2012 Volkswagen Jetta Trims and Specs

Hardly the bridge between the mid-level commuter auto and the entry-level luxury family car that it once was, the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta S nevertheless offers a ton of value. A roomier cabin and 15 cubic feet of trunk space combines with 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, remote power door locks and power windows, as well as telescoping tilt-wheel steering for a presentable setting of form and function. Add in standard air conditioning and a single-CD player with four speakers, and such options as Bluetooth communications technology, front and rear carpeted floor mats and an auxiliary iPod interface to behold a 5-passenger midsize sedan of at least adequate endowment for a pleasantly affordable price. To top it all off, the Jetta S trim still retains at least a modicum of the heady agility that made it a hoot to drive.

Powering the 2012 Jetta S is a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine (I4) that mates with a standard 5-speed manual transmission for 115 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, as well as 24 mpg city/34 highway. This front-wheel-drive-only (FWD) base trim is also eligible for an available 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with driver-selectable sport mode that gets 23/29.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2012 Jetta S includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), as well as traction and electronic stability control (ESC). Standard occupant protection consists of front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and a front head-restraint whiplash protection system. Daytime running lights and a post-collision safety system, meanwhile, top off the list of standard safety features.

Even though it lacks the cachet of previous, Golf-inspired generations, the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE PZEV nevertheless adds value and appeal – at least for the U.S. consumer – to this popular compact sedan. This front-wheel-drive (FWD), 5-passenger family auto sees its powerplant tweaked to conform to rigid California emissions standards, thus its PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) status, yet the standard 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine (I5) and accompanying 5-speed manual transmission still offer 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Mileage estimates with the 5-speed stick shift, meantime, run to 23 mpg city/33 highway. An available 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission that includes a driver-selectable sport mode is also offered for the SE PZEV, with mileage estimates of 24/31. Sportiness hasn’t been totally engineered out of the 2012 Jetta lineup, but the switch from a multilink rear suspension to a torsion-bar setup does driving excitement no favors.

Despite a slide in cabin quality and overall performance, the 2012 Jetta SE PZEV still manages to provide at least a nod toward basic design efficiency and creature comfort. Heated power-adjustable mirrors and 16-inch steel wheels, as well as leatherette upholstery, height-adjustable front seats and a folding, pass-through rear center armrest top the list of standard appearance, comfort and convenience features. Add in standard telescoping tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, air conditioning and front and rear floor mats, and this midsize 4-door looks better and better. Standard entertainment, meanwhile, consists of an MP3-capable single-CD player with 4 speakers, while appearance and interior options include splash guards, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, carpeted floor mats and a rear spoiler.

Safety-wise, the 2012 Jetta SE PZEV boasts 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection, just for starters. All of this is bolstered by standard daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system.

Amping up the standard bells and whistles in this mid-level Jetta trim, the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE w/Convenience offers itself as a value-conscious 5-passenger midsize family sedan. Due to the German automaker’s perception of U.S. market sensibilities, however, this once-formidable 4-door little resembles its Golf-inspired former self in either appeal or performance. Nonetheless, look for 16-inch alloy wheels and heated power-adjustable mirrors as part of this 4-door’s exterior appeal, with heated front seats, leatherette upholstery and leather accents, including a leather steering wheel, spiffing up the cabin. Then there are goodies like 15 cubic feet of trunk space and a rear folding center armrest to help with luggage and storage, as well as cruise control, air conditioning and telescoping tilt-wheel steering to ease the journey. Entertainment is via an MP3-compatible 6-CD changer with 6 speakers, satellite radio, USB connection and memory card slot, with Bluetooth hands-free technology also standard. Options, meanwhile, include splash guards, a rear spoiler, upgraded 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels and carpeted front and rear floor mats.

The traditional 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine (I5) powers the 2012 Jetta SE w/Convenience, with the standard 5-speed manual transmission helping modulate 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Expect some 23 mpg city/33 highway out of the five-banger with the stick shift, though if the available 6-speed shiftable automatic with sport mode is chosen, look for mileage in the neighborhood of 24/31. The switch from a multilink rear suspension to a torsion-bar setup, alas, degrades what was once a nimble little sedan into a ho-hum commuter car.

Anyhow, standard safety equipment in the 2012 Jetta SE w/Convenience includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection. Such items as daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system are also included to at least help this steady-if-not-inspiring sedan maintain its traditionally high safety standards.

Toss the popular Convenience package and a sunroof into the enviro-friendly 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE PZEV to behold the SE PZEV w/Convenience and Sunroof sub-trim. This airy and feature-laden front-wheel-drive (FWD) midsize sedan sports a tweaked-up 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder powerplant (I5) that conforms to stringent California emissions standards and is ready to roll in all fifty states. The standard 5-speed manual transmission, meanwhile, allows the I5 to put out 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, with mileage in the range of 23 mpg city/33 highway. Additionally, there’s an available 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with driver-selectable sport mode that’s a hoot to play with, but drops mileage to 24/31. Alas, as part of its switch from plush to value, VW has replaced the Jetta sedan’s well-wrought multilink rear suspension with a lesser torsion-bar rear end for a noticeable degradation in handling.

Besides the 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, heated front seats, leather accents and upgraded audio components of the Convenience package, as well as the power glass sunroof, the 2012 Jetta SE PZEV w/Convenience and Sunroof offers a boatload of additional amenities. Heated power-adjustable outside mirrors, leatherette upholstery, remote power door locks, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning and rubber front and rear floor mats are among the additional comfort and convenience goodies, with telescoping tilt-wheel steering making life easier on the driver. Notwithstanding a decidedly low-rent cabin ambiance for this generation Jetta sedan, the Convenience package means 6-speaker audio with an MP3-compatible 6-CD changer, satellite radio, memory card slot and a USB connection. Finally, 15 cubic feet of trunk space and a pass-through folding rear center armrest are also included on the list of what this midsize 4-door has to offer. Options, meantime, can include splash guards, a rear spoiler, upgraded 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels and carpeted floor mats. Again, in a nod to perceived value sensibilities in the U.S., the next-gen Jetta is burdened with a distinctly low-rent cabin ambiance.

Safety-wise, the 2012 SE PZEV w/Convenience and Sunroof boasts, among the usual collection of occupant protection equipment, standard 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection, just for starters. Then there are standard daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system for some added peace of mind.

As the flagship trim of the lineup, Volkswagen’s 2012 Jetta SEL comes loaded with standard features. Not only that, 15 cubic feet of trunk space are complemented by a roomier cabin that boasts what VW claims to be the most expansive rear seat in its class. Then there are the 17-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats and leather-trimmed shift knob, as well as the telescoping and tilting leather steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls that add a bit more posh to this 5-passenger midsize sedan. More standard cabin goodies include air conditioning, keyless entry and ignition, driver’s seat adjustable lumbar support and the Fender premium 9-speaker, single-CD audio system that’s bolstered by satellite radio, a USB connection and a memory card slot. Topping it all off is a standard hard-drive navigation system with an audio-interfaced touch-screen display, not to mention standard phone pre-wiring and Bluetooth technology. A power glass sunroof is optional for the top-shelf SEL, as are carpeted floor mats, door sills, splash guards and a luggage net.

The standard 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine (I5) powers the 2012 Jetta SEL, allowing a hint of its old agility and quickness. The five-banger is mated with the standard 5-speed manual transmission for 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, while the EPA estimates 23 mpg city/33 highway for the stick-shift version. A 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with the driver-selectable sport mode is also available to this high-end trim and is estimated to get 24/31.

Standard safety equipment in the 2012 Jetta SEL includes 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection. Additional safety features include daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, front fog/driving lights and a post-collision safety system.

Take VW’s reworked midsize sedan, jack in a turbodiesel engine and 6-speed stick shift and behold the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. This torque-heavy 5-passenger beauty comes with standard 16-inch alloy wheels and rear disc brakes to put it a notch above its SE sibling. The list of standard features continues with leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a leather steering wheel mounting cruise and audio controls, a leatherette-trimmed shifter knob and air conditioning for some additional posh, while a few extra convenience features include telescoping tilt-wheel steering and a trip computer. Entertainment and communications aboard the TDI include a 6-speaker single-CD player, satellite radio, phone pre-wiring, auxiliary iPod interface and Bluetooth hands-free technology. Options, meanwhile, include carpeted floor mats, door sills and a cargo net.

Not quite its old self, but nimble nonetheless, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) 2012 Jetta TDI’s true claim to fame is, of course, its direct-injected 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine and standard 6-speed manual transmission. This potent yet economical combo puts out 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 32 mpg city/42 highway. A DSG 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission is also available to the turbodiesel with identical mileage figures.

Such standard safety features as 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), as well as traction and stability control, endow the 2012 TDI, as well as the rest of the Jetta lineup. Occupant safety, meantime, consists of front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection. Topping off the list of standard safety features are daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system.

Throw a standard power sunroof and Touchscreen Premium VIII Sound System into the typical 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and you get the TDI w/Premium trim. This nifty 5-passenger midsize sedan doesn’t quite match the Euro-flair it once had, but it still boasts standard 16-inch alloy wheels, heated power-adjustable mirrors and that nifty sunroof outside, with leather accents, heated front seats, leatherette upholstery and a rear pass-through center armrest doing their best to lift spirits inside. Additional techno-goodies include cruise control, remote power door locks, power windows, air conditioning, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, phone pre-wiring and Bluetooth hands-free communications. Entertainment is delivered by the self-proclaimed Touchscreen Premium VIII Sound System with its touchscreen audio adjustment feature controlling the standard Fender audio group that includes a single-CD player and 9 premium speakers. All of this is, of course, bolstered by satellite radio and a memory card slot and a USB connection. Oh, and for the journeying sort, there’s a hefty 15 cubic feet of trunk space to carry all that extra baggage. Options, meanwhile, consist of splash guards and carpeted floor mats, as well as a rear spoiler, upgraded alloy wheels and a popular Ground Effects package.

The star of the 2012 Jetta TDI w/Premium road show is its 140-hp 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) direct-injected turbodiesel powerplant. Though a tad light on ponies, the turbodiesel mates with the standard 6-speed manual transmission to throw down an impressive 236 lb-ft of torque, quite enough for a quick getaway at every light on the way home from work. And talk about mileage, this nifty diesel four-banger gets 30 mpg city/42 highway with either the stick shift or the available 6-speed DSG auto-manual transmission. Be advised that the entire Jetta lineup is offered in front-wheel drive only.

Safety-wise, the 2012 TDI w/Premium sports standard 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front head-restraint whiplash protection and front side-mounted airbags. Daytime running lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a post-collision safety system also come standard in this nifty turbodiesel sedan.