2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL Review - (Kinda) Bare Necessities, Yet Still Worth It!

Find out if the somewhat bare necessities in this 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SEL are enough to make this car worth buying. M.S.R.P. - $24,470.
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[@everythingautomotiveeta5839]

I follow a dozen car reviewers and I really like how you organize edit and just insert your personality into these videos.

[@AutoAcademics]

+richard bean Thank you again, richard bean. We appreciate you!

[@everythingautomotiveeta5839]

+AutoAcademics absolutely kind sir! I'm catching up on more of your reviews as we speak!

[@AutoAcademics]

richard bean Great! Enjoy and thanks again!

[@valmentube]

Great video. I own this car 1.8t tsi sel with the light package and all I can say is that this car is amazing. It handles well and it also feels amazing to drive it. I like how when you are turning a corner light turns on makes it so much easy to see at night. overall this car is amazing and I love it.

[@valmentube]

sorry for the overload of the "amazing" word.

[@AutoAcademics]

Ha! No apology needed, Jonathan Valdez. Sometimes things are just good like that. Chris feels the same way about fried shrimp. We're happy you liked the video and appreciate the kind words. If you haven't done so already, please consider subscribing to our channel. We can use all the help we can get! LOL Thanks for watching!

[@vincento1067]

After test driving 4 other cars in this class my wife and I decided on a 2016 Jetta SEL 1.8T in black. For us the car just felt solid and well built. The 1.8T has plenty of torque and moves this car quite well. We prefer clean lines, clean interiors. If you want a good size sedan for a great price go check out the Jetta.

[@AutoAcademics]

As Chris mentioned in our video, we understand why people who like Volkswagens, like Volkswagens. Thank you for sharing and for watching, too! Enjoy your new car.

[@JVLIVSPhoto]

I have a ‘16 Jetta TSi, it’s a manual and I love it! And it being a turbo, it’s a rapid-fire shift per gear!

[@AutoAcademics]

Nice, J V L I V S Photography. Enjoy your car and thanks for watching!

[@larryfreestone6135]

Good job. Informative well done video.

[@AutoAcademics]

+Larry Freestone Thank you, Larry Freestone. We truly appreciate the kind words. If you haven't done so already, please consider subscribing to our channel. We can use all the help we can get! LOL Thanks for watching!

[@johnnytm123]

im also impressed with the car. try out the 1.4 l i found it just as good but alot cheaper. it drives good and i love the refinement of a german car everything just fits and where it should be.

[@AutoAcademics]

+johnny tuenmo Thank you, johnny tuenmo. We'll have to see if we can get our hands on one. We appreciate your comments and thanks for watching, too!

[@brentcoulter7901]

Great review!

[@AutoAcademics]

Thank you, Brent Coulter. Thanks for watching, too!

[@gloriapetruzcamorenolol8076]

Excellent Jetta and video!!! 😉

[@AutoAcademics]

Thank you, Gloria Petruzca Moreno Lol. We appreciate the kind words. And thanks for watching, too!

[@Moisi547]

Its more of a mid size than compact, compared to other brands in its class!

[@heyitsme939]

i know, especially when compared with the focus lol. i love this Jetta.

[@brianmbanga7306]

Legendary car!

[@antonch.657]

Nice car for 2007 year

[@AutoAcademics]

+Anton Ch. LOL Good one, Anton Ch. We agree that our tester could have used a little more pizzazz, but if you get one with the LED lights, it makes a world of difference and takes a few years off the design's age. We appreciate your comment. Thanks for watching!

[@natehiger410]

So where are those beautiful LED lights for this SEL jetta?

[@AutoAcademics]

+Y Brent We were wondering the same thing, Y Brent. Sometimes press vehicles, while still production vehicles, are early models and the manufacturer makes some last minute changes before mass production is set. We think this could be one of those times. Lucky for you, if you buy a Jetta 1.8T SEL now, it should come with the cool LED lights and ambient lighting. We appreciate your comment, Y Brent. Thanks for watching!

[@Quinsanity09]

Hey Chris when you mention fuel economy are you doing the calculations yourself or are you going by what the screen in the dashboard tells you??

[@AutoAcademics]

+Quinsanity09 Good question, Quinsanity09. We use the onboard computer in each of the vehicles. If we get all of the video work done at the beginning of the week, we'll reset the computer so that it is only recording "normal" driving after all of the idling that we tend to do. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way, though, and it will be an average including our recording sessions. Hope this helps!

[@Quinsanity09]

+AutoAcademics thanks that does help I personally take what the computer says with a grain of salt but at least I know what point of view you're looking at it from

[@AutoAcademics]

Quinsanity09 No problem, Quinsanity09. We agree that many of the trip computers can be a little optimistic at times, but that is the tool that the majority of owners will use to evaluate their fuel consumption and so it is one of the reasons why we use it. It's not perfect, but then again neither is the old-school pen, paper, and calculator way, depending upon what season it is or even whether or not the local filling station has a bit of a grade to the asphalt around its pumps. Another reason is that we do not always empty the full tank of gas during our time with the car, nor do we fill it up again unless it is used for an extended trip. The final reason why we use the onboard computer is because of the math. We like math... just not that much. LOL We think the main factor when evaluating a car's fuel economy is consistency. Whichever strategy is used should be used each time a recording is taken. We appreciate your comments, Quinsanity09. Thanks for watching!

[@InfamousAWJ]

You sure this is 2016?

[@AutoAcademics]

LOL Yup. Straight from VW themselves. Thanks for watching, Glock9ine!

[@brownbuter]

previous generation jettas are so much better...

[@AutoAcademics]

+brown buter We always hear people talk about those previous-gen Jettas, but this one drives pretty good and has a nice interior to match. Don't sleep on it! LOL Thanks for watching, brown buter.

[@hsbthree]

Take them damn shades off...

[@AutoAcademics]

+hsbthree We realize you just can't get enough of Chris' baby blues (err, browns?), hsbthree, but you have to understand something. Because we video cars outside, we have to depend tremendously on the sun shining toward the car so you can see it. That also means it's shining toward Chris (our presenter), too. Now while he believes the wonderful hue of his eyes drives the women nuts, we don't want him to go blind for the sake of a car review. (His benefits package isn't THAT good.) With that said, however, every once in a while we have to video in not so great weather, making all the ladies dreams come true. (Chris' words, not ours.) For example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZjPpauGi8R2q5Y. Thank you for sharing, hsbthree. And thanks for watching, too!

[@coureurdebois]

its looking like hideousness on toast.

[@AutoAcademics]

+justin bouche LOL What?!? You are merciless, justin bouche. Just merciless. Honestly, you should try this car out. It just might surprise you.

[@coureurdebois]

***** i have, used to be a detailer for dream car works, we also got lots of jettas in (along with chevys, fords, audis, ect), simply i disliked everything about it, what annoyed me the most had to be the lack luster styling in comparison to the 16 Malibu or focus (yes i know the Malibu does not compete but in price its very close) the plastic application "fake wood" was cheap every time i cleaned them and it flexed. it just feels behind in terms of interior materials, exterior style, interior style, and some of the fake wood applications are questionable in build quality...

[@AutoAcademics]

justin bouche We hear you, justin. That was a legitimate complaint for previous generations. Especially considering the price when compared to other cars in its class. However, VW has upped its game on the interior. The leather is soft and attractive, and there are soft touch materials being used, too. We agree that the exterior could use a little sprucing up. While it may be the same family as Porsche, it is not a Porsche, so a bit of updating might do the Jetta wonders. But we're not car designers so we'll leave that up to the experts. The other thing we did like was the driving dynamics. Other than the new Civic, very few garden-variety compact cars impress us in that area. This one did.

[@coureurdebois]

***** i agree with most of that, but the leather, many of the jettas we got in the shop had pleather not leather and it did not feel very soft, it was relatively rough along with the plastic appliques being flimsy. just in comparison to many other 2016 cars they are no longer at the top or even the middle in my book.

[@AutoAcademics]

justin bouche That's fair enough. Thank goodness there are quite a few good choices out there, nowadays. We'll share another one with you soon so get ready!

[@madern7]

This is a really boring car... Golf is life though

[@madern7]

And white would make the car so much better!

[@AutoAcademics]

+Annoying We agree that this car could use a little something extra in the exterior design department, but it definitely drove better than we were expecting, Annoying. Hopefully one day soon we will have an opportunity to test a Golf. A number of us here at AutoAcademics have become smitten with hatchbacks and ever since Chris got his CTS wagon, he's been a believer, too. We appreciate your support, Annoying. And as always, thanks for watching!

[@madern7]

***** My Steph dad let me drive his Golf 7 TDI 2.0 Once. it was a dream it handled so nice. I would really look forward to a review of you guys. maybe you could review Chris his cts?. let me know.

[@AutoAcademics]

Annoying Reviewing Chris' wagon has crossed our collective minds quite a few times, but obviously we haven't done it yet, Annoying. It's nice to hear that you would be interested in seeing that, though. Maybe we'll push it through sometime this Spring/Summer. Thanks!

[@madern7]

***** Ill be waiting

[@iLikeTigerz101]

why does he always has to talk like a gangsta from chicago when doing car reviews?

[@cherylhickmon8573]

Really!? Is that all you see/hear!?

[@1.--_--.1]

You jackass