2011 Volkswagen Jetta

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Rating8.5

Ranked #2 in 

Compact Sedan
Write Review
$15,365 - $26,095
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on July 18, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Spacious Cabin

Poor interior quality

Complete redesign

Well equipped trims

Slow responding automatic transmission

Fuel efficiency diesel engine

Numb steering feel

Smart electronics interface

Sluggish base engine performance

Specs & Features

$25,295

price

140 hp @ 4000 rpm

horsepower

236 lb.-ft. @ 1750 rpm

torque

6-Speed Automated Manual

transmission

2.0L 4cyl FWD 6AM

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Volkswagen Jetta is a perfect demonstration of how to combine luxury and visuals in a vehicle that feels a lot bigger for its class. Even when it was first introduced, it put other vehicles to shame by offering appealing visuals and a premium level of luxury. But with time, its rivals started to catch up. 

Buying Advice

The Basic trim feels too bare to bones without many or any features so that is not too much in our options, however, the SE trim seems to be a good deal and also seems like it offers the most value for money. The SLE trim is the top of the line and good too, but it only offers a little more than the SE in terms of features, and considering the premium that we pay for its use and the necessity of the provided features does not seem ample.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

With its qualities, the Volkswagen Jetta managed to gain its own identity, and the 2011 MY doesn't fail to impress. This car comes in a price range of $16,285 to $25,575 and is offered in four trim levels. At this price point, it competes against the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Kia Forte.

Features
8.0/10

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is offered in four different trims with an option for a manual or an automatic transmission, it comes with an option for a diesel engine too. The base trim of the Jetta only comes with the essentials to keep the prices low and going all the way to the top-spec SEL trim is the way to get access to any of the available premium features. There are however a few add-on packages available.

Trims

Base

S

SE

SEL

MSRP (Manual)

$16,135

$17,265

$18,965

$22,165

MSRP (Auto)

$17,235

$18,365

$20,065

$23,265

Key Features

2.0L, 115 hp four-cylinder engine

Base trim plus;

S trim plus;

SE trim plus;

 

Post-Collision Safety System

4-speaker audio system

2.5L, 170 hp inline-5 engine

6-speaker audio system

 

Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel

Remote Keyless Power Door Lock

Cruise Control

3 Months Of Paid Satellite Radio Service

 

Heated Mirrors

Power Mirrors

Leatherette upholstery

Leather Steering Wheel

 

Cloth upholstery

 

Turn Signal Mirrors

Multi-Level Heating Front Seat

 

Split-Folding Rear Seatback

 

 

17-inch Alloy wheels

We Recommend

The Basic trim feels too bare to bones without many or any features so that is not too much in our options, however, the SE trim seems to be a good deal and also seems like it offers the most value for money. The SLE trim is the top of the line and good too, but it only offers a little more than the SE in terms of features, and considering the premium that we pay for its use and the necessity of the provided features does not seem ample.

Fuel Economy
9.0/10

The less power and performance of the Jetta might give us an idea of a fuel-efficient tuning of the motor, but in contrast, that is not how it seems. The Jetta’s base engine returns 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, while the combined mileage is 28 mpg. The larger engine offers more power and better performance and appears more efficient at 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, with a combined mileage of 26 mpg. 

Model

Volkswagen Jetta

Honda Civic

Kia Forte

Toyota Corolla

MPG (City)

24

26

25

28

MPG (Highway)

34

34

34

35

MPG (Combined)

28

29

29

31

Fuel Capacity (gal)

14.5

13.2

13.7

13.2

Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles)

348 / 493 / 406

343 / 449 / 383

343 / 466 / 397

370 / 462 / 409

The big 14.5-gallon fuel tank in the Jetta helps with the driving range which is the same as the 2011 Toyota Corolla, with the least fuel consumption here. The Honda Civic and the Kia Forte on the other end of the spectrum have almost very similar mileage figures of 29MPG and a similarly-sized fuel tank.

Interior
8.0/10

The interior of the Jetta no longer feels premium. The fit and finish of the cabin feel pretty good but there is a lack of soft-touch materials and there is more of the hard plastics making for a disappointing cabin feel and this is in contrast to the high standards set by Jetta for itself. The rear seat now feels more spacious, Volkswagen has managed to do away with the features that made the Jetta stand out from its peers, like the height- and length-adjustable center armrest, infinitely adjustable backrests for the front seat, rear-seat air vents, and a carpeted trunk lid. 

Model

Volkswagen Jetta

Honda Civic

Kia Forte

Toyota Corolla

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

38.2 / 55.2 / 41.2

39.4 / 53.7 / 42.2

40.0 / 55.7 / 43.3

38.8 / 54.8 / 41.7

Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in)

37.1 / 53.6 / 38.1

37.4 / 52.4 / 34.6

37.6 / 54.7 / 35.0

37.2 / 54.7 / 36.3

Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)

15.5

12.0

14.7

12.3

The Volkswagen Jetta is still able to boast of having one of the largest trunks and the cabin too is the most spacious one at the front and rear with a really good amount of room. The Forte manages to offer the best legroom at the front, but at a cost of the back seat space, so does the 2011 Honda Civic. The Corolla manages a much better front and rear seat space balance with a decently sized boot that has a capacity of 12.3 cubic feet. 

Some other features include:

  • 6-way manual heated front bucket seats
  • 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat
  • Leatherette seat trim
  • Tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel
  • Leatherette door panel inserts w/Chrome accents
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob & handbrake grip

How intuitive is the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta’s infotainment unit?

The 2011 Jetta comes with a 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring a redundant control knob that is great for controlling an iPod. It is a blessing to use and so are the Bluetooth, satellite radio, and other connectivity options that Volkswagen has to offer. The infotainment unit is connected to a 6-speaker audio system that does a better job than the 4-speaker one on the S trim, but it cannot be called the best.

The other features are:

  • 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
  • SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month complimentary subscription
  • 6-speaker audio system
  • RNS315 navigation system
  • Bluetooth connectivity

Exterior
7.0/10

The outside design of the car is one of the few aspects that hasn’t been fiddled with for cutting costs. The car’s styling is still very European with a minimalistic front featuring aslim front grille and sleek chrome strips to complement it and the backside looks smartly put together as well. The car has smooth flowing straight lines which scream out the name Volkswagen and as a whole, the Jetta is one handsome executively styled car. 

Model

Volkswagen Jetta

Honda Civic

Kia Forte

Toyota Corolla

Curb Weight (lbs)

2,804

2,630

2,729

2,734

Length (in)

182.2

177.3

178.3

180.0

Width (in)

70.0

69.0

69.9

69.4

Height (in)

57.2

56.5

57.5

57.7

Ground Clearance (in)

5.5

5.9

5.9

5.8

Wheelbase (in)

104.4

106.3

104.3

102.4

The Jetta is the heaviest car of all, weighing 2,804 lbs, thanks to the solid German build quality, and is also longer and wider than all the other cars present here. The Honda Civic on the other end looks like it is the most compact among and still manages to feature the longest wheelbase of 106.3 inches and the best ground clearance as well, this is only matched by the Kia Forte of 5.9 inches. The Toyota Corolla is one of the larger options available in the market.

Other Features Include: 

  • Dual-reflector halogen headlamps
  • Fog lamps
  • Heated power mirrors w/integrated turn signals
  • Variable intermittent windshield wipers w/heated washer nozzles
  • Chrome grille and window trim
  • 17-inch Joda alloy wheels w/anti-theft locks

Safety
9.0/10

The solid build quality and precision engineering coupled with a considerable list of safety features helps the Jetta to be a very safe car among its competition and the authorities have too managed to recognize this

The List of safety features include:

  • Hydraulic brake assistant (HBA) and Engine braking assist (EBA)
  • Electronic stability control (ESC) and Anti-slip regulation (ASR)
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • Cruise control
  • Driver & front passenger airbags w/passenger occupancy sensor
  • Driver & front passenger side curtain and side thorax airbags
  • Anti-intrusion side-impact door beams

Final Verdict

The Base model of the Volkswagen Jetta might not be what it used to be or what we wished it would be. It still is that in the higher models, the maker has tried to cut costs in order to make the car reach a wider spectrum of audience and owners but has donned the cost-cutting in major aspects that make the car fall a step-down. However, if you have your eyes set on the higher models this is a great buy and a great car to own and live with.

Trims

    Base
    $15,365 onwards
    • Cloth Seat trim
    • Radio
    • Remote anti-theft alarm system
    S
    $16,495 onwards
    • AM/FM stereo
    • Climatic manual front air conditioning
    • Heated mirrors
    • Remote keyless entry
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    SE
    $18,195 onwards
    • 16-inch steel Wheels
    • AM/FM/Satellite-Prep
    • Leatherette Seat trim
    SEL
    $21,395 onwards
    • 17-inch machined aluminum Wheels
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • Driver Lumbar support
    • Front Fog/driving lights
    • Front passengers heated-cushion
    • Navigation system
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    • Sirius AM/FM/Satellite
    LE
    $22,095 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 6M
    • Horsepower: 140 hp @ 4000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1750 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 34 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$13,200- $17,500

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.68

Horsepower

120 hp @ 6350 rpm

Torque

112 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$16,060- $20,620

Gasoline

7.25

140 hp @ 5100 rpm

147 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,800- $23,810

Gasoline

7.54

144 hp @ 6500 rpm

135 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$13,499- $19,349

Gasoline

7.45

150 hp @ 6200 rpm

140 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,850- $29,000

Gasoline

8.22

175 hp @ 6000 rpm

172 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$28,900- $45,080

Gasoline

9.14

210 hp @ 5500 rpm

221 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,900- $18,600

Gasoline

7.61

132 hp @ 6000 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$21,380- $31,930

Gasoline

8.06

177 hp @ 6500 rpm

161 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,605- $25,490

Gasoline

8.05

140 hp @ 6300 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,495- $35,995

Gasoline

7.89

170 hp @ 6000 rpm

170 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    11 sec18.2 sec-
    2011 Saab 9-3

    Ranked #1

    7.4 sec--
    8 sec--
    8.01 sec--
    8.1 sec16.3 sec-
    8.1 sec16.2 sec120 mph

    2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      23 mpg34 mpg28 mpg14.5 gal.348/493 mi.
      28 mpg38 mpg32 mpg12.8 gal.358.4/486.4 mi.
      29 mpg37 mpg32 mpg16 gal.336/444 mi.
      28 mpg35 mpg31 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/462 mi.
      22 mpg36 mpg30 mpg15.6 gal.405.6/561.6 mi.
      25 mpg34 mpg29 mpg13.7 gal.342.5/465.8 mi.

      2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        182.2 in.70 in.57.2 in.5.5 in.104.4 in.
        194.1 in.72.7 in.58.1 in.6 in.110.2 in.
        190.6 in.72.2 in.56.8 in.5 in.107.4 in.
        2011 Saab 9-3

        Ranked #3

        182.9 in.70.9 in.57.1 in.5.9 in.105.3 in.
        181 in.70.7 in.58.1 in.7 in.105.7 in.
        2011 Mazda 3

        Ranked #6

        180.7 in.69.1 in.57.9 in.4.7 in.103.9 in.

        2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          15.5 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.168 cu.ft.
          14.7 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.217.3 cu.ft.
          12 cu.ft.90.9 cu.ft.6 cu.ft.
          2011 Mazda 3

          Ranked #4

          11.8 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.95.2 cu.ft.
          13.8 cu.ft.93.4 cu.ft.61 cu.ft.
          12.8 cu.ft.85.1 cu.ft.65.7 cu.ft.

          2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            168 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.168 cu.ft.-
            -13.1 cu.ft.--
            72.1 cu.ft.15.4 cu.ft.72.1 cu.ft.180 ft.
            70 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.70 cu.ft.-
            2011 Mazda 3

            Ranked #5

            95.2 cu.ft.11.8 cu.ft.95.2 cu.ft.-
            9.7 cu.ft.14.7 cu.ft.9.7 cu.ft.-

            2011 Volkswagen Jetta vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              -1166 lbs.2804 lbs.
              2000 lbs.1157 lbs.3075 lbs.
              1500 lbs.-2734 lbs.
              1000 lbs.1219 lbs.3102 lbs.
              --3285 lbs.
              -1131 lbs.2661 lbs.

              2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              11

              Recalls

              5

              Investigations

              639

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              2011 Volkswagen Jetta

              Horsepower : 115 hp @ 5200 rpm

              MPG Combined : 28 mpg

              0-60 : 11 sec

              #7

              2011 Volkswagen Jetta User Reviews

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              POPULAR TAGS

              SM

              Simeon Mladenov

              2010 Volkswagen Jetta

              S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: August 19, 2024

              Great car!

              Pros - ["Nice design", "Sturdy performance", "Nice seats and nice interior"]

              Cons - ["Clunky transmission", "High maintance cost", "Check engine light"]

              This is a sturdy high performance vehicle but with some problems. Overall, it is in decemt condition with some cosmetic problems. However, it has turbo which makes it fast. It is has a nice shape and design and an average fuel consumption.

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review