service.

Summary

Except for the turbo kick, this car is ideal for a young driver. So much so I joked that I'd keep the car and middle child can have our old A class. As safe as it can be, given our limitations, and with some grunt to get out of trouble. Also boring enough from the outside so not too attract too much unwanted attention.

I can understand why VWs are popular. Definitely one to consider if you're thinking of a cheaper, safe car.