Volkswagen Jetta Mechanical Review

Here's a look under the hood and underneath the new Volkswagen Jetta!

Skip to section in this video:
0:00 Introduction
0:17 Engine
8:01 Transmission
9:53 Exhaust
10:59 Electronics
11:40 Cooling System
13:49 Headlights
14:17 Steering
14:35 Suspension
18:00 Fuel System
18:22 Brakes
19:33 Conclusion

In this video, we take a look at the mechanicals of a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, including detailed looks at the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, steering and cooling system. The engine is a 1.4L inline 4 cylinder paired with an 8 speed automatic transmission. The VW Jetta GLI uses a 2.0L 4 cylinder EA888 engine with a dual clutch automatic (or manual) transmission. We examine the places where Volkswagen has over-engineered this small car and made things complicated, and other places where they've cut corners to keep the costs competitive in the small car segment.

A mechanical review on the Volkswagen GTI with the 2.0L engine can be found here:

Overall, the Volkswagen Jetta does reasonably well with build quality (for being made in Mexico) compared to many of its competitors. It falls short on ease of maintenance and potential for reliability problems down the road, not to mention the odd placement and special tools required to access basic items.

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[gunnargeroy]

Why does the styling get hate?? I think VW honestly has the best looking non-luxury cars. And In my opinion this looks better than a BMW and a Mercedes. Simple looking yet Beautiful car.

[xuanzheng]

I am a serious car buyer who looking for long term serviceability and reliability in owning a vehicle. All the other car reviews on youtube are simply spilling out verbal bullshxts that I am not interested in ( Doug, redline, etc). While you man, are golden in providing me these info. Clap clap clap!!

[KyleTysonMusick]

I have a 2016 with same engine. 126000 miles. oil changes, spark plugs, filters, etc . Now timing belt. No issues except a spring in seat recliner come off.
May just be my experience but it's been a great car. I drive a crap ton. Will see how it does . I'm getting carbon cleaned out soon for extra measure.

[acefighterpilot]

The wiper fluid nozzles are heated to prevent icing.

Where are you located? Want to mechanically review my '16 Golf R? Or '01 Cabrio VR6?

[tzetong]

My friend bought a JETTA in 2005, used it until this year and bought another new JETTA. He is always a VW fan and he is very happy enjoying his new car. I also leased a base JETTA 6mt, it gave me a big surprise that a 1.4L engine can provide such big power regardless an ordinary 147hp number.

[hhvxsueus]

Vw Jetta is the best. I have a 2016 jetta 59k miles and I can’t be happier really, had literally 0 problems so far.

[ericb]

Best reviews for people who buy used, with no warranty. This is not a motor I want to own used. Thanks man.

[rkgsd]

7:58 "I wouldn't want that dropping on my head while I'm replacing the turbocharger". CLASSIC!

[Tyler]

That "baffle" in the airbox is a Snow grate. It functions similarly as a Air oil Separator would but with snow and water. The drain at the bottom dumps it out at the bottom of the car. True while this car is a bit overenginered and may seem overwhelming to some people. Any thing that can go wrong with this car can happen with just about anything else on the road. Personally I wouldn't mind having to work on mine because I like the challenge in it.

[andybub]

German cars are all fun and games until its time to work on them.

[ernstbartels]

Had a '90 Mark 2 Jetta for 12 years, and 239, 000 k.m.---great driving and riding experience, but costly ownership due to poor electrics. 1.8 motor and old-style auto---i.e. 4000 rpm's at 120 k.m. Best-ever seats and visibility, great steering and tracking, and solid throughout. This purchase after owning a '79 Rabbit for 11 years. Daughter has a 2016 Jetta at 96, 000 km. and no issues. Thanks, SpeedKar99 for your insightful reviews and education.---all 'top-shelf'.

[roddydykes]

I never thought I’d be interested in any video Jetta-related, short of one being driven off a cliff, but you have a straight ahead, quick paced style with enough deadpan humour thrown in to make any mechanical review interesting.

[oliverrojas]

Thanks for reviewing components and systems that may require additional investment by the vehicle owner and attention by the mechanic. I recently watched quite a few under hood reviews of competitors in the entry level vehicle segment, and I am rather impressed by the Volkswagen, (VW) engine. It's intriguing enough, to where I want to look past all the plastic, flimsy vacuum lines, and replacement parts complexity. I really like how much time was taken by VW to figure out how to integrate the turbo and exhaust manifold into one piece. I really like that the intercooler was eliminated by adding a coolant line at the intake manifold. I am thankful that the water pump is on the opposite end of the timing cover and that the ball joints and wheel bearings are bolt on. To sum it up I like the vehicle design and I appreciate all that this Mexican made VW is introducing in an attempt to offer value while extracting the most efficiency and horsepower out of the engine. Down the road of vehicle ownership it appears important to keep an eye out for failing parts and cash handy to replace them.

[tedjohnson]

Really enjoyed your excellent analysis of the engineering and ease of maintenance trade offs! I used to have aToyota Tercel and it wasn’t until I switched to a VW GTI that I realized what a phenomenal job Toyota did in making their cars easy to maintain. For example, they didn’t use all the different fasteners VW does: triple square, torx, metric bolts. My Tercel just used metric bolts everywhere and... they only used even-sized bolts: 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, etc. That made it very easy to guess which size socket to grab from the toolkit. It’s much easier to guess the socket size when they’re all 2mm apart and always even!

[dolssondko]

"so you can lift up this engine ---- when you have to change it" haha subtle.

[a_r_u_n]

VW: You are only allowed to drive the car.. don't touch the mechanics you will become crazy...
speedkar99- hold my brother's underwear😎

[notreallymikevrabel]

I bought my 2019 VW Jetta new w cash in early 2019 and a little over 2 years and almost 40, 000 miles later shes still a flawlessly running car. I drive her daily and I have the 6 speed manual but I'm a Euro car enthusiast and I owned an E90 BMW for many years before this so this engine will probably be much simpler for me whenever the day comes I do have to do a little of my own wrenching or maintenance. It's a life style! I owned an Acura TL also for a few years before my 335i and I never even thought of going back to Japenese cars, still haven't.

[markusortmaier]

We do have a lots of this engine in europe. It is pretty quick and fuel efficient. It is the Most fuel efficient 4 cylinder on the market. I hope they do also hold up as well.

[tonyc]

My friend is a VW mechanic. I am so blessed.

[anthonygillesse]

Thanks again for your in-depth review, I drive a 06 TDI with 260kms and still going strong with only a bad camshaft and nothing else, heavy on the oil changes 🇨🇦