Under the bonnet of the petrol Jetta we drove sat Volkswagen’s 1.4L TSI engine. The turbocharged 1,395-cc engine features direct injection and puts out 125 PS at 5,000-6,000 RPM and 200 Nm of peak torque from 1,400 to 4,000 RPM. Transmission to the front wheels is via a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine feels as crisp as it did on day one and one can’t help marvelling at the idea of engine downsizing and VW’s execution of it.
Despite the engine being a turbocharged one, there is no hint of any lag while the turbo is still spooling. The car responds with an alacrity that matches the input from your right foot and is delivered in a linear fashion. At the same time, that brilliantly flat torque curve means that you can cruise all day long without requiring too many downshifts or you can crawl through city roads with ease. Not that you mind shifting through the ‘box when it’s as slick and short throw as the one that the Jetta comes with.
What the TSI technology does so fluidly is allow you to have the best of both worlds. As the people around you get more and more environment-conscious, you can rest assured that your reputation as a petrol-head will not acquire negative connotations since the Jetta is capable of an overall fuel economy of 10.5 km/l with a highway best of 15. That’s pretty impressive for a car of the Jetta’s size. At the same time a standing start to the 100 km/h marker is taken care of in a short 12.5 seconds. No. There is no doubt that the 1.4 TSI is an excellent engine. Not to mention, it’s also a very refined unit.
On the ride and handling front, again the new Jetta is as good as its predecessor. Obviously, because mechanicals haven’t been fiddled around with. As a result, the Jetta’s suspension is set up just right for our really smooth Indian tarmac. The car has a pliant ride quality where only the deepest of potholes or the highest of bumps catch it out. Handling continues to be great as ever with the car feeling stable on straights and confident around corners. It also tracks a straight line under harsh braking. Speaking of braking, the four-disc set-up works really well with the brakes offering enough bite and progression. You always know a fraction of a second beforehand if the ABS is going to kick in.
On the whole, with the refresh, frankly VW have not given a radically new reason to buy the Jetta. What they have done, however, is make it just that wee bit more appealing than it already was. After all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
