2019 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line

Our revolving door of long-term Volkswagens turns to this 2019 Jetta which has been in our fleet for 2-months, with 2,000-miles added to the odometer.

“The big thing with this Jetta when it came out was the fact that it supposedly catered specifically to Americans. Well, since we are Americans here at MotorWeek we can certainly appreciate the extra space inside and the bang for the buck when it comes to tech features. Despite the fabulous MQB architecture, the ride and handling isn’t as sporty as it once was, but it is still very competent compared to rivals and really comfortable.”

We were happy to see our Jetta was outfitted in R-Line trim; which means blacked-out appearance, 17-inch wheels, and upgraded interior. 

Adding to the sporty platform, is a tiny 1.4-liter I4 turbo that is plenty capable, working hand and cog with the 8-speed automatic to deliver 32.2 miles-per-gallon. 

Around here, we tend to pick the fun over the frugal, or even the practical. Well, if we’ve learned nothing else over the last 2-months and 4,300-miles spent with this 2019 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line, it’s that you don’t really have to make the hard choices. 

Yes, sedans (even small ones) can be practical and frugal; our mileage is up to 36.7 miles-per-gallon. Plus this Jetta is a great “everyday sedan” to drive as well.

“The compact sedan segment in America is one where buyers generally just want a car to get them to where they want to go and really they want something that just  works. I can say that’s been the case with this Jetta R-Line. You get in, you go and it just works. The seats are a little firm, but on the whole it’s a really nice place to spend morning and afternoon commute.”

Time to say goodbye to our long term 2019 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line sedan. Yes, we agree, our drive time with it went by quickly. 

In 3 months we managed a little over 5,000 miles; while the pintsize 1.4-liter turbo-4 delivered 36.4 miles-per-gallon, and more than a few smiles along the way.  

The R-Line is not the sportiest Jetta, nor is it the most luxurious; but it’s a great middle ground offering enough of both to keep us comfortable and entertained.  

Safe too, with a comprehensive list of standard safety features including blind spot monitoring.

We loved the interior layout, as well as the tasty R-line touches throughout the cabin; and found using the Composition multimedia interface quite intuitive.

The picky audiophiles among our staff however, would certainly appreciate an upgrade of its basic 4-speaker audio system. A small complaint, for this very enjoyable and affordable sport sedan.