Volkswagen Jetta 2019Change

Wanting a sedan with a manual transmission + a sunroof (my only must have requirements) narrowed the field of possible new cars depressingly quickly. But the Jetta was a compelling offer regardless; providing great value, decent performance and impressive fuel economy in a very handsome design (when equipped with the R-Line package). Though many reviews I had read praised the Jetta's ride, I don't find this to be the case. It is very harsh and even jarring - on two occasions, the glove box/sunglasses holder have popped open when hitting bumps. Passengers have also commented on the "metal on metal" feeling of the ride over even the slightest rough roads. Wind noise at any speed about 60km/h is beyond intrusive. The interior looks and feels much more upscale than many rivals, though there is a lot of hard plastics and glossy finishes that appear to scratch quite easily. The carpets also seem to just trap dirt and already look more worn than those in my 2007 Civic (280,000kms). Frequent cleanings are necessary to preserve the newness. The most impressive part of the Jetta is the fuel consumption - averaging around 6l/100km, and even going below 5 on longer hwy trips; easily getting 800+kms a tank (mixed driving + heavy foot). The engine is adequate - gets the job done, but you won't win any drag races - and the 6 speed manual is silky & very easy to drive smoothly. So far, aside from 2 sets of absolutely garbage factory wiper blades, the car has been problem free (about to hit 25,000kms). I'm quite happy with my purchase - just very disappointed with the ride quality & excessive wind noise - both of which keep me from loving what is otherwise, a very good offering in the compact car segment.