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The all-new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta has made its debut in New York this week. The sixth gen Jetta is bigger and better in many ways. Best of all, the new Jetta is no longer a “Golf with a trunk”.

Exterior styling is a great improvement over its predecessor in my opinion. The new front grille reminds me of the VW Phaeton – a more elegant design compared to the bubbly styling of fifth gen Jetta. The new model has a lower overall height, which gives it a sportier look. Lengthwise, it is 3.5 inches longer – Just imagine how much more legroom passengers would get. It may not sound like a a lot, but it is inching closer towards the Passat category.  At the back, the A4-shaped tail lights are huge. There is no info on the type of lighting, though it would be perfect if they were LEDs.

The interior is somewhat similar to the Golf, and it is a good thing. The only thing missing that I would love to have is the silver rings around the speedometer. It’s purely cosmetic, but hey, the driver will be starring at it frequently, so why not make it more appeasing to the eyes?

To compete with rivals like Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the new Jetta is going to have a sticker price starting at $16,000 US. But then Civic and Corolla owners are looking for reliability – a critical attribute that VW lacks in people’s perception.

As a result of low MSRP, the Jetta will continue to be made in Mexico, and probably the City Jetta would be discontinued. I am also having some doubts about cars with low MSRP. Quality of the new Jetta has yet to prove itself to skeptics like myself (VW has ranked low in JD Power’s recent initial quality surveys.) One thing is for sure: I will not be buying the first year model of the new Jetta. At least not until most of the defects and recalls are taken care of.

The next couple of years should be interesting for VW – with the new Passat, Phaeton, and Toureg coming soon to a dealer near you. The future is looking good for VW!