The Top 5 Volkswagen Jetta Generations in History

The Volkswagen Jetta is one of the most well-known nameplates in the compact sedan segment, selling over 18 million units globally since its debut in 1979. It has evolved and solidified its status as a practical, all-around car. We’ll delve into the Volkswagen Jetta’s legacy in the automotive world and how it evolved across its seven generations.

First Generation (A1)– The Rabbit With a Trunk

Volkswagen made the first Jetta because a lot of people in the North American market wanted a sedan more than a hatchback. While the Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf outside the US) sold pretty well and became one of the go-to models for a reliable, economical, and practical car, VW wanted more. Basically, the company grafted a trunk onto the back end of the golf and the Jetta was born.

VW gave the Mk1 Jetta 76 horsepower from a 1.6-liter engine, which is more than decent. Aside from that, it also had upscale styling and a 13-cubic-foot trunk. These two features made it quite nimble and sufficiently practical, which is the Mk1 Jetta’s two main selling points. Crucially, these aspects are going to define the Jetta, Over its next generations, the Jetta is simply going to improve upon these already established aspects.

• Engine: 1.6-liter SOHC 8-valve I-4 (GLI 5-speed) 
• Horsepower: 76 hp
• Torque: 83 lb-ft

Second Generation (A2) – The Best-Seller

VW made the second-generation Jetta bigger and better. It was now a compact sedan that could seat five people instead of four. Aside from a larger car, Volkswagen also introduced the first GLI variant, which is a sportier version that gave the Jetta a larger engine. Compared to the standard 1.8-liter engine that produced 85 horsepower, the GLI had a dual overhead cam (DOHC) 1.8-liter engine that produced 100 horsepower. The GLI made it possible for the Jetta to become your practical family car and sporty weekend car.

This wasn’t exactly revolutionary, as many manufacturers released similar sedans with sportier drivetrains. However, the second-generation Jetta was a hit, and it became the best-selling European vehicle in North America. The Mk2 Jetta also had the longest production run of any Jetta, being made for nine years from 1985 to 1993.

• Engine: 1.8-liter I-4 (GLI model) 
• Horsepower: 100 hp @ 5,250 rpm
• Torque: 108 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm

Third Generation (A3) – The Fast and the Furious Jetta

The third-generation Jetta was renamed the “Vento” in European markets, which meant wind in both Italian and Portuguese. However, it kept the Jetta name in the US since it continued to be popular and was the best-selling Volkswagen model in the market.

The 90s was a turbulent time for European and American manufacturers because Japanese car manufacturers were gaining an edge. In many cases, their cars were cheaper and more reliable. Many Volkswagen models were simply unpopular in the American market. Hence, the German manufacturer considered leaving the US market entirely. However, the Jetta Mk3 was the model that kept Volkswagen in the US market because of its popularity.

The 1995 Jetta Mk3 was even featured in the first The Fast and Furious film. The car is painted white and equipped with rally-style body kits, a rear wing, and white Konig Tantrum wheels. The car in the film was owned by one of the characters, Jesse.

The Mk3’s inclusion in the iconic 2001 film is no coincidence, and in some ways even symbolic. Many models included in the movie have made a name for themselves and are desirable until now. The Jetta MK3 managed to be one of those cool cars that people wanted to own and customize at the time.

• Engine: 2.0-liter I-4 
• Power: 114 hp @ 5,400 rpm
• Torque: 122 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm

Fourth Generation (A4)– From Boxy to Modern Curves

The Mk4 received a complete transformation with a massive redesign. The fourth-generation Jetta was made with mechanized presses, new measuring techniques, and new laser welding that improved its fit and finish. Volkswagen also did away with the traditional boxy shape prominent in 90s vehicles and adopted a more modern and curvy style.

The fourth-generation Jetta carried over the standard 115-horsepower, four-cylinder gas engine of the previous generation but the GLI variant gave owners 2.8-liter or 3.2-liter V-6 engine options.

Volkswagen also made side curtain airbags standard for this generation. The GLI model also had ABS, and stability control. These features coupled with a rugged chassis allowed the Jetta to get five out of five stars for driver and passenger frontal-impact protection in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• Engine: 2.8-liter V6 (GLI model)
• Power: 200 @ 6,200 rpm 
• Torque: 195 @ 3,200 rpm
• Fuel Economy: 21 MPG (city) 29 MPG (highway)

Sixth Generation (A6)– The Sleek, Modern, and Controversial Jetta

During the 6th-Gen Jetta’s development, the project was given the codename “New Compact Sedan.” No, the name wasn’t implying that the Jetta was about to revolutionize compact sedans. Instead, VW was simply transforming the Jetta. The 2010 Jetta was no longer a sedan that was heavily derived from the Golf. Volkswagen gave the Jetta its own unique identity for the first time as it got larger proportions and incorporated Volkswagen’s updated design language. Despite its increased size, the Jetta became less expensive. This made it more competitive against the big nameplates in the compact sedan segment, such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. The 6th-gen Jetta was also released with a GLI model, which had a turbocharged engine and a sporty suspension setup.

Overall, though, enthusiasts didn’t appreciate some of Volkswagen’s decisions. The more sparse interior and the return to a twist-beam axle for the rear suspension in some of the lower-tier models were especially contentious. Still, sales were brisk, so that’s probably a win for VW.

Unfortunately, the 6th-generation Jetta TDI variant would be part of Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal, where the company was found to use software that allowed its vehicles to detect when they were being tested, prompting them to switch engine performance to meet regulatory standards. As a result, Volkswagen faced many legal consequences and fines that amounted to billions.

• Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 (GLI)Power: 200 hp @ 5,100 rpm
• Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm
• Fuel Economy: 22 MPG (city) 29 MPG (highway)

Overall, each generation of the Jetta offered drivers features and innovations they couldn’t get elsewhere. The Jetta became the go-to vehicle for those who wanted a great compact daily driver with a European twist. Over 40 years, the Jetta has transformed from a small and basic commuter to a modern all-around car.