2009 VW City models still good deal in Golf and Jetta lineups

While running mid-pack among compact rivals, handling and road feel help them stand out

May 23, 2009

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Special to the Star

Waste not, want not, the old saying goes, and Volkswagen has certainly taken that to heart. For 2007, it introduced all-new versions of its popular compacts, the Jetta and Golf, which it renamed Rabbit.

But the new model phase-in left a temporary spot in VW's lineup for an entry-level vehicle. The assembly lines were ready to go, and so in an unusual move – and for Canada only – VW continued with the old models, adding "City" to the name to differentiate them.

It was a shrewd move, and both are still around for 2009. You'll have to hurry, though: it's the last year for the City Jetta, and the City Golf will end after the 2010 model year.

Both have four doors: the City Golf is a hatchback, at $15,300, while the City Jetta is a sedan, at $16,900. That gets you a five-speed manual transmission, but both my testers had the optional six-speed automatic, which adds an extra $1,400.

The two share an otherwise-discontinued 2.0 L four-cylinder, and that's it; the diesel available in the old models is gone. (The new Rabbit and Jetta use a 2.5 L; the new Jetta also comes with turbocharged 2.0 L gasoline engine or all-new 2.0 L clean turbodiesel.)

Each also comes in a single trim line, and they're both pretty basic. The City Jetta's feature list is a little longer, including floor mats, alarm system and power locks missing on the Golf. Those can be added to the Golf, and both can be optioned with a/c, power windows (including auto up/down on both front doors), cruise control, heated seats and mirrors, and a stand-alone sunroof.

Anti-lock brakes are standard, but it's an extra $450 to add electronic stability control. Side and curtain airbags are also add-ons. My testers had those, along with Comfort and Cold Weather packages (the only thing missing was the $1,200 sunroof).

With features matched as closely as possible, my City Jetta tester was $2,065 less than a 2.5 L 2009 Jetta. That's not as much of a difference as I expected, although it still comes out to several months' less in payments. The City models carry the regular VW warranty, too, of course (four years/80,000 km on almost everything, plus five/100,000 on powertrain).

Compared with the new 2.5 L, the City models' powerplant is noisy and a bit rough, but it gets the job done, and with better fuel economy. Its 115 horsepower doesn't seem like much, but its 122 lb.-ft. of torque gives it a peppy feel around town.

The automatic transmission includes the regular Drive, a Sport setting that holds each gear longer for snappier performance, and a manual mode, in case you miss having a clutch. Overall, I found the engine/transmission combination smoother and quieter in the Jetta than in the Golf, which lurched hard into each gear until it warmed up.

They're both tight little cars, with no crashing or banging on rough roads. Steering is quick and accurate, and the ride and handling make them feel like far more expensive vehicles. Turning radius is tight, and there's a comforting heft and stability at highway speeds.

EXCEPT for the cargo compartment, the interiors are similar. The front seats are very comfortable, with fairly long cushions for good thigh support, but the dial to adjust the seatback angle is positioned so far back that it's difficult to reach. The optional seat heaters have five settings, and get right up to serious sizzle on cold days.

The rear seats fold to a flat load floor for extra storage in both models, but it's an overly complicated sequence, requiring that you first remove the head-restraints. The Golf gives you a length of 73 cm of storage space with them up, and 140 with them down; the Jetta's trunk is 105 cm, opening to 163 cm.

The dash is a mixed bag. On one hand, the plastics are nicely textured, the panels fit together very well, and it looks handsome and upscale. On the other, the heater controls are very low on the stack – you have to reach around the shifter for them – and the small dials are difficult to grasp and turn. The standard CD stereo offers both auxiliary input and USB port; volume is controlled by a simple dial, but the on/off switch is a tiny, awkward button.

At a base price of $15,300, the City models fall about mid-pack with compact competitors, almost all of which come sans air conditioning in their starter models, and either charge extra for stability control, or don't offer it at all. And while their engines aren't the most sophisticated anymore, their road feel and handling ability still stand out from the crowd.

New and improved is good, but sometimes there's something to be said for what's gone before.

Toronto Star