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2024 VW Jetta Sport: Review, Specs, & Interior – The United States of America is flooded with reasonably priced sedans that seem to be unremarkable, and the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta appears to be simply another entrance into a sector that is contracting as crossover vehicles become more popular than compact sedans. The well-known Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic are the primary adversaries of the Volkswagen Jetta when compared to other vehicles in the same market class. Although it only generates 158 horsepower from its 1.5-liter engine, this vehicle’s gearbox may be either manually or automatically controlled, making it a very fuel-efficient alternative. Despite having a low starting price of roughly $20,000, this small Volkswagen receives a fair dosage of safety technology, which serves to make it a well-rounded package that nevertheless appeals to consumers who seek a great deal for the money they spend.
Review
The Jetta has a relatively laid-back driving personality when it is fitted with the standard four-cylinder engine; but, when it is fitted with the GLI configuration, it is able to step up to the plate and take a swing at sportier competitors. However, for those who want to get the most out of their money, the basic model is a good option since it is simple to live with, particularly when one considers the exceptional fuel efficiency it offers.
Because it only has 158 horsepower, the car isn’t in a rush to go anywhere, and increasing its speed on the highway is a methodical process that requires patience and persistence. Because of the sedan’s weak body control, navigating turns in this vehicle won’t be very enjoyable for you. On the other hand, it is quite simple to use, and the ride is comfortable in all of the available positions, regardless of where you choose to sit. However, the cabin may be affected by bumps of a significant magnitude.
If you want a little tighter response, you can have it with the XDS differential that comes standard on the 2024 VW Jetta Sport; nevertheless, this won’t really make the ride any more delightful than it already is. Steering is light and precise on every trim, which allows for confidence driving in the city.
When seen in a vacuum, the Volkswagen Jetta seems to have all that could possibly be required in a compact sedan. This is the impression given when the vehicle is evaluated. It is extremely reasonably priced, very roomy, and shockingly simple to live with due to the fact that it is simple to use and provides a comfortable ride. However, it is tough to overlook the numerous competitors in the market category that offer all of the same things and more, and often do it in a manner that is superior to the Jetta. The new Honda Civic has more attitude and is easier to drive than the previous generation, while the Mazda 3 offers greater passenger volume.
These rivals have also been successful in enhancing the quality of their interiors while maintaining a level of affordability that makes ownership relatively affordable. Sadly, the Volkswagen Jetta has not kept up with the times as well as other compacts that have more forward-thinking designs. It is not a poor vehicle by any stretch of the imagination; yet, in a market sector that has to compete with SUVs and crossovers on a level playing field, it just does not bring as much to the table as its competitors do.
The Sport trim comes with a number of enhancements, both aesthetic and performance-related, including the following:
- aluminum alloy wheels of 17 inches
- XDS cross differential lock (improves traction while accelerating out of curves; available only on certain models).
- Gloss-black front grille
- The window trim, mirror caps, and headliner are all black.
- Accent lighting in the front
- Embroidered in contrasting colors, the sport front seat
- armrest in the middle of the back seat has cupholders
- 60/40-split foldable bench seating at the back
- In a manner similar to that of the Jetta S, the Jetta Sport model equipped with an automatic gearbox is qualified for the IQ. Drive is
- a collection of driving assistance technologies.
Specs and Performance
This steering wheel is almost as excellent as the one found in the GLI, and it is the element that gives the Sport its most sporty feel. But don’t worry about it. This is a welcoming and delightfully refined automobile. It all begins, both literally and metaphorically, with the engine that is housed in the Sport, which is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that generates 158 horsepower at 5500 rpm. It starts up with a low hum that is hardly audible over the sound of a whisper, it runs smoothly over the whole of the tach, and it gives the impression that the Sport is more costly than it really is. It should come as no surprise that the straight-line sprint times of our six-speed manual car—60 mph in 7.0 seconds and a quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 92 mph—cannot compete with those of the 228-horsepower GLI six-speed—60 mph in 6.1 seconds and the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 100 mph. Still, this is not a terrible showing for the Sport, since it equals the performance of the most recent Jetta automatic that we tested while having a trap speed that is 1 mph faster in the quarter-mile.
When compared to the peppy GLI, the Sport’s performance in everyday city driving is pitiful and lags far behind. In spite of the fact that the specifications claim the Sport generates all 184 pound-feet of torque at 1750 revolutions per minute, our right foot told us differently. If you let the engine speed drop below 2000 revolutions per minute (rpm), it will seem as if gerbils have taken the place of the horses that are supposed to be powering the vehicle. This is especially true in heavy city traffic. There is really little impact when flooring the accelerator. The same lack of immediate torque was vividly shown in our top-gear acceleration test, in which it took the Sport an agonizing 28.7 seconds to accelerate from 30 to 50 miles per hour, whereas the GLI accomplished the same feat in 12.3 seconds. The Sport performs far better at greater engine and road speeds, as seen by its duration of 13.6 seconds to get from 50 to 70 mph as compared to the GLI’s time of 8.4 seconds. With the six-speed manual transmission’s smooth shifting, maintaining the engine in its peppy zone is a lot of fun. Even at slower speeds, the light action of the clutch makes this a vehicle that is a pleasure to drive since it is so engaging.
The Sport excels at the remainder of the driving experience, however, it does not make the experience particularly intoxicating. It has a surprisingly polished attitude that compliments the quiet ways that the engine operates thanks to the supple ride and competent handling that it has. Volkswagen went as far as lowering its suspension by 15 millimeters and installing a bigger front anti-roll bar in order to make it a more exciting vehicle to drive than the standard S model.
Although it is not a vehicle that beckons you to race it down a two-lane road, it maintains its composure even when pressure is applied to it. And despite the fact that it is unable to match the more incisive reactions of the GLI, the Sport has a skidpad grip of 0.87 g, which is 0.01 g better, while its stopping distance of 176 feet from 70 mph is just two feet longer. The fact that both vehicles are equipped with all-season tires is the limiting factor in this situation; a sports sedan with the pedigree of the GLI should have stickier rubber.
In the open road, the 1.5T reveals itself to be surprisingly frugal when it comes to the consumption of gasoline, with the Jetta achieving an average of 44 mpg in our highway fuel-efficiency test at 75 mph. This is a two-mpg improvement over the Jetta automatic we tested before as well as the EPA highway number for the Jetta, and it allows for the prospect of a range of 580 miles while driving on the highway.