2019 Volkswagen Jetta debuts with premium class technology

For the 2019 model year, the Jetta is based on Volkswagen’s Modular Transverse Matrix known as the (MQB) platform architecture. Working with the flexible MQB platform allowed the designers to reshape the body, creating a longer wheelbase, wider track, and a shorter front overhang. The fast-sloping rear roofline translates into a coupe-like profile. Dynamic lines and taut surfaces combine with the new silhouette to give Volkswagen Jetta a look that’s at once elegant, yet athletic.

The Volkswagen Jetta is one of the world’s most successful sedans, with more than 17.5 million models sold worldwide since it was introduced in 1979. More than 3.2 million of those have been sold in the United States. The all-new 2019 Jetta offers bolder design, even more interior space and the newest technology from the premium class.

Compared with the current car, the new car grows outside in every direction. It is longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model. The increased exterior proportions add up to more interior space than the previous car as well.

Outside, the all-new Jetta marks an evolution in Volkswagen’s clean and timeless design DNA, with modern lines and a refined appearance. The combination of a large front grille and sharper lines exudes a bold character, while the addition of more chrome and LED lighting lend a premium feel.The front end design, with its emphasis of horizontal lines, at once identifies the new Jetta as a Volkswagen. Specific to the model is the distinctive unit formed by the radiator grille and the standard LED headlights. The trapezoidal grille is composed of four chrome bars, two of which flow into the headlight housings where the LEDs pick up the lines and connect them for a wrap-around effect.

The car’s silhouette is marked by its taut surfaces and a long, extended side window. The coupe-like impression of the Volkswagen Jetta is reinforced by an offset roofline known as a ‘phase’-a narrow strip that runs parallel to the actual roofline and into the C-pillar-which visually reduces the car’s height. Beneath the shoulder, on the level of the door handles, there is a precisely carved character line that runs as an undercut. Its shadow surface tapers toward the rear, slightly arrow-shaped. The muscular wheelarches and side sills also form a powerful unit. The side sills here are marked by an integrated light line, which continues into the rear body.

The style of the rear section is defined by the arch-shaped trailing edge that extends into the shoulder section and forms the aerodynamic termination of the trunk lid. The spoiler, which is integrated into the body design, emphasizes the sedan’s impressive width. This width is also highlighted by the sharp lines of the LED taillight clusters.

Despite the dramatic design, the new Jetta features a remarkably low drag coefficient of just 0.27, a 10 percent improvement over the previous model. To attain this figure, the Jetta features an active radiator shutter and Air Curtain intakes on each side, which allow air to flow smoothly past the front wheelarches. To further optimize airflow, Volkswagen Jetta utilizes aerodynamic wheel designs and underbody panels.The Jetta R-Line takes the dramatic styling a step further, with sporty 17-inch wheels, a more aggressive rear bumper with dual exhaust, a gloss-black grille, black side mirror caps, and R-Line badging.

Interior
The Jetta interior architecture is redesigned, having been engineered for increased comfort while supporting a sophisticated, upscale design. The 2019 Jetta has more headroom, knee room, and shoulder room than the previous car. The trunk space is 14.1 cubic feet and split-folding rear seats (60/40) are standard.The cockpit is a driver-focused environment, with form following function. Both the instruments and the infotainment system are arranged in an easy-to-read horizontal orientation. Both the infotainment system and the climate-control interface are located on the center console, which is angled towards the driver.

Meanwhile, trapezoidal design elements from the exterior are repeated in the cabin for a touch of sportiness, and premium soft-touch materials are used. The lower instrument panel has a similar horizontal design, with a fine decorative trim strip that runs beneath the cockpit, across the entire instrument panel, and into the doors.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta sports new fabric colors and designs for the seats and door trim, and the front seats feature an ergonomically-optimized backrest release that makes adjustments for front-seat occupants especially easy. For an extra luxurious touch, the power-adjustable seats of the SEL Premium offer standard perforated-leather seating surfaces with heating and front-seat ventilation.

Every 2019 Jetta comes with a multi-function steering wheel that is leather-wrapped on SE models and above. R-Line models receive a unique leather-wrapped, R-Line badged steering wheel, and the Cold Weather Package (later availability) on SE models and above offers a heated steering wheel. Between the large speedometer and tachometer is a multi-function trip computer that helps monitor everything from fuel consumption to trip distance, Bluetooth® connection status and navigation directions (when equipped). Dual-zone Climatronic® automatic climate control is standard on SE trims and above. An aerodynamically- and acoustically-optimized panoramic glass tilt/slide sunroof is standard equipment on SE trims and above.

SEL models offer the Driving Mode Selection feature as standard equipment. This system includes four modes to choose from: “Normal,” “Sport,” “Eco,” and “Custom.” Normal mode gives a balanced drive experience, while Sport is tuned for a more dynamic throttle response, tighter steering and more spirited ACC settings. Eco mode optimizes shift points, throttle response and climate control settings for improved fuel economy. Individual allows a driver to tailor the steering and throttle, ACC, and climate control settings.

Jetta SEL and SEL Premium models feature a standard 10-color LED ambient lighting system. Coordinated with the Volkswagen Jetta’s Driving Mode Selection feature, the system provides soothing indirect white light in the Normal profile, red light in the Sport profile and blue light in the Eco profile. The driver can set any of the ten colors using Manual or Custom mode.

SEL and SEL Premium trims also feature Volkswagen Digital Cockpit technology, which offers drivers a reconfigurable instrument-panel screen instead of conventional instrumentation. The high-tech, 10.25-inch display can show key vehicle data in five driver-selectable modes, including one that positions navigation data front and center for easy viewing.

To appeal to music lovers, these trims also offer the BeatsAudio® system. Available in the Jetta for the first time in North America, this setup showcases a 12-channel, 400-watt amplifier, digital signal processing and nine speakers, including a subwoofer.Every Jetta model offers standard Driver Personalization with up to four driver settings. Dependent on trim, customizable features include: driver seat memory, drive mode selection, driver assistance system preferences, climate control, Volkswagen Digital Cockpit arrangement, ambient lighting color, radio presets, navigation view, and more.

MIB II Infotainment
All 2019 Jetta models feature Volkswagen’s innovative MIB II touchscreen infotainment system. The display utilizes a capacitive-touch sensor (as in smartphone and tablet technology) rather than the more common resistive touchscreens that require pressure, enabling gesture controls like swiping and even pinch-zooming. The Composition Color unit is standard on S, SE, and R-Line models, and features a 6.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display. SEL models feature the Composition Media unit with a glass-covered 8.0-inch touchscreen display that first debuted in the 2018 Atlas. SEL Premium models feature the Discover Media unit with the same display.

Volkswagen Car-Net. Volkswagen is committed to driving the development of more connected and intelligent vehicles, and the Car-Net® connectivity system is a major element in achieving that goal. Features available through Car-Net are divided into three key areas: “App-Connect,” “Security & Service,” and “Guide & Inform.”

Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Jetta models. App-Connect offers users the ability to run select smartphone apps directly on the vehicle’s display through services such as Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®.

Equipped on Volkswagen Jetta SEL and SEL Premium models, Car-Net Security & Service is a suite of elements that provides security features and also allows owners to access their VW remotely through vw.com/carnet as well as a smartphone app.

Available Car-Net Security and Service features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can help automatically notify an operator who can quickly contact first responders in the event of a collision; Manual Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button; Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road; and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

Chassis
For the first time, the Jetta makes use of Volkswagen’s award-winning MQB modular chassis. The platform features unitary construction with two solid-mounted subframes and bolt-on front fenders. Both body and chassis boast a large percentage of ultra-high-strength, hot-formed steel, which allows much of the chassis and body to be constructed from thinner and lighter parts without loss in strength.

Mounted in a lightweight, two-piece steel subframe, the Jetta’s strut-type front suspension has lower control arms and long-travel coil springs. At the back, a torsion beam rear setup with telescopic dampers offers an ideal balance of ride comfort, handling, and weight (the rear suspension alone saves 44 pounds in unsprung weight over a more complex multi-link system).

The Jetta S comes standard with 16-inch “Rama” aluminum-alloy wheels and 205/55 R16 all-season tires; the SE and SEL feature “Rama Black” two-tone wheels. On Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium models, 17-inch “Tornado Metallic” wheels have 205/55 R17 all-season tires.
The Jetta R-Line is equipped with a 17-inch “Trenton” aluminum-alloy wheels paired with 225/45 R17 low-profile all-season tires and the XDS® Cross Differential System. The XDS system acts as an electronic substitute for a traditional mechanical limited-slip differential, actively monitoring data from each wheel sensor. If the suspension becomes unloaded, the system automatically applies braking to the driven inside wheel as needed to help reduce understeer (the tendency for the front wheels to run wide). This not only helps the R-Line’s stability, but also helps improve handling and cornering performance.
An electrically power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering assembly contributes to the Jetta’s fun-to-drive character. The system is speed sensitive, with a ratio of 15:1 and 2.76 turns lock-to-lock. At highway speeds, the steering becomes firm and direct, while at parking speeds, assistance is increased. The turning circle is 36.4 feet.
Finally, an impressive braking system rounds out the Volkswagen Jetta’s athletic performance. At the front, there are 11.5-inch vented discs, with 10.8-inch discs at the rear. The system features a brake disc drying feature to help remove water from the rotors to help optimize wet-weather braking, as well as Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA). All Jetta models also feature an electronic parking brake.

Powertrain
The new Volkswagen Jetta is powered by Volkswagen’s 1.4-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® engine, making 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The 16-valve engine is able to generate peak torque at just 1,400 rpm, while at the same time returning EPA-estimated fuel economy of 30/40/34 mpg (city/highway/combined) regardless of transmission choice.

The engine, internally coded EA211, features an air-to-water heat exchanger built directly into the intake module in place of an intercooler. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the head, reducing the distance that exhaust gases must travel to reach the turbocharger, thus allowing for faster response and catalytic converter light off. Valves work to regulate coolant flow into the head, which allows for rapid engine (and thus cabin) heating, as well as efficient cooling when the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Both the intake and the exhaust valves feature variable valve timing, which results in improved low-rpm performance, as well as increased torque throughout the rev range. A relatively high 10:1 compression ratio further helps the engine’s efficiency, yet it still takes regular (87 octane) gasoline.

While the 2019 Jetta is more technologically advanced than ever, retaining its fun-to-drive character was of critical importance. Thus, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, with an eight-speed automatic available optionally. The all-new eight speed automatic transmission offers the benefit of two additional gears over the Jetta’s predecessor, while remaining exactly the same weight. Primary goals in its creation were driving comfort and, of course, fuel economy. A shorter first gear is designed to provide faster acceleration than the previous model as well. Shift-by-wire hydraulics pair with optimized gear teeth and ultra-low friction mating surfaces to create a seamless, efficient, and comfortable drive experience.A Start/Stop System is standard on automatic-transmission models. This technology stops the engine during idle when the brake pedal is held (such as when waiting at a red light). When the brake pedal is released, the engine restarts seamlessly.