On March 22, FAW-Volkswagen Jetta started the pre-sale of the new VS5 and new VS7. The new Jetta VS5 has a pre-sale price range of 8.79-12.19 million yuan, while the new Jetta VS7 has a pre-sale price range of 10.79-14.19 million yuan.
On the day of the presale, the editor experienced the new car on the scene and briefly test drove the 2024 Jetta VS5 in the afternoon. Let’s take a look at the simple and unadorned Jetta brand and see what changes have been made to the two new cars! The front face has changed significantly, with a stronger sense of sportiness. As a mid-term facelift, there will not be major adjustments to the body structure or platform, so the main external changes for the two models are focused on the front face of the car.
First, let’s take a look at the new VS5. The changes to the front end are very noticeable. Compared to the old model, the upper and lower parts of the new front end are completely integrated, combined with the blackened internal grille, the overall visual impact is significantly stronger. The test vehicle provided this time is the Star River Gray, which is somewhat similar to Audi’s cement gray, further enhancing the new car’s sportiness.
The side profile remains unchanged, with the high-gloss version still equipped with high-gloss black wheels and other black exterior details, maintaining a consistent overall style. The body dimensions are exactly the same as the current model, with a length, width, and height of 4418×1841×1616mm and a wheelbase of 2630mm, making it a relatively small compact SUV.
The rear of the car also has many blackened elements, with no significant changes compared to the current model. The main adjustment is to the rear bumper, which looks cleaner in the new version, with the exhaust still designed to be hidden.
Compared to the sporty style of the new VS5, the front face of the new VS7 is obviously more mature and stable. The use of dot-matrix arrangement and borderless design techniques has made the visual experience of the new VS7 more fashionable. Compared to the current VS7’s “big mouth”, the editor believes that the new VS7’s front face will be more in line with its own household attributes. As for the body parameters, there is still no change, with a length, width, and height of 4624×1841×1624mm, and a wheelbase of 2730mm, positioning it as a mid-size SUV. The in-car system has been improved.
The overall design and layout of the interior have not changed as expected. The interior of the Jetta VS5 and VS7 made their first appearance in 2019 and have been in service for about 5 years. During this time, some adjustments have been made in terms of details and materials. Considering that the Jetta brand itself is mainly targeted at the entry-level market and has a relatively traditional positioning, the interior design of the new Jetta VS5 does not seem outdated in the current market environment.
The interior design of the new Jetta VS5 is quite traditional, retaining many physical buttons. The three-spoke steering wheel, gear shift lever, and light control knob all bear the shadow of past Volkswagen models.
The biggest change in the new VS5 is the car’s infotainment system. It still has a 10-inch screen, but now it comes with the powerful J-Connect smart car system. It supports various voice controls, and also includes car connectivity and Wi-Fi.
The entertainment function has been significantly improved, supporting video projection and car-mounted KTV function. The on-site editor also had a simple experience with the system, the overall display effect and smoothness met expectations, the UI design is relatively modern, and the voice function can control navigation, air conditioning, multimedia, etc. Although the performance cannot be compared with the currently popular intelligent models, the practicality is unquestionable.
The front space performs normally, the steering wheel supports front and back + up and down adjustment, the main driver’s seat is equipped with electric adjustment, and the co-driver’s seat is still manually adjustable.
The second row space is compact and not very spacious, with a body length of 4418mm and a transverse layout, which is sufficient for the average family. Those with higher space requirements can consider the larger size of the VS7. It still follows the familiar formula.
The power system remains unchanged. The new Jetta VS5 and VS7 still come with the EA211 series 1.4T engine. The maximum power is 110kW/5000-6000rpm, and the peak torque is 250N·m/1750-3000rpm. Both 5MT and 6AT transmissions are available. This test drive focuses on the Jetta VS5. So, the following will be the dynamic experience of the new VS5.
The Jetta VS5 comes with a 1.4T + Aisin 6AT combination, which many domestic Volkswagen owners envy. The 6AT transmission may not shift as quickly or efficiently as Volkswagen’s dual-clutch transmission, but its reliability and smoothness will make more consumers feel at ease.
In actual experience, the initial acceleration of the new VS5 is relatively smooth, coupled with the AT gearbox, it can give the driver a very smooth starting feeling. If the driving style is more aggressive, there will still be some delay in full acceleration. When the speed comes up, the power becomes significantly fuller. In terms of parameters, the maximum speed of the Jetta VS5 can reach 170 km/h, and if it is a manual transmission, the maximum speed can be 5 km/h higher. The official acceleration capability for 100 kilometers is 10 seconds, and the manual transmission model can be 0.5 seconds faster. For a joint venture SUV in the 100,000 yuan (13870$) level, the editor believes that this kind of power performance is quite excellent.
Compared to the dual-clutch models of the general public, its acceleration is not so exhilarating, and the shifting speed is also slow. But in congested road conditions, it performs better. Even if there are some shifting impacts, the feedback to the driver is relatively gentle and easy to accept, which is the inherent advantage of the AT gearbox.
There are no obvious adjustments to the chassis, and the suspension structure is still a combination of front MacPherson and rear multi-link. In terms of specifications, in the 100,000-level market, the performance of the Jetta VS5 in this aspect is still worthy of recognition.
The adjustment level is unquestionable, as always comfortable, filtering out small bumps thoroughly, even when driving over long-neglected manhole covers, there is not too much harsh impact inside the car, ensuring overall comfort. But don’t expect too much in terms of texture and sportiness, it has not reached a higher level.
Overall, the Jetta VS5 performs very balanced in terms of power and dynamic experience, very clear about the tuning needed for the target group, easy to handle and comfortable, which is enough for practical consumers. Finally: Although various new energy and independent brands are the mainstream in public opinion at present, the Jetta brand has a relatively weak voice, but in fact, the sales volume of VS5 has been good. Last year, the monthly sales volume was basically above 5000 vehicles throughout the year, and in February of this year, it also sold around 4600 vehicles, which fully indicates that there are still many consumers who need VS5, a relatively traditional SUV model. After this restyling, the new VS5 has a younger appearance and smarter car system. I believe that its subsequent sales will also be outstanding.