The BEST $20,000 Car Is A VOLKSWAGEN And It's Not Even CLOSE
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- I've been on a hunt for affordable new cars and it turns out there are more of them than I thought. It's getting hard to buy anything for less than $20,000, but we've found 3 examples already. Today I'm driving the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta Sport which might have an MSRP over $20k, but they're selling then under! The new Jetta is twice the car the Versa is, and 3x the car the Mirage is.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta At Eddy's Volkswagen: www.eddysvolks...
MERCH: shopWatchJRGo.com
Shop Motul: motul.com
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#AffordableCar #Volkswagen #Jetta
That car proves the truck market is stupidly out of control
We know that but guess what the trucks are stacking up on floor plans.
Turbo, full stop.
all markets!
This thing should cost $14k
Why buy a nice affordable reliable car when you can pay 60,000 more for a truck that gets 9mpg so you can complain about gas prices???
I’ve told myself I would never buy a brand new car. This has got me crunching numbers incredible value
Check your tax rate first! I've been shopping around and when I calculated taxes here in Colorado, 8.8% where I live plus 2.1% Reg fee, I've decided to wait and do some hard thinking....
9 year finance option, but buy the extended bumper to bumper… lol
Don't do it.
Get a used Camry
It will outlast this junk
Compare the 1.5 to 2.0, if the only structural difference is disp. and turbo psi boost, get the 1.5.
Fatter head gasket area. 2.0 would be oops rebore and honers.
We actually bought one of these last year for about 21K. It’s such a great car, no issues. Absolute bang for your buck.
@@adrianguzman3136 honestly a spent a day driving it around town and almost like it more than my volt 😂
Bought one new for $19k in 2020. 60k miles later it’s been magnificent.
@@WatchJRGoi checked 3 dealers near me and a sport was listed around 25k
You don’t want to own one over 80k miles.
Sorry, I can’t trust VW for the long run.
I think the best part about this is that the jetta comes in such a wide range of trims, that even though it costs $20k, it doesn’t look like a 20k car. Versa, Mirage, accent, they all look and feel cheap
They are all a victim of rental history. Get your Carfackz ready with 3 or 4 prepaid searches 😔
The great thing about the Jetta is you can look stylish while your waiting for the tow truck.
I have a 2012 VW Jetta SE 2.5L and it has been rock solid. Mind you I have kept up w the maintenance and flush all my fluids but I have over 200,000 miles on it and the engine is still strong. Original alternator, water pump, starter, trans, engine. Only thing I had to replace was the throttle body and a radiator fan. I love my Jetta!
I have 178k on my 2011 with the 2.5, thats is one of the best VW engines they made.
2013 2.5 Jetta with 170k miles.
@@dhass1776I’ve owned 12 VW’s. The 2.5 was the best engine by far. Power in the midrange where its most useful, respectable fuel economy, dead reliable.
Only thing I didn’t like was the plastic oil filter housing.
@@huntleyCH Damn!
I've had 5 VWs, and an Audi if that counts......
The old 1.8t was my favorite engine, but still not as bulletproof as the 2.5.
I wish they still made the naturally aspirated 2.5 but now they're all turbos.
I've owned 41 cars (I usually get a car a year). I bought a brand new manual sport in '23 for $22,800 and kept it for 2 years (a long time for me). The first thing I did was to take the "Sport" badge off the door pillars (it says Volkswagen underneath). I'm 6'2" and found the car to be exceptionally comfortable. Fuel economy is ridiculously good. The best I ever did was 53.5 mpg on a 100+ mile trip. You can lock the keys in the car and use the VW app to lock/unlock the door. If you are on the fence, buy it!
Why do you buy a car every year? Can't find one you like?
@@BartholomewSmutz I like ALL of them!
I didn’t realize we still have a great budget vehicle such as this! As a former VW Beetle owner in 1971 I can see that VW is serious about providing value at an affordable price for many. Thank you for a great report!!!
I just bought a 2025 Jetta and it is definitely a great car at a great price. I did look at this dealers website and this 19,999 car is a marketing gimmick. They require a trade in and you must use thier financing which gives them the power to manipulate trade in value and APR to make up for the discounted price.
Of course,there is always some gimmick.
So they lied. A dealer that lied, shocking.
As long as there is no prepayment penalty on dealer financing you can refinance with your preferred bank after 30-60 days. For trade in, get quotes from Carmax/Carvana to get a fair value for your car.
Figures...
You can refinance immediately so get a better rate if possible. The trade-in, that's odd. But even at $22K this car is amazing.
It’s such a superior car over a Versa or a Mirage. In a completely different class in my opinion. Always been a Jetta fan. I think you can get a manual still. Fun to drive.
The manual died in all but the GLI starting in 2025.
@@redbeardsgarage3748 I just noticed that myself. I wonder if there are any 6-speed 2024s in this trim still floating around in dealer inventory somewhere???
I’m probably going to be in need of an affordable new car soon and this car got me excited but then when Jake mentioned the manual was dropped, my heart sunk.
It’s such a great deal though, I might still take the auto and I’ve heard they’re really good. My occasionally problematic left ankle would probably thank me, too.
I’d also consider a Mazda 3 hatch which is equally nice and still is available with a manual but they’re more expensive unless you can find a lightly used one.
I couldn’t agree more. The Versa and especially Mirage scream cheap economy car. This actually looks like a proper nice car.
@brian5o The GTI lost the manual too, which is why I scooped up a 24' GTI while I still could. Who'd have thought that the GLI would be the last VW with three pedals.
@brian5o I had a 23' Jetta SE for 18 months and my family and I loved it. Well optioned, incredibly comfortable and economical to boot.
Nice of you to make this series about budget cars. Not many people can afford 50-60K trucks/cars. Make it a regular series with price increments and also your experience of working on cars helps a lot. 😊
I can afford a $60k car but I’m not buying one. I buy used 3 years old
@@gtbigdog3507smartest way to buy is get a good car that’s been used. The price of this car is great but it’s a 1.5L engine. It’s not going to last. Plus I need AWD for where I live…
As a vw enthusiast this makes me happy that theirs a car priced for everyone. This is a perfect car for my cousin getting her drivers license soon.
She'll love it-a new driver getting a 5 star safety rated car.
My girlfriend bought a 2024 Jetta Sport manual in June. We got $4,500 of MSRP. After trade-in, we were out the door at $15K. You can't beat that! We absolutely love the car. She is glad she bought when she did because as of 2025, you can only get the GLI in a manual transmission.
Sh can drive a stick,? Shes a keeper!
Great deal! And the manual will hold its value better because they are so desirable.
The 2025 is available in both manual & automatic! But 2025 is the LAST year for the manual transmission… Unfortunately..
Just drove my 2025 GLI home last night. Great car!
@@smigletat9634For GLI, not the regular Jetta.
@
Yeppers! You got it.. spot-on
I work at the VW plant in Chattanooga. I drive a 2024 Jetta SEL and love it. My next car will be a 2025 Jetta GLI. Looking forward to it with much excitement 😁
Then you probably touched our '24 Atlas at some point. We love it, great 3-row SUV with more room and features than Japanese counterparts and much more value. There's little things where you can tell someone thought about it at some point during the design phase. Things other makers didn't think about.
Wow, a VW/watch guy...what a combo. 😛 Kind of a weird question, but, does the Chattanooga plant offer like "Domestic Tourist Delivery" on vehicles that it manufactures there, and are there factory tours one can go on? I've done the Wolfsburg one and highly recommend, but I thought it might be fun to pick up something like this car (so not made in TN), tour the factory, and drive home.
@ All good questions, but only one I can answer, and that’s about tours. They rarely give tours of the plant, and that’s usually only for family and friends on Family Day and for executive stuff. I’m just worker bee, so I’m not sure about the rest. However, if you’ve been to the plant in Germany, you’ve seen a lot more than what we have. We are just newer and only build the Atlas, Atlas Crossport (coup), and the ID4.
That car is a steal. For that money you can not even buy a vw polo here in belgium. That starts from 26695 euro, yes Euro. Get it now guys
We are getting scammed here in Europe. In Germany prices are quite the same. The Jetta has the Golf basis.
@@JohnDoe-zr6bk in EU we have VAT (23% in my country) and some additional taxes that's the reason for high car prices in Europe. In US 10% sales tax is considered high!!!!
A base Polo "Track" with a 1.6 manual is about 15k USD 300k MXN a similar speced polo to that jetta you'd be looking at $17500 that would be auto/1.0 tsi which I love.
right? I would buy this one for 20.000 euros right away. but the problem here in Europe are the Emissions so VW has to pay a penalty for each car that has no hybrid or electric engine. we are getting screwed.
Cheapest Polo is equivalent of $27000 in the UK. A Jetta for 20k is a steal
I knew most of this when I bought my 2019 Jetta auto for $16,500.00. then got 46 mpg to Atlantic City and back at 80 mph with the air on. You nailed this review, thanks...oh, then they gave a 6 year warranty so I am about to buy a 2025.
I wish they kept the 6year/72k mi warranty
@@XanderRadev Can you extend it ? In the U.K. you can keep extending the warranty until 10 years for about £300 a year. Not quite as good as Toyota who give you a years warranty extension each time they service the car, but I didn't like the driving position in the Corolla. Loved the front of the C-HR but it is really a 2+2.
@@barbz_zayneWow!
The best car I've ever owned was a 12' GTI. I bought pre-COVID in early 2015 at a VW dealership for $14999. It was a lease return with 29k and a Six Speed Manual. I loved that car. It was stolen in San Diego and later found completely stripped in Tijuana. I still miss that car.
That's so sad, what a shame.
Dang I would miss that one too.
It's '12, not 12' which means "12 feet". The apostrophe goes first replacing the "20". FYI.
@@DrewM91105 Thank God for the YPP (UA-cam Puncuation Police).
Hopefully the people who stole your car are being deported. There are gangs of migrant thieves roaming the USA because other countries emptied thier prisons and mental hospitals at our border and our previous president paid them to stay here and victimize us.
The Jetta is a decent car for the money. VW has had a big problem with the head gaskets failing on the 1.5L turbo. Reportedly it was due improper sealant/ material used. My daughter has a 2022 Taos (1.5L turbo) with 50K and recently had to have the head gasket replaced, luckily under warranty. Check out all the complaints on the NTSB website. Hopefully VW has fixed this issue on any of the new 1.5L engines going forward.
Their 1.4 tsi was very reliable. Don't know why they brought newer 1.5 tsi with miller cycle; too complicated unnecessarily.
@@ahsanmalik1013 Under most driving conditions the 1.4TSI was more economical and certainly quieter as well. I replaced a 2013 Golf MK7 with a 2018 Golf MK7.5. When I traded it in the long term average on the 1.4TSI was just over 50MPG U.K. (41MPG US).
@@jimhoobler6044 I am not surprised. Used to get 40-55 mpg easily. Best fuel efficient non-hybrid turbo engine. Don't know how they do it.
@@MrDunclwow!
Never buy a turbo. Too much engine pressure in a small engine. It won’t last like a naturally aspirated engine.
driving a 2017 VW Jetta 1.4 TSI that I picked up for $3800 and love it. good pickup for a small motor and gets 30+ mpg
The incandescent interior lights are probably by design: They're much warmer and more pleasant at night, especially for retaining night vision during brief usage.
I have a 2019 Jetta SEL Premium. I've had it since new. I've never had any problems with it and have made at least 7 trips from Colorado to Nebraska every year. On those trips, I average 48mpg.
Some people talk bad about VW, but i haven't had any problems. I guess keeping up with routine maintenance makes a difference too.
90% of people who complain do not do routine maintenance, and as such, something fails and the car now is titled unreliable.
Yes, I've had several VW's and never had a serious problem. And of course I do maintenance....
Maintenance is key. You can get away with poor maintenance anymore not even with a Toyota.
Drug runner.
@formula1fancolorado632 60 year old going to visit my 90 year old mother, who was dying and has since passed away if you really need to know the details of my life asshole!
I got a 2020 SEL during the pandemic for 72 months at 0% interest. 65K miles later and it’s still like new. My third and best Jetta.
I'm glad you're happy, I've had nothing but problems with every VW I have ever owned. I started with a 411 in 1977, tried a rabbit in 1981, a fox in 1990, then finally a jetta tdi that suffered a major fuel system collapse at 24K miles that cost $6K. All the others were plagued by electrical gremlins that made life impossible.
had a golf tdi which was bombproof, did 200k miles no issues, and was driven hard, Best car ever owned. Current golf is 6 years no issues (EA888).
Had VW412 in the 70’s a 1981 Diesel Rabbit- eh het eh hem. …..Toyota Camrys never gave me problems
You are bellyaching over cars from 30 years ago? This uses MQB architecture with an EA 888 (third gen) engine. The transmission is Toyota's Jato 8 speed. This is the most reliable generation VW has ever made. Now that Toyota and Honda ALSO use turbos, you will find they have MORE problems than VW these days, because they have far less experience. The only reason they had a reputation for reliability is because they were dinosaurs, using 20 year old tech. Like a V6 in a Camry in 2023, lol.
@Dave-cf4vd Jatco transmission? That is a Nissan transmission, not toyota.
It would have been under warranty at 24k miles.
Our first new car in 1987 was a VW Jetta at a cost of $8700! The odometer quit at 238k. The original clutch went 3 yrs after that & I finally sold it with an estimated 283k miles. Absolutely the best car I ever owned. My wife rented a 2025 Jetta on a recent business trip & loved it. We are in the market for a new car & the Jetta may be our go to vehicle. With all the changes on the horizon, I have no desire to invest huge sums of money in a new vehicle. I just need something that will get us to our destinations around town & short trips.
I bought a 2014 Passat new in 2015. I drove it to 180k miles and my son still drives it and now has 270k miles
Would you mind me asking what engine version I’m lowkey into getting one?
@ 1.8 turbo. I worked at a wood mill and we had Lindy forklifts with Volkswagen 1.8 na engines and they had 300,000 hours plus and still working 24/7
12 years ago, my Sonata was stolen twice. It was just too far gone to keep going with it when I got it back, so I had to get a new car. I had previously worked for Emich Volkswagen in Denver and asked them to help me. They put me in a brand new 2013 Jetta S. 5 speed, no cruise control, bare-bones 2.0 L 4cyl. (dubbed the 2.slow). That car cost $15,000. So naturally, I’m absolutely mind blown at what I’m seeing here. 12 years later, way more options, and only $5,000 more? Hell I might go get one this afternoon!
There is nothing wrong with a standard ignition key. In the UK, you are less likely to have the car stolen with a key that is not continually transmitting the unlock code.
Bought one in 2017 SE 1.4t , new. 140,000 later still runs well no issues just wear tear items. Took good care of it throughout its life, mainly oil changes every 5000 miles synthetic N vw oil filter. Timing belt job at 90,000 miles. Just replaced alternator and battery. Never serviced it at the stealership. It has serve our family well. Its going to be my kids first car now. From baby seat to driver seat!
That's very well specced configuration. LED headlights, auto cruise control, auto lights and rain sensors, blind spot monitoring.. all that on entry level is amazing
Obviously, this is the “sport” trim, not an entry level S trim.
@andreyd8116 the sport is the 2nd up, so still quite entry level.. still, the S has all the tech too, sweetheart
IKR?
Nice shade of blue.
I bought a 2024 VW Taos S FWD last year with the same power train and I love it! It’s quick, smooth and great on fuel. I highly recommend either the Jetta or the Taos FWD. Especially the Jetta Sport, the Sport badge location is awesome.
Truly insane, for 20k. Great job, thanks for the fantastic, in depth review!! Cheap cars! The reviews we need.
2019 Jetta R 41k, love my car! Only needed a battery and tires. MPG hasn't changed either, still gets great mileage. Way under appreciated vehicle.
SEL is the package that you get all the things you didn’t like about the interior. For 20,000 though, I’m very impressed. I subscribed!
I rented one of these for a week was impressed, the one negative was absolutely no lumbar support in the front seats drive more than an hour and its painful.
There are a lot of folks up late at night watching JR go! Thank you for keeping the content coming…
I bought my 2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium- New. Now only 40k miles. Best car I’ve ever owned 🎉 Always drove Audis - this IS a baby Audi ‼️
Excellent ❤️✅
I bought a 2025 Jetta SE for 24k out the door. So far I love it. Best deal in small cars.
17:59 This is one of the reasons we chose the Escape over other similar options; the fact that CarPlay directions and audio would integrate on the gauge cluster screen the same way that the car’s in-built navigation and audio does, is insanely useful. It’s astounding the number of cars that just done do that-they only work with the car’s own navigation system.
"I don't see too much plastic" while most of the parts under the hood are plastic 😂😂😂
I'm on my 3rd Jetta (2004, 2008 Wolfsburg and my latest 2025 SE). The SE adds above the Sport you showed here the following:
Remote engine start
Wireless charging (for compatible devices)
SiriusXM® (3-month trial subscription; requires acceptance of Terms)
Wireless App-Connect® smartphone integration (for compatible devices)
Power driver seat
CloudTex seating surfaces
Keyless access with push-button start
The Good news is, through loyalty and other purchase incentives, I got the SE for less than a Sport trim. Hands down, the BEST CAR in its Class by far !! Even better than cars price $10K or more...
I got myself a 2020 pre-owned Jetta and it’s a steal of a deal for the price point for how much car you get.
I test drove this 2024 , it was 22k base , vs chevy trax. For the same price , the trax better suits me. Plus the infamous vw reliability doesn't help either
I got my wife a New 2024 Taos AWD for less than $24k OTD back in May and we love it. Same engine as that Jetta but with the absolutely awesome 7 speed DSG transmission. Was a little worried the engine wouldn’t be up to moving the SUV around but it’s been perfectly acceptable and it gets over 32mpg in the real world.
I had a 22 Taos with the FWD but traded it for a 24 with AWD and the DSG. I actually personally hate the way the 8 speed auto behaves, and I don't dislike most automatics. It just feels too busy even compared to other 7 and 8 speeds. I love the DSG and AWD. As far as power, I use mine to tow an ATV and a jetski, both around 1200-1300lb with the trailer and gear, and it handles both of those absolutely flawlessly. I plan to own mine for a long, long time.
I love the combination of Adaptive Cruise Control and the DSG. I drove over 100000 miles in my Golf MK7 with that combination. Although the car had paddle shifters the novelty of those wore off after about three days.
Do not miss a single service on the DSG if you plan on keeping it.
@@theatreofpain3183 The DSG on my 2013 was supposedly "sealed for life". At ten years old and at 115000 miles I wasn't aware of any problems with it. I did worry how much a clutch change would cost, especially as there didn't seem to be any way of determining how much it had worn.
p.s. Getting technical does anyone know what kind of DSG is fitted to a 2018 1.5TSI EVO ? The 2013 1.4TSI was definitely a dry clutch but I think with the EVO engine they switched to a wet one which in turn might need oil changes.
I had the previous mk6.5 gen with the 1.4 tsi and a 5 sp manual and loved it, preformed very well and got 35/36 city 46/48 highway .
Just a note that if you use OBD11 or carista you acan actually enable the "chinese version" option for the instrument panel that enables a bar tach at the top of the default screen.
I have obd11, what is name of app? I can’t find it
VW makes some good value cars. My 8 year old Golf Sportswagon was $25k, and it came with the large sunroof, ACC and heated seats. Nice to see they haven't changed too much.
I love JR‘s enthusiasm- this is outrageous, this is out of control! Hahaha
I agree - this content is a bit unusual for him, but was really compelling to watch. I wish he would do more, but I think he's covered all the dirt cheap cars currently available.
2018 Wolfsburg 6 speed manual. I have put over 120k miles with no issues. I’m 40 and it’s the best daily I have ever owned
Back in the day. My mother bought a brand new toyota corrolla for 1999.99! The car was a manual trans, crank windows, AM radio. No carpet, vinyl seats. Basic of basics. Around 1970.
Well I mean, that was pretty common back then.
Love budget series reviews of all things! Cars, guitars, cell phones, pizza. Thanks!
I work in the European Union in a field where we rely heavily on vehicles. Over the years, I’ve come across countless models from Volkswagen and Audi. Whatever might be said about them, I’ve seen these cars consistently exceed hundreds and hundreds of thousands of kilometers. Some models, even those manufactured as recently as 2018, are listed for sale with over 800,000 kilometers on the clock. These are truly reliable vehicles. Of course, they’ve had their issues over time, but I would confidently recommend them and wouldn’t hesitate to choose one for myself. Additionally, their safety features and structural integrity are exceptionally well-designed.
Great in depth review. I can’t believe all those features for an entry level car (and price).
Don’t freaking touch a VW!! My daughter bought a new Tiguan 4 years ago. It used oil from day one. It didn’t leak oil - no drips in the garage. I lived far away from her and I kept telling her ( she was single at the time) that she should have the dealer check it out. The dealer said that some oil use was “within specs “ but they would run a consumption test. After the test they said it was within spec and would do nothing. This was an ongoing saga for months and she finally just gave up and carried extra oil to add when needed. Fast forward to just after the warranty expired and the check engine light came on and before she could even get an appointment for service at the dealer her garage floor was covered in oil one morning. Long story short the egr valve stuck and cracked the oil pan. VW and dealer- Lawrence Hall of Abilene Texas would not do anything. She had it repaired as cheaply as possible and traded it. The freaking thing had less than 40,000 miles and had been serviced only by the dealer. I wouldn’t give VW or the dealer the time of day.
My Hyundai Elantra burned oil but it was over 100,000. A quart at fill up.
I have 2013 Hyundai i20 with 240k doesn't burn a drop of oil and purchased new for 12k in 2014. Never had any issues. @@dennistyler9852
I bought a 2022 Taos SE brand new since I was needing cargo space, and it has handled everything I've thrown at it. Only 1 issue under warranty was a leak detection pump faulted out 48k miles, I drive over 60 miles a day to work 5-7 days a week. These are a bit punchier since it has a higher gear ratio, very hard not to spin the tires sometimes but it leaves everything sitting at the redlights. I can drive it at 2,000 rpm all day the way it's tuned makes a difference, never feel like it's not enough unless traffic's bad and you have to pull out. For the money nothing compares, everything else is way slower and worse mpg so obviously that cvt isn't super helpful. We've been having great luck with Vw's in the family, my sisters '19 Tiguan has over 120k miles on it and its just maintenance, my mother has a 2017 Touareg 87k miles nothing still on the original battery, my grandmother has a 2013 Passat TDI has around 100k miles only a sensor has failed. My grandmother had a 2006 Jetta from new til 2021 had nearly 400k miles on it the original turbo blew up, she could have fixed it but it was looking haggard in it's age. It's a great way to avoid the Toyota tax and still get a good car to enjoy driving everyday, most people ditch their cars every 3-6 years anyways.
You can get a Carolla for the same price less bartering. I’ve already made this mistake, after a couple weird things break @ $1000 per repair, they just don’t stop! If you keep it for 10 years it will have a value of 1-2k while the Toyota will have never been to the shop and still be worth x3. It’s like $10k more to own the vw over the long term. If you are looking at base commuters this should matter to you.
In New Zealand 🇳🇿 the three rules of any vehicle purchase are .
1.Toyota
2.Toyota
3.Toyota
I would agree that a Corolla is similarly priced and could be more reliable. Not everyone has good luck with VWs, but mine have all been exceptionally reliable. I have a 2019 GLI I purchased new, the same generation as this car, and it's had zero problems since I bought it 6 years ago. I also still have my 2003 GLI. I bought that car in 2006 with 30,000 miles on it. It still has its original alternator, radiator, exhaust, timing chain, water pump, rotors, front brake pads, etc. It only had a check engine light once, ever, and that was for a cheap sensor. It has never broken down or needed a tow in all those years. Toyotas are great, but I have no complaints about the reliability of my VWs. Plus, VWs are so much more fun than Toyotas.
I have 2015 sport model.. Still works great. I had only two minor problems with it, first one front parking sensor got faulty and second time part of clutch have to be replaced. I normaly replaced also braking pads.
When I drive first time I was amazed how good is to drive with this car at country side roads or any roads. Quiet, very good suspension and really enjoyable experience so far.
Insurance cost more, parts cost more, maintenance cost more. Reliability is piss poor, so is it really a cheap car? Hmm.
Great points friend.
@ I know.
I just purchased the 2025 jetta sport and I'm very happy with it
I traded in the 2019 jetta s and had zero problems...only had to replace the fan motor . It had over 100,000 miles
@@johnnyb7932 You got lucky! 🍀
Insurance is cheaper where I live. But you're right, VW is not longer the people's car. They do not maintain well.
I love your enthusiasm. Great find for an affordable car. I would love it but my two large dogs need at least a station wagon for room.
People say they want cheap cars but they don’t actually purchase them. All of the vehicles in this 20K challenge are slow selling.
I think it would fall under the lack of advertising it. Same reason the chevy SS sedan sold poorly.
@@EvilCerealBoXit would take that much advertising. If that many people were looking for a cheap car it wouldn’t take much for them to find it.
@@frankb.1546 you would think that but you would be amazed that it doesn't. At least not enough for them to keep producing them at volume.
Does anyone actually fork out $20000 for a car ? I suspect that once in the showroom it would be "of course for an extra $100 a month you could have ...................". Here in the U.K. A Hyundai dealer told me the price on Autotrader was only applicable if I took out finance and would be higher if I paid cash. I ended up buying a used Golf instead (although it cost the same as this).
Just stupid.
I drive a 2013 Jetta. Bought it in 2015 w/23k miles. It now has 256k miles. I have only done the plugs once, and replaced the rear pads about 4-5 months ago. Other than IRregular oil changes, nothing else. The suspension needs some TLC, but that os about it. I LOVE MY JETTA!
I recommend changing the struts all around and it will ride like new.
I’ve got a 2014 Jetta, something to keep in mind, according to Volkswagen up to 1 qt of oil consumption per 1k miles is considered “within spec”. I don’t know anything about the 1.5 TSI, but prior versions (1.8/2.0) will consume oil, leak coolant… that being said, mines been doing that for 5 years and it’s not hard to keep up with…
My 1.8 has 117k and doesn’t burn a drop
@jacobyo99 the 1.8 is one of the more reliable ones. The one on this video has one of the worst engines.
I have a Golf Mk 1 with 233k on the clock and it doesn't use a drop of oil. And also not a drop of coolant.
@@Andre-z5p5mI have read good things about the Golf
21:30 Thanks for showing me a feature I didn't even know my car had!! I've had a 2022 Jetta SEL for about 2.5 years and just learned today that the center console lid can do this :)
Drinking game: drink every time JR says "mind blown"
I don't think my liver could handle it.
Or says "Buh-Inn" instead of buTTON...
I ought a Jetta SE in 2021 for $20,600. Unbelievable value. This summer I got actual 45 mpg in a long 800 mile road trip. Good power and fun to drive and safe and holds 5 people and looks good and runs on regular gas with a turbo!
VW really nailed the refresh. Looks great
I just bought a Taos for 23k out the door.
It’s built on the Jetta frame… I averaged 43.6 mpg last night. I love it.
How reliable is it though? Will it just last the warranty period 60k miles and break then because of plastic engine? A versa or mirage are barebones but can go to 300k miles with just basic maintenance
Just purchased the 2025 jetta sport and im very happy with the vehicle
Nice smooth ride with plenty of power and great gas mileage
Traded in my 2019 jetta with over 100000 miles and zero problems
When you build a car with all the switches and steering wheels only one type for all models it’s cheaper to built them the same it saves money if I needed a car I would buy another Jetta. I miss my 2011 Jetta that I had to scrap after 13 years my son had it for four years as a first car so it was toughly treated late in life but was running great with its TDI getting 52 highway right to the end.
My wife is a travel nurse and we bought a new one in April 2022 with leather glass top. Automatic It’s got 60,000 miles on it now and the average mileage since we bought it is 40 something per gallon. it is extremely quiet stable on the road great crash rating and to me very high-quality compared to a Corolla or similar (the versa or mirage aren’t even on the same planet ) price was $22,000 and some change we went to pay for the car and they told us it had 0% financing which we didn’t even know and it’s been a great driver
VAG may be masters at dual clutch & "premium feel", but they`re also masters at designing parts to fail at specific intervals after the warranty expires, unlike the decidedly average Mitsubishi & Nissan. You know very well the veedub will start to implode around the 6 year mark, & by 8 years old it`ll need every single oil seal & hose replaced. So yeah, buy one new, its a great price, but make sure you chop it in for a new one before it his 5 years old, or better still, lease..
Yeah, the guy in the video is making such a great case for this car... the whole time I'm saying to myself, "Don't forget it's a Volkswagen"
@@Wilburnator but its a $20k NEW car, what more can you ask for?
In the U.K. you can extend the VW warranty up to ten years / 100000 miles. The only failure I had on my Golf over that time was a wheel speed sensor which was fixed in one day under that warranty. I will admit that, being worried about DSG costs I traded it in for another once I couldn't extend the warranty. After buying nearly new I was happy with £1000 a year depreciation and £300 each year to extend the warranty.
I have a 2017 Vw Jetta with 135,000 miles with no problems. The key is to keep up with the maintenance. And make sure you put in the right oil
Every Jetta I've owned impressed the hell out of me. 82, 93, 06...all great cars. Wish I still had my 5 speed inline-5 82...
As of December 17, there’s only one car listed for sale at $19, 999. And it’s a Jetta S not a sport. I bet when I get there, it really doesn’t even exist!
Pop your wipers up if you cant pull the fuse for r.s. wipers, they will think solid ice crust is rain, and demolish gearbox or linkages at startup when you want the car to warm up while you scrape windows.
I don’t agree with $20,000 description, yes it can be purchased for $20k but its list price is much higher. By comparison the Mirage and Versa would have been less. Great review keep it up.
I’ve seen most dealers sell these for 20k near me. There’s a lotttt of jettas at the VW dealers right now lol
Great video. You said right side when you first talked about the cruise control buttons on the left side of the steering wheel. This is awesome for the price, and I love the color. I would seriously consider getting this over the $30K vehicles I was looking at. If I get another car, my sister can drive this. She had a 1988 Jetta GL which is not even close to this. So classy and loaded. I am fine with thesnual adjust seats and steering column. Functional and less likely break and have problems not being able to adjust them. The incandescent I terior lights are fine and maybe better than LEDs for not being damaging or detrimental to your eyes.
Figured this should have its own comment. LED headlight burn outs cost at dealerships about a grand because there is no blub. Halogens were $20, HIDs about $120-$140, LEDs are whole headlight assembly replacements, eBay over $300, bumper off and grill off for DIY. Shops won't even share the price with sites that share the average cost of a repair to the consumer because of the shock that comes with having to budget for a burnt out headlight. Dealerships are floating around $1,000-$1,500 with $1,200 seeming like the normal low end cost for a burnt out LED headlight assembly replacement. A burnt out headlight costs the same as replacing two or three airbags at $500-$600 each. So full LED headlights is not something to be excited about, because someone is going to eventually have to pay a stupid amount of money for a fix that used to be hardly nothing.
how long do the led’s last
im a big VW guy so I like to see what you've said about it. next should be the most base model audi a4 to compare to the jetta.
11:49 "oddities and functionalities" = DD's quirks and features
Im a big Doug fan and thot the exact same thing, I guess it's true when they say great minds think alike. JK
I have a 2014 Passat Wolfsburg with the 2.5 5 cylinder. It was about this price brand new. It has a nice leatherette interior, 6 speed auto, auto headlights, heated front seats, power windows, power driver seat, decent sound system (with bluetooth) and thats about it. And guess what… realistically thats is what you will use 99% of the time. I think VW is really good with equipping their cars with features that people actually use, and pass on the stuff they wont. Why do you realistically need a power passenger seat? Multi zone climate? Sunroof? A powerful sound system? A bunch of screens everywhere? Navigation? 6 CD changer? It is an excellent vehicle that rides very well, has never left me stranded after 110k miles, looks very sleek, isnt expensive to maintain, very spacious, and durable. If I could go back in time and buy one again for MSRP, I absolutely would buy the exact same car
The "VW quality is bad" is one of those my friend had an issue but I never did internet rumors. I had nothing but VWs for the first 10 cars I owned. I drove them hard, very hard, and never had one signal issue.
That’s a lot of cars, did you take term over 150k? I have an 01 and 92.
@djkenny1202 some new, some old, and being 48 now Ive been driving for most of my life. VAG makes great cars.
@@TheUsmc0802 I’ve had 3 VWs, still have two. One since 98 (the 92) and other(01) just 2 years. I had 3 other cars along side over the years. I’m 51.
Some of the things you did not cover: 1) Rear seat head & knee room? 2) Does it come with Satellite radio? 3) What about HD Radio? 4) Mapping software if it exist? Granted, the things it does come with are pretty nice - compared to other makes. Does VW these days require all the software needs to change a battery or a light bulb like the Audi cars - where all diagnostics have to be fed to German counterparts before anything can be touched for repair? Great Video. Thanks!
Maybe this is them trying to get customers back still from the big emissions debacle they had.
I was thinking the very same thing!
I Have a 2021 SEL and the lease is up , I opted to buy it . Very nice car for the money, tons of features , Beats Audio system,panoramic roof ,great handling, good power and fuel economy is great .
This isn't really a fair comparison as the MSRP is 25K on this car. The others had a much lower MSRP.
The natural competitor would have been the no longer offered Jetta S with manual transmission.
This thing he is reviewing is too expensive and has too much gadgetry to go wrong and fail.
Have thoroughly enjoyed your 20k series. I'm so glad the VW is making the car as it is. It's just a shame that it is likely to not sell well. Thanks for getting the word out
People watching your video have to consider that the 2025 VW Jetta may be the greatest car of all time.
Reason is obvious. When Henry Ford released the Model T in 1908, it quickly became an affordable car that some consider to be the most important car in American history, but not the greatest.
Many car enthusiasts know that the Model A was much better. Some of its improvements compared to the Model T included:
Model A Engine: Larger, 201 cubic-inch inline-four engine producing 40 horsepower, compared to the Model T's 177 cubic-inch engine with 20 horsepower.
Transmission: The Model A had a three-speed transmission, while the Model T had only a two-speed transmission.
Brakes: The Model A introduced four-wheel brakes, which were more effective than the Model T's rear-only brakes.
Starting Mechanism: The Model A came with an electronic starter, eliminating the need for hand cranks used in the Model T.
Design: The Model A had a more modern design with a longer wheelbase, lower stance, and improved aesthetics.
Top Speed: The Model A could reach a top speed of 65 mph, compared to the Model T's top speed of around 40 mph.
Now for context, value per dollar.
A top of the line Model A, called the Town Car...many didn't know the Lincoln was named after the Model A, in 1928 or just under 100 years ago, cost $1400.
Adjusting for inflation, a $1,400 Ford Model A in 1928 would cost approximately $21,000 in 2024 dollars.
So, who can dispute the 2025 VW Jetta is the greatest car ever created because it has air-bags and ABS brakes?
Not only ABS brakes but 4 wheels disks which is huge. Coming from an Elantra owner who changes out wheels and tires every winter the alloy wheels always become rusted together with the rear drums and are an absolute pain to take off.
Back in 2014, bought a 2014 Jetta SE 1.8t 5 speed manual Brand New. Has a bunch of small sweet features. $20,000!! Best car I’ve ever owned. Still have it today. With no major issues. Just gotta stay up with the maintenance.
Jetta is a decent car. You can get a Mazda 3 for a $1,000 more and that’s a much better car for the long term.
Yes I have followed Mazda 3s for a long time when I got a 2009 Camry in 2011 w low mileage (still have it!) I looked up Mazda 3 and would have tried one but the money was VERY tight at that time!
i have a mazda 3 and a vw golf wagon both 2019. vw interior is wayyyyy bigger
Comparing a Japanese car to a German car is apple to oranges. The only thing similar is 4 wheels.
Great video. Thank you. I found it very informative.
Why does no one look at long-term reliability when buying a new car? All German automakers (including VW) have horrendous long-term reliability. And while the Versa and Mirage are boring to drive, they'll both have less issues down the road. It's not all about the driving experience, folks---it's your wallet, and you're the one that has to pay for those repairs
I have a 2009 eclipse gs,,,,180000 miles,,,have had it since 2017,,,,only thing i had to replace is the starter,,,,$300
@@gsprings43 I believe it. I've had my '08 Toyota Yaris for 4 years now, and all I've had to replace is the radiator. The starter, alternator and fuel pump are all original
Great to find this thank you! A minor point: A lot of us play videos while working, so we’re not catching every word. You said, “Jetta” once in the beginning and the referred to as “this car” and “this thing” and “Volkswagen” throughout the rest of the video. It’s not repetitious to say “Jetta” because that’s what is.
I can’t watch anymore.
I love the looks and handling of the Jetta. But i am leary of the reliability of the electronics and the lack of dealers.
Last year I bought a 2024 SE and absolutely love it. A free years ago I bought a new BMW 3 and for the money, this car has exceeded my expectations. I wanted the sport but didn’t want the cloth seats. Great value and great fuel economy
All good until it screws up....then assume the position and enjoy.
Ouch
It's just a great bargain!😮😮😮 Love the one who loves you! Nothing compares to this!
The sport isnt even the base model so you could go cheaper
You had me till the arm rest.
😂😂😂
"Look at THIS!!! AWESOME! "
This has to be a joke 💀 I’m in Germany and there are nowhere near good deals as this. A freaking golf starts at around 30k with no options, no wonder VW is going bankrupt in Germany 🫠
That’s because you get the better made VWs, the ones made in Germany, not Mexico.
@ gotta be honest tho the quality of VW in Germany has gone down tremendously :( most people tend to buy a Skoda Superb over a VW Passat not only because of the price but because of their quality even tho they should be an almost identical car. But a Golf used to start at around 16/17k. Germany is also a let down when I comes to E-Mobility they missed their spot on the market way back.
@ and also thanks for your response :D didn’t know they were made in Mexico you can never learn enough :)
@@theshowersinger6681I guess better is relative, because VW doesn’t make good vehicles.
The Mirage also can come with auto high beams, auto wipers, lane keep assist, led headlights, and heated seats, just depending on the trim level, also it can come with a leather steering wheel. I recently saw a Mirage with one of those fancy center mirrors, I thought that was quite unique!
The best 0-60 I've got in my Mirage is 11.8 seconds, so if we where racing eco cars, the Jetta would win. Lol.
I never knew a car could tell your phone it's low on gas, that's neat. I like the auto start, stop thing, but it might be a bit harder on the engine, I'm not sure though.