Indian Autos blog

News of the Jetta arriving at dealer showrooms has been on and off. The Jetta TSI is like a sneeze – you don’t know when it’ll come!

Volkswagen has been testing the TSI Jetta or a TSI-badged Jetta around its Chakan factory for many months now. VW India’s strategy was diesel-only for both Jetta and Passat as demand for petrol skewed to the bottom of sales charts across segments.

Yesterday, VW India finally pulled the dust sheets off the new Jetta for the Indian market. The old Jetta was launched in India is early 2008 and always remained in the shadow of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevy Cruze and its cousin sister Skoda Laura.

Unlike all these cars which had their own specific USP, the Jetta was a jack of some trades. So VW India decided to can the old model and bring the sixth generation Jetta in India.

click through to view loads of photographs and read our opinion

As IndianAutosBlog.com readers get immersed in a sea of information surrounding the new Swift, relief comes in the form of the Volkswagen Jetta which was also launched today in Mumbai. Our Mumbai man drew out his camera and recorded a video of the demo car on the stage.

VW Jetta walk around

The new Jetta will be offered only with a 2.0-liter diesel engine. Prices start at 14.12 lakh rupees. The ARAI fuel efficiency figure for the new Jetta stands at an impressive 19kmpl.

VW Jetta interiors

It has been a busy day for IndianAutosBlog.com as action was not just around the high voltage Swift in New Delhi. In Mumbai, Volkswagen was launching the new Jetta (the price announcements were minutes away from each other) and we brought you the variants, price and a glimpse of the new Jetta too.

We are going to discuss the new Jetta in depth a short while from now. But for the moment, we’ll leave you with a few well shot images of the new Jetta picked up at the Mumbai launch this morning.

We’re also tossing in a copy of the brochure for your viewing pleasure.

jump past the break to view the pictures and brochure

August 17 will be quite a busy day for IAB. First, the mighty Maruti Suzuki Swift will embrace us and will try to redefine the hatchback segment. Now, VW India will also flex its muscle and will try to redefine the C+ segment by launching the VW Jetta.

IAB readers have caught the VW Jetta totally undisguised doing its testing rounds. So clearly there is no surprise when it comes to the exterior styling. It is exactly the same as the European Jetta. It is sort of like a VW Vento that has hit the gym and is now totally pumped up!

The new Jetta will be the sixth generation model based on a much larger platform than the old Jetta to liberate more space at the back. The car is partly based on the PQ35 platform which is the basis of many VW, Skoda and Audi cars.

The new Jetta will be powered by a 2 liter TDI mill that produces 140 bhp of max power. This is the same engine from the Skoda Laura and is quite well accepted for its performance, mileage and reliability.

VW India will launch it with a DSG gearbox and a 6 speed manual as well. Unlike the Passat which was launched only with a diesel engine, a turbocharged petrol engine will be available on the new Jetta.

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On two previous occasions we speculated on variants of cars weeks before their launch and got them right. We’re talking about the Hyundai Verna (part one and part two) and Toyota Etios Liva (part one and part two), if you are new here.

Today we’re attempting to get three on three with details on the new VW Jetta expected in India in August. With a few weeks to go for the launch, Volkswagen can change its mind on the equipment. So we’re going to classify this information as speculation.

The quality on the new Jetta is expected to inch closer to Audi levels and one can sense by just looking solid improvement of finish and material usage compared to the current model. The new Jetta like most other Volkswagens will be offered in three trims – Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Three options are provided on the Highline variant’s interiors with base color as Black – Beige, Black or Plum.

click through for the full monty

On a trip down coastal Karnataka a few days back, ardent IAB reader Venkatesh Shreyas spotted the new Jetta in a parking area. He walked towards it, had a good look at the interiors and has shared his experience using a camera. Last June, Venkatesh mailed us snaps of W201 and Xylo pickups testing in Ooty.

As we reported right after the Passat launch, the new Jetta is expected before the festive season missing BlueMotion technology. Unlike its bigger brother, it will touch down with both petrol and diesel engines. The diesel will almost certainly be the 2-liter TDI carried over from the Passat with less power and torque. Customers will be provided with Manual and Automatic transmission options.

Off topic – The Jetta is sold as Vento in Argentina.

The Vento connection is not just in the name. If you look at the front-end, it feels like you’ve zoomed in a photograph of the Vento. The side profile is boxy and Vento-like. The Jetta sits under the Passat in the VW lineup and locks horns with cousin Skoda Laura and outsiders such as Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence and Honda Civic. If Volkswagen manages to price the Jetta in 14-16 lakh rupee price range, it will set the cat among the pigeons.

click through to see spyshots

What’s strange about Argentina’ newly launched Volkswagen Vento? Still thinking? Look closely and you’ll see this is not the Vento.

This then is the latest generation Volkswagen Jetta India will receive later this year with petrol and diesel engines. It is manufactured in Mexico with 2.0-, 2.5-liter turbo petrol engines producing 170hp and 200 hp, and 2.0-liter diesel engine producing 110hp and 140hp.

The luxury version, available with 170 hp 2.5-liter petrol engine an 140 hp 2.0-liter TDI, comes loaded with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, steering-mounted controls, touchscreen and curtain airbags.

The “Vento Variant” in Argentina is the VW Golf estate while the Vento is called Polo is Russia. While advising VW cars to foreign colleagues, you better be careful!

click through to view the commercial