Used 2011 Volkswagen Jetta for sale 

Volkswagen offers the Jetta in four different trims with an option for either a manual or an automatic transmission, with an option for a diesel engine as well. The base trim gets only the essentials in order to keep the prices low and one has to go all the way to the top-spec SEL trim if they wish to opt for any of the available premium features. Although there are a few add-on packages, the luxury factor is no longer there.

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The Base trim does not even feature a music system and is only good for fleet cars and hence it is better to opt for SE trim at least or go for the top SEL if budget is not a concern to make the car feel worth its value as it also gets the more powerful engine of the lot. 

The Jetta is offered with two engine options, the base and S trim which features the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the top two trims that are powered by a larger 2.5-liter inline-5 engine. The base engine is good for 115 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, whereas the five-cylinder unit produces a hefty 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.

Both the engines are mated to either a 6-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission and power is sent only to the front wheels as standard. 

The performance from the base engine of the Jetta is lackluster and is the slowest in this comparison with the 60 mph being achieved in almost 11 seconds whereas the quarter mile taking a rather slow 18 seconds. The Kia Forte is the quickest of the lot while the Civic and the Corolla are pretty neck-and-neck about half a second behind the Forte.

The lack of power and performance of the Jetta might hint at a fuel efficient tuning of the motor, but sadly that’s not really the case as well. The EPA rates the 2011 Jetta’s base engine for 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, while the overall efficiency is rated at 28 mpg. The larger engine although has more power and better performance but is still pretty efficient at 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, with the combined fuel economy rated at 26 mpg. 

The large 14.5 gallon gas tank of the Jetta does help in terms of driving range which is on par with the Toyota Corolla, which has the least fuel consumption in this comparison. The Honda Civic and the Kia Forte on the other hand have almost the same fuel efficiency figures and also feature a similarly sized fuel tank.

The interior of the Jetta no longer has the premium appeal to it and although the fit and finish is still pretty good but the lack of soft touch materials and the abundance of the hard plastics make for a disappointing cabin feel as per the high standards set by Jetta itself.

Although the rear seat is now more spacious than ever, Volkswagen has also done away with the nifty little features that separated the Jetta 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. 

The Jetta still boasts of one of the largest trunks in this example and the cabin is also the most spacious one at the back with a good amount of room at the front as well. The Forte has the best legroom at the front, but compromises on the back seat space, similar to that of the Honda Civic. The Corolla has a much better front and rear seat space balance with a decent sized boot, but can’t match up to the Jetta. 

• 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 is the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan’s infotainment system?

The 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system which features a redundant control knob that is ideal for controlling an iPod is a blessing to use and so is the bluetooth, satellite radio and other connectivity options that Volkswagen has to offer. The 6-speaker audio system is better than the 4-speaker one on the S trim, but yet is nothing to brag about and does its job just fine. 

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

The exterior design of the Jetta is luckily something that hasn’t seen any cost cutting. The style is still very European with minimalistic front fascia that slim front grille with sleek chrome strips to complement it while the rear looks smartly put together as well.

There are smooth flowing straight line which are quintessentially Volkswagen and overall the Jetta is one handsome executive style car. 

The solid German build quality of Volkswagen makes Jetta the heaviest car of the lot. The Jetta is also longer and wider than all the other cars present here. The Honda Civic on the other hand is the most compact in this comparison and yet features the longest wheelbase and the best ground clearance as well, which is matched by the Kia Forte. 

• 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

The solid German build quality with precision German engineering alongside a considerable list of safety features helps the Jetta bag the ‘Top Safety Pick’ accolade from the IIHS in their crash test, while the NHTSA has also rated the 2011 Jetta with an overall 4-star rating out of a possible 5-stars in the safety crash test conducted by them. 

• 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

The Volkswagen Jetta may not be the most premium car in its segment, but it still does offer a whole lot to its customers. If you are willing to overlook the cheap interior material quality, the Volkswagen Jetta offers a decent range with the varied available powertrain options, stellar safety records and decent fitment options, at a price that undercuts the competition.