The 2011 Jetta. Built to sell?
The reviews have been pouring in, but they're not all pretty.
Volkswagen's restyled 2011 Jetta will hit dealerships this month. Based on the majority of reviews so far, it looks like Volkswagen has abandoned the high quality and unique styling that have long been it's selling points, in favor of mediocrity and a lower price..
This, we can only assume, is VW's strategy for achieving the aggressive sales goals that it's leaders have been stating for the past months. But really, is "volume" what VW wants to achieve? Don't we have GM and Ford for that, and Toyota, KIA and Hyundai? All sell huge volumes of forgettable cars, appliances aimed at the broadest possible market. VW, on the other hand, is still here in the US because of a small but enthusiastic following that appreciates quality and uniqueness, and is willing to pay for it.
Maybe VW should be looking at its past successes for inspiration; it was only a few years ago that the uniquely styled New Beetle brought hoards of buyers into VW showrooms, and the well designed and quality-built B5 Passat won industry award after award. And don't forget how many of those B5 Passats VW sold…those were very good years for "volume sales" at VWoA.
There could be a silver lining for the independent european car technician though. Cheaply built Volkswagens may not sell in the volumes that VW hopes, but they might need to be fixed a whole lot more. Have you got room for another bay?
Let's hear what you think, add a comment below.
Also, check out a few reviews by following these links (they'll open in a new window or tab):
MSN.COM: By cutting costs, VW made a mediocre Jetta