What we know!
There are five key reasons a Jetta would be not only a likely choice for your teenage driver, but the clear best choice out there. Some of these factors center on safety, while others are linked to a connected car app, something every teen in a “connected” world will find familiar.
It is important to review and consider these key reasons for purchasing a Jetta for your young driver one by one, especially when teens take to the open road.
First, in the area of safety, Front Assist watches the road ahead right along with your teen, using an advanced radar and camera system. Not only can it detect vehicles or pedestrians, then determine, based on the object’s distance the vehicle speed, if a risk of collision exists, it takes even another step. To that end, if a crash is likely, a warning icon appears on the screen as well as a warning sound, which alerts drivers of the danger so as to brake in time to avoid the collision.
Emergency Assist is another key reason this vehicle is the ideal choice. With this feature, when active, driver responses are keenly monitored. For example, if driving when tired, responses may be lethargic, with this feature picking up on that nuance and taking action. Not only does Emergency Assist monitor one’s grip on the wheel, but offers warning alerts on the screen as well as an alarm sound, prompting drivers to actively steer. In the event these warnings fail, Emergency Assist will actually take over, directing the vehicle into the lane center and gradually slowing it to a stop.
Perhaps one of the most helpful features in the event your teen has issues backing vehicles out of driveways, garages or parking spots, Rear Traffic Alert serves several purposes. First, in the event a driver is reversing and may not see a passing vehicle, this system activates once the driver shifts into reverse, with radar sensors at rear watching areas at both the left and right for such things as approaching vehicles, pedestrians or motorcycles. If something is in fact detected, direction indicators on the vehicle will appear with a side flash, and a warning appears
on the screen. If the vehicle still moves after this warning, the system applies hard braking to prevent a crash.
Lane Assist is another key aspect of the Jetta, adding yet another layer of protection for young drivers. This system works by keeping your Volkswagen centered in its lane. It becomes active at 35 mph or more and utilizes a camera to identify the lines in the lane. It will make minor steering adjustments as needed to keep your teen safe and, if your direction indicator is on or the driver is actively steering, this system will temporarily deactivate.
Lastly, Adaptive Cruise Control is a mainstay, useful on those long drives, perhaps a trip to view a college, allowing teens to set a specific speed for their vehicle to maintain. Also, one can set a following distance from another vehicle, with the ACC slowing the vehicle down and even stopping it if a vehicle ahead slows or stops.
In the area of connectivity, there is nothing like the Safe & Secure Plan, allowing drivers to get help on the road when needed and also enhance their confidence on the open road. This plan offers such key features as Automatic Crash Notifications, connecting your vehicle automatically with the Volkswagen Response Center in the event the vehicle’s airbag is deployed or there is a rollover. Emergency Assistance helps both driver and passenger, just through the press of the SOS Button. Once again, the Volkswagen Response Center steps in, sending help right to your vehicle location.
Information Assistance allows drivers to contact an agent for help, all while keeping both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Anti-Theft Alerts are another plus of this plan, providing an alert if and when your vehicle alarm is triggered. And, if your vehicle is stolen, the Stolen Vehicle Locator acts as its own level of security, with the Volkswagen Response Center working in conjunction with safety forces to access your vehicle's location remotely.
The plan also features Road Awareness Alerts, which provide drivers in-vehicle alerts so as to enhance awareness on the road. Ini addition, warnings may appear when emergency vehicles or disabled vehicles are nearby.
And just like the word makes clear, Vehicle H.E.L.P. does just that, notifying oncoming vehicles if yours is disabled due to a crash or maintenance issue. This ensures that no collision takes place.
Those wishing to activate any of these services must have a Car Net subscription and accept Terms of Service. Features vary depending on the software version in one’s vehicle.
Other facts!
Priced right and practical between $23,720 and $30,225, this vehicle’s pluses just keep coming! On top of a roomy cabin, great ride quality and handling and exceptional fuel economy, this vehicle gets the job done and done right!
A competent and compact four-door sedan, the Jetta sees a mild refresh for 2025, including a change to the front fascia, new grille and headlamp designs and an available grille-spanning light bar option for the Sport Trim on up.
The vehicle's color palette also expands to hues like Monterey Blue Pearl and Monument Gray, with interior updates featuring a new dash design and three-bar theme for the HVAC vents and the area in front of the passenger. Also, an 8-inch infotainment screen is now standard, with the SE models getting even more standard equipment, including satellite radio, wireless charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. These were once reserved only for the SEL models.
While each trim has its own fair share of perks, the Sport trim is suggested, with its black pattern-embossed cloth seats, a front anti-roll bar, standard 17-inch alloys and VW’s XDS brake-based limited-slip differential. There are also heated front seats, stainless-steel pedal trim, black window trim and mirror caps as well as a 60/40 folding rear seat. Only those who step up to the SE take advantage of power seats, remote start, satellite radio and wireless charging. The SEL adds ventilated leather seating front and rear, a sunroof, navigation and premium auto.
In the area of power, the Jetta for 2025 carries over with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, making 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. In latest testing, the SEL hopped to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, when equipped with an automatic.
Inside, the Jetta is comfortable and reasonably roomy, with cloth upholstery in the base model, and features increasing with the trim levels. Despite the trim choice, though, every cabin appears to cater to both driver and passenger with excellent outward visibility. There is also ambient interior lighting, wireless device charging and ventilated front seats on the more expensive models.
The Jettas, including the S, Sport and SE trims all get the basic 8-inch digital gauge cluster, with each model having a mobile hotspot for those willing to pay for a subscription-based data plan. Wireless charging is also standard on the top two trim levels.
From top safety, connectivity and all-out affordability, when it comes to the best vehicle for your teen, the Jetta is at the top of the list. With features that speak to confidence on the open road and safety in all possible driver scenarios, the Jetta hits the ground running. If your teen is ready to get behind the wheel, only confidence will follow. Take this Teen Machine for a test drive, and reserve yours today