2012 Jetta - Awful

[buster]

http://www.edmunds.com/volkswagen/jetta/2012/consumer-reviews/where's-the-love-the-the.html?style=101393775&sub=&reviewId=540676200

My wife has a 2012 Jetta with the 2.5L as a rental. This car is awful. It feels heavy, has the worst lag in acceleration I've ever experienced in a car and the interior is bland. Not impressed at all.

My wife used to have a VW Cabrio, which was a money pit. The Jetta rides decent and it is smooth but the brakes/acceleration are terrible. I would not recommend this car to anyone. Probably one of the worst cars I've ever driven.

 

[97tbird]

while not a surprise at all, good to know.
The blandness I could deal with somewhat, but it's the extreme cheapness/flimsiness of the interior materials which jumped out at me when I accompanied a friend who was test driving one.

 

[buster]

I haven't driven many VW's, but I was really surprised how bad it was, mainly the acceleration lag/brakes and interior. Interior is OK, I've seen worse but it's not great either.

 

[Falken]

2010 Honda Fit - never been happier.

The storage is insane, drives like a go cart, and is fairly easy on gas.

Got a great cash deal on it. Would probably buy another Fit after this one.

Wanted a Civic hatch of sorts but they stopped making them so I got it's replacement.

It is like a small mini-van. I am able to afford a larger car and the gas, but I am frugal and enjoy a bit of hyper miling.

I am not a race driver more of a Prius type of character so I love the car.

I can even sleep diagonally in it, and it is great for large grocery runs.

But the looks won't win it any beauty pageants lol.

 

[buster]

I would take any Honda over this VW, and I don't even like Honda designs these days.

 

[bigjl]

If only everything in life was as over-rated as a Volkswagen!

No surprise to be honest.

Bought by the middle classes in the UK who think they "know" something we don't.

Which is recent Ford vehicles are an awful lot better than recent VAG products, though Skoda do seem to be hitting the nail on the head as usual.

Look at the current Passat then look at the new Mondeo, which I think has just been released in the US as the new 2013 Fusion. Along with Aston Martin type grille.

I know how well the old Mondeo drove, this new one is a "world car" so very similar in all markets.

This new one is even better.

The US is very lucky that they are getting this vehicle first.

I hope it sells well. It deserves to.

And to all you chaps in US and Canada, don't be scared of the diesel versions, very good indeed as are the Powershift double clutch auto gearboxes.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The new fit sport handles terribly (at least MINE does) has long travel mushy brakes and a noisy engine and very excessive windnoise - but it is comfortable and reasonably capacious. Recently I had a 2013 Kia Forte 4 dr rental and it slaughtered the 12 Fit sport on all driving points and engine smoothness and power.

 

[97tbird]

For those in the know, How does the Passat (TDI) compare to the Jetta in terms of build quality overall, and ride? It did get the COtY award...(I know that may not mean anything but still...)

and why are we comparing Jetta to the Fit? is it a direct rival? (just curious)

 

[daves66nova]

I've always known VW's to be oil-burning,clunky heavy cars that break down,at least the old ones.I think I'd rather walk than own one.

 

[05Blazer]

The Germans way overengineered every VW model and then send them to be assembled in Mexico. Have you looked under the hood of any of those cars? I have never seen so many unnecessary hoses and tubes under a hood in my entire life. This is all the same stuff that breaks and costs $2000 at the dealer to repair on a car that cost under $20k at purchase time. Time for VW to leave the U.S. market. They can go sell in Mexico.

 

[notech47]

All Jetta sedans currently sold in the US, except for the GLI model, have a twist beam rear axle. Only the GLI sedan, which uses the very popular turbo 2.0L engine from the GTI, receives the independent rear suspension, which is also on the SportWagen. All Jettas now have rear disc brakes.
The GLI sedan as well as the SportWagen have an upgraded interior.

The only current model Jetta I recommend is the SportWagen for it's superior chassis, interior and interior space. The diesel engine is the way to go if you plan on keeping the car for a long time.

The hottest selling Jetta in the US at this time is the S model which not only gets the rear beam axle and down market interior, it uses a 2.0L that only makes 115 hp with 125 lbs/ft of torque. VW wanted to go after the Corolla, Civic, Sentra market and they have with the S. Sales have gone through the roof on the Jetta S; I am sold out on 2012's. Apparently there are many buyers who are primarily concerned with crash safety and price and there is no other German developed sedan that comes close.

 

[rshaw125]

The automotive press were less than thrilled with the Jetta.

 

[bullwinkle]

Hard to believe VW was the same company that built the nearly indestructible air-cooled Beetle and it's siblings!

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: buster
I haven't driven many VW's, but I was really surprised how bad it was, mainly the acceleration lag/brakes and interior. Interior is OK, I've seen worse but it's not great either.


This generation of the Jetta is decontented. Especially the brakes and suspension and interior. Its selling better than ever with price cuts. So go figure. Same thing with Passat. Base price drop of $8k+.

 

[DuckRyder]

Oh I'm sure one rental car is a perfect way to judge the entire line and condemn Puebla.

But why let facts get in the way of a good VW bashing.

 

[vintagegz]

Interesting as I own a 2012 VW GLI and a 2012 4dr Civic Si, the GLI has tons more interior room, especially for backseat passengers, rides better, feels more solid, and the paint and overall finish is miles ahead of the Civic. The Civic has the horrid rev hang between gear changes, metal feels sooo thin everywhere, ride is very choppy, and half the cowl has to be removed just to get at the spark plugs. The Germans do a much better job of door and trunk seams. The biggest gripe about the VW is the extra 6 inches or so of width at the rocker panel so shorter people have a big step to get in to the car, otherwise I will probably keep the VW much longer, the Civic just feels cheap every time you get in it. Just my 2 cents

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: notech47
SportWagen have an upgraded interior.


I actually thought the Sportwagen just KEPT the original/former gen. interior and didn't cheapen it, as was done in other trims.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: buster
I haven't driven many VW's, but I was really surprised how bad it was, mainly the acceleration lag/brakes and interior. Interior is OK, I've seen worse but it's not great either.


This generation of the Jetta is decontented. Especially the brakes and suspension and interior. Its selling better than ever with price cuts. So go figure. Same thing with Passat. Base price drop of $8k+.
Lots of phonys want to be SEEN in a "German looking" car and the VW is the best they can do. Audi has surpassed VW in quality but it's hard to find a cheap Audi. My Mensa candidate "seester" had TWO dead reliable Camrys, but "everyone at her school" has a German car now ("underpaid" teachers) and she won't stop whining about the problems with her new VW. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaanna

 

[97tbird]

Yeah VW is not the best way to enjoy a German Automobile perhaps...
I still am curious about the Passat, though...

The press HATED The Jetta, and understandably. But i have read almost zero bad reviews about the Passat...

 

[DuckRyder]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Originally Posted By: notech47
SportWagen have an upgraded interior.


I actually thought the Sportwagen just KEPT the original/former gen. interior and didn't cheapen it, as was done in other trims.


The SportWagen is really a Golf, not a Jetta and it could be argued it is more of a Mark 5.5 than a Mark 6. (although VW calls it a 6) But yes the SportWagen and Golf generally retain the interior of the Mark 5 cars.