Since VW loves coming in here to see what we are up to lets have them hear it from you guys! Every month I will post a new “How would you change” open thread.
So what would you like to see in the Jetta for the next model year? What would you change? What would you add? HIDs on the GLI? back up camera? a flux capacitor? Lets hear it!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Please bring back a quality interior…. hard plastics is the only reason making me stay away from the current Jetta. Cheap cars use hard plastics, that rattle, crack, fade, and are just cheap and nasty feeling. VW were always good quality cars with the best interiors and thats why I love my VW's.
Bring back the full MFD (except 2.0). The cheapest Golf and Jetta of other parts of the world has it.
I agree with the full sized MFD on SE, SEL, TDI models. Though I like the look of it, I think it's missing something on the front and rear. I'm scared to suggest chrome, but there needs to be something to make it look less generic.
Full MFD
LED taillights for SEL and GLI.
HIDs optional for SEL standard on GLI.
Improve material quality across model range.
Most will agree the new Jetta is a well designed car in the looks department, however the new Jetta is missing premium features it once had on the previous generation. The new Jetta needs a FULL MFD instrument cluster, the kind found on the new Jetta GLI, Golf TDI and SEL Passat. It also needs at least an HID option with LED DRL's and maybe LED tail lights for the higher trim levels. Another missing aspect of the new Jetta is it's lackluster interior materials on the higher trim levels such as the SEL and TDI. Sure the S and SE would be fine with a hard plastic dash, but people who are willing to pay more for SEL and TDI models should get the same soft touch dash materials used in the new Jetta GLI and Golf TDI. Something else I feel is missing on the new Jetta is independent rear suspension on the SEL and TDI. Aside from what I've just mentioned the new Jetta is a fantastic car, but I feel VW can definitely improve it by adding back it's premium upscale features it once had in previous years.
FULL MFD instrument cluster, on higher trim levels.
HID with LED DRL's as an option, on higher trim levels.
Soft touch interior materials, improve interior quality for higher trim levels.
Independent rear suspension, on higher trim levels.
That is all.
Mervin said it all, really. The Jetta is missing a premium trim level that would let it compete against other similarly-sized vehicles that have leather, independent rear suspension, and so on. I'm sure VW doesn't want to overlap the Passat feature set, but I'd think that a higher trim level (let's call it a Wolfsburg Edition) at a nice premium could still offer a package that would be both profitable for VW and attractive to customers.
Now, after we fix the 2012 Jetta, can we talk about fixing the completely broken VW ordering process?
Also it lacks power seats that the old Jetta used to have.
-Power seats on high end models
-Not especially the rear camera but at least parking sensors on certain models
-Hids on high end models
-Auto headlight across the range (maybe not the s)
-Ambient lighting
-Bigger screen for the nav
-Rear ventilation (even the golf has it)
-Nicer fob (like the last generation Passat) on higher end models
-Use the logo as the trunk handle (idk if it's already like that but i'd guess no)
Agree with above posts. HID's optional. Please put some fabric (or other soft touch material) on the door panels…..hard plastic door panels on the GLI??? Come on. MFD please.
More HP in the GLI, needs at least the same as in the Golf R…
S and SE stay the same priced fairly.
TDI/SEL Vw needs to do the trunk logo for every Vw its a awesome feature and it makes u feel exclusive.push start button were key hole is, LEDs in rear and hids in front.MFD
GLI low models are priced rite, higher end models should get same as TDI/SEL
And how about the real car we want a vr6 4 motion. I wouldn't care how horrible the in side of the car is. Give me a cheap vr6 please..
More padding on the door armrest. Your elbow bumps against the hard plastic underneath. More wheel travel. Current SEL slaps and jumps over expansion joints and bottoms out too easily.
Give us a front center armrest that is actually useful. Its positioned back so far that its worthless. Should have the same adjustable armrest used in the GTI. Also, fix the rattles and quality issues.
There is a big gap in the technology of the Jetta 2011 that could of been fixed in the 2012… (Just got my 2012 and disapointed with the tech integration)
Full MFD. Or if no full MFD have access to the options thought the radio options. Changing basic options is not possible unless you bring it to the dealer if you don't have this.
Better bluetooth integration :
-With bluetooth audio (A2DP) you can control the songs with the voice control but not the MFSW (what gives?!) .
-Also display song information of the song playing via A2DP on radio.
-Display Caller ID on radio (if no MFD)
My 2012 does all of that
Revert to MKV interior standards and replace all the little pieces they downgraded or completely removed to compete with Toyota. Sure they're doing that now and making lots of money but I'll take my 2010 TDI Cup any day over an MKVI
I’m so jealous Stu! I sadly knew nothing of the 2012 TDI Cup Edition until AFTER purchasing the 2012 Jetta TDI. What a let down. VW bring back a decent quality interior and the coolant/gas gauge. My old Kia had better instrumentation than this.
Dosent anyone want a vr6 4 motion jetta????
No..
Agree with Mervin, it would also be nice to see a jetta tdi 4motion.
Volkswagen should offer a more advanced engine for the Base model Jetta instead of the 2.0 liter sohc with 115 hp they used a a 2.0 liter engine from their partner Suzuki like engine found in the SX4 which puts out up to 143 hp or use the 2.5 liter engine engine the 115 hp engine is not enough; The base S model should come with Armrest and cruise control please ditch the 2.0 liter engine with 115 hp.
Can you do the Passat next month? Thanks Jay.
I recently purchased a 2012 GTI but had looked at at Jetta first (this was before the GLI was released) . My main reason for selecting the GTI over the Jetta came down to the perception of quality in in the car. From the seats to the dash and everywhere else inside, the Jetta felt like a Toyota Corolla. Even the trunk felt cheap. The GTI is muy second VW; my first being a CC and I loved the quality that the CC and the GTI have; especially the value for the money proposition.
Get rid of the hard plastics, get rid of the fixed arm rest, add some unique, premium features and you will have a winner.
My feeling is that VW is falling behind in telematics and driver-facing electronics. The MFD is dated. I have the same basic stuff and wheel controls in our 2006 Pk2 Jetta and 2009 Passat. The NAV is also nothing special. Ironically Audi is a leader in this area, so it's not like they don't have decent hand-me-downs available. They don't have to put in MMI and retracting screen, but VW is more than able to leap-frog the stuff Ford and GM and putting in their cars and touting heaviliy in their ads without major additional costs. Also, everyone likes that stuff, whereas some people, espeically in this $18-23K segment, simply do not care about the dash materials, the trunk hinges, and arm rests. We are in a gadget age and no product, not even a washing machine, can seem modern and valuable without fresh electronics.
Drive a Touareg 2011/12 and you will see the best integrated MDI VW has to offer. It's really incredible and way ahead of any Jetta/Passat/GTI/(fill in the blank).
As everyone else mentioned…
- Soft touch materials
- Rear ventilation
- HID's with LED DRL's optional on higher end Jetta models, standard on GLI
- Bigger nav screen
- Power seats
When the new Jetta and Passat came out there was a big deal made by VW that the car was designed to make the transition from other cars, i.e. Toyota, Honda, etc., easier by making some of the controls similar so it would be a small learning curve to change to a VW.
What would I change. The Cruise control, I find it too hidden away in the VW and the control switch to turn it on, off, or cancel a joke. Actually it's the cancel action that I find hard to use. I know you can touch the brakes but I don't like usng the brakes just to cancel the cruise control. A tap of the cancel button is my preferred method, but I find it to hard to find in the VW.
Wrapped in the sheet metal of the newly introduced 2011 Jetta, the gas-electric model will be a full hybrid, using VW's twincharger TSI in-line four-cylinder engine. I think I'll change the interior design.
Is there any point will VW listen? The drop in quality from the Mk5 to the M6 is unbelieveable. I own a UK spec MK5 and there is no way I would trade in for the lower spec, more expensive MK6. Big mistake for VW:
Very poor quality interior – crap cup holders in centre console that trap dirt, ashtray lid from Mk5 console missing on Mk6, arm rest that no longer adjusts, poor seats with no lower bolster – check Mk5 seats compared to Mk6, under seat draws missing, driverside storage compartment missing, poor open / close mechanism on overhead console. Mk5 had auto-windscreen wipers / auto headlights as standard on the MK5 – missing on the MK6 (except top spec or optional extra) . Plastic trim is hard and cheap looking, hydraulic lifts missing from boot (trunk) lid now replaced with big hinges which intrude into baggage space and where has the fully lined luggage space gone – bare mettal on the boot (trunk lid on a car of this price – seriously). The list goes on and on… It is a good looking car but for the price I expect more. VW set the benchmark with the MK4 and Mk5 and have now lowered their standards and raised the price. I am very disappointed as I have always bought VW – not anymore. At least the American market got the better looking GLI version – the UK "sport" edition is nothing of the sort!!!