VW Jetta facelift to launch soon in India

It is the season of facelifts and the latest to jump onto this bandwagon could be the Volkswagen Jetta. The sixth-generation Jetta, which entered India in 2011, has not been upgraded since then, so this is a welcome change. Sources say we could expect the facelift in January 2014 in India.  

The refreshed Jetta gets a new headlight cluster, similar to the ones on the larger VW Passat with its daytime running LEDs arranged in an L-shaped manner. In terms of grille, bumpers and tail lights the design remains unchanged. Xenon headlights will feature on the Highline variant along with a headlight washer. Automatic climate control will be a standard feature on all variants now. Trendline and Comfortline variants get new ‘Sedona’ alloy wheels.

Engine options are likely to remain unchanged and the Jetta will boast of a 1.4-litre petrol motor and a 2.0-litre oil burner. For the Jetta though, the petrol engine has a max power output of 122PS and a peak torque of 200 Nm.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine that powers the Jetta Diesel has a max power of 140PS and a peak torque of 320 Nm. The transmission options for this engine will include a six-speed DSG automatic and a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Volkswagen Jetta when launched in the country garnered decent sales and even caused some worry to competitors like Chevrolet Cruze. But now with the newly launched Skoda Octavia in the picture, it will be interesting to see how it fairs in the market here.