By: IOL Motoring Staff
New York - Volkswagen's Jetta is in no hurry to join the Golf 7 on the company's new weight-saving MQB platform, the C-segment sedan instead soldiering on with a facelift.
The upgraded US-market Jetta has just been revealed ahead of its New York Show debut later this week. The European Jetta facelift will be announced later this year and that model will make its way to South Africa in 2015, although our local VW contact could not confirm whether the Euro upgrade will mirror the US one we see here.
The North American nip and tuck keeps things on the subtle side, although it can be told apart rather easily from the front with its larger grille that now features three cross-fins and a redesigned bumper. New Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and Adaptive Front-lighting are available as an option. Though the rear end retains a very familiar look, VW has redesigned the boot lid, taillights and bumper.
The exterior changes also improve aerodynamics, as do new tyres that reduce rolling resistance.
VW calls the interior updates “subtle but significant.”
Aesthetic lift-me-ups include a new multi-function steering wheel, redesigned air vent controls, piano black accents, ambient lighting and new colours and designs for the seats.
The US models gain new driver assistance systems too, including frontal collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
On the engine front, the only change to US models is an uprated version of the 2-litre TDI engine, which now offers 110kW and an economy gain of up to eight percent through a complex exhaust gas recirculation system.
A sensible engine for one seriously sensible-looking ride.