My god, what have they done to you?
Last year when Volkswagen introduced the City Golf and City Jetta duo in Canada, we felt it was a half-hearted effort to offer low-priced models. But then after actually driving the cars, we realized that for the price, the previous-generation Golf and Jetta models still had charm and substance.
However, buying a City meant having to cope with the funny feeling that you're not buying a 'new' car. Well, one year later, you can forget about that feeling--I suppose.
New old or old new?
Both the City Golf and City Jetta have been revised, improved, modernized. The Golf gets a more aggressive front fascia and new taillights, and in my opinion, looks better. On the other hand, I can't say the same for the City Jetta.
The old Jetta's distinctive front end has been replaced by a design based on VW's new corporate face--round shells within the headlight clusters and a slanted grille with chromed horizontal bars. The result looks like a cross between a Chinese-market VW and an old Passat. The previous clean taillights have been replaced by bulbous clusters that extend into the trunklid.
It's a question of taste, but personally, I think the new design is a small step backward, albeit a small one. The new City Jetta seems to have lost its dynamic personality. At least now when you buy a 2008 model, your neighbours and buddies will actually know that you bought it new.
Nice interior
Inside the City Jetta, the dash and instrument panel looks like it was stripped out of a more-expensive car. The only weird thing is to hear the turn signal clicking sound coming from the middle of the dashboard. The 2008 model gets a slightly redesigned instrument panel and steering wheel.
The sound system has been revised for 2008 and sounds pretty good. It still reads MP3 files but now incorporates an auxiliary input jack and a USB port for plugging in portable music devices.
Last year when Volkswagen introduced the City Golf and City Jetta duo in Canada, we felt it was a half-hearted effort to offer low-priced models. But then after actually driving the cars, we realized that for the price, the previous-generation Golf and Jetta models still had charm and substance.
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| The City Jetta received an aesthetic update for 2008. |
However, buying a City meant having to cope with the funny feeling that you're not buying a 'new' car. Well, one year later, you can forget about that feeling--I suppose.
New old or old new?
Both the City Golf and City Jetta have been revised, improved, modernized. The Golf gets a more aggressive front fascia and new taillights, and in my opinion, looks better. On the other hand, I can't say the same for the City Jetta.
The old Jetta's distinctive front end has been replaced by a design based on VW's new corporate face--round shells within the headlight clusters and a slanted grille with chromed horizontal bars. The result looks like a cross between a Chinese-market VW and an old Passat. The previous clean taillights have been replaced by bulbous clusters that extend into the trunklid.
It's a question of taste, but personally, I think the new design is a small step backward, albeit a small one. The new City Jetta seems to have lost its dynamic personality. At least now when you buy a 2008 model, your neighbours and buddies will actually know that you bought it new.
Nice interior
Inside the City Jetta, the dash and instrument panel looks like it was stripped out of a more-expensive car. The only weird thing is to hear the turn signal clicking sound coming from the middle of the dashboard. The 2008 model gets a slightly redesigned instrument panel and steering wheel.
The sound system has been revised for 2008 and sounds pretty good. It still reads MP3 files but now incorporates an auxiliary input jack and a USB port for plugging in portable music devices.
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| A dashboard that still looks young. |