2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift India review, test drive

Despite doing duty in its lower-spec 121bhp guise, the 1.4-litre TSI motor still packs plenty of punch right through its rev range. Surprisingly, for a turbo engine, it enjoys being revved too, and makes a good sound when you do. It’s also only available in the lower Trendline and Comfortline trims, and not the Highline, and only with a six-speed manual. We wish VW would’ve used this facelift to introduce a petrol automatic variant, or better yet, the excellent 1.8-litre TSI motor that’s in so many other VW Group cars.

Where this car has always excelled, though, is ride and handling. The suspension simply crushes most small to medium bumps, it stays flat at serious highway speeds, and you feel little drama in the cabin over most surfaces. It’s been set up for a good mix of stiffness and compliance, and the chassis feels solidly engineered. That also makes it quite tidy around a set of corners. Body roll is well contained, and the Jetta feels impressively light on its feet. The steering isn’t bristling with feel and it’s quite light too, but it’s still enjoyable on a twisty road.

Should I buy one?

This is not a very comprehensive facelift, and that’s largely because a lot of equipment upgrades were introduced in 2013. Still, competitors have more equipment on offer, and this would have been a good opportunity for VW to add more to the Jetta’s list. The same goes for the powertrain options; we would have loved to have seen the 1.8 TSI under the Jetta’s hood. However, as before, this is one of the most capable cars in the segment, and now it’s just a little more interesting to look at too.

GAVIN D’SOUZA

Read more on the Volkswagen Jetta:

2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift video review

2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift launched at Rs 13.87 lakh

2015 Volkswagen Jetta photo gallery

2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift review, test drive