View Photos of the 2023 Jetta Sport 1.5T Manual
The Volkswagen Jetta Sport 1.5T manual transcends its budget pricing to deliver a pleasantly refined driving experience and a modicum of driver involvement.
The Jetta Sport 1.5T manual is one trim level above the base S, a modest $900 upcharge, so it lives in budget territory and competes against similarly priced compact-sedan competitors from Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai. Its roomy interior is well assembled but simple and straightforward with little in the way of luxuries. Its strength is its mechanical harmony, arising from a quiet engine, easy-shifting manual gearbox, and composed chassis—all of which make it feel more expensive than it is and drive better than you'd expect.
The Jetta Sport 1.5T manual is built on the same bones as the delightful GLI sports sedan, but it definitely can't match its spunkier brother's performance, crisper handling, or far better appointed interior. Then again, the Sport costs $10,030 less than the GLI.
The Jetta Sport is powered by a smooth and expensive-sounding 1.5-liter turbo four that puts out 158 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1750 rpm. We found the low-end torque badly lacking around town below 2000 rpm, which leaves the car feeling flat-footed if you don't keep the revs up. Luckily, that's both easy and fun to do.
The Jetta Sport is blessed with a low-effort clutch and low-effort six-speed manual transmission. The two work well together and contribute a measure of driver involvement.
The Jetta Sport starts with an old-fashioned ignition key, and its manual climate controls and tiny infotainment screen are golden oldies as well.
The Sport's interior is rife with hard plastic—the rear door trim panels are all plastic but for their padded armrests—though its cloth seats are handsome and comfortable.
Like all Jettas, the Sport offers an unexpected amount of room in the rear seat for such a compact sedan.
While the Sport can't match the GLI's crisp feel or acceleration, a couple of its test-track results were right on top of the sportier model's. The Sport circulated the skidpad at 0.87 g, 0.01 g better than the GLI, and stopped from 70 mph in 176 feet—just two feet longer than the GLI.
As you'd guess, the biggest measurable performance difference between the 228-hp GLI and the 158-hp Sport is straight-line pull. The GLI gets to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and does the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 100 mph. The Sport is 0.9 second behind to 60 mph and runs the quarter in 15.5 seconds at 92 mph.
A nice steering wheel makes a big difference. To get our test car's fat, flat-bottomed beauty you'll have to order the $955 Driver Assistance package, which also includes rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise, and a handful of driver-assist features.
The Sport may not be the enthusiast's choice in the Jetta line, but it's nonetheless a harmonious, well-coordinated car that's pleasant to drive, plenty capable, and an excellent value.
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
Jetta Sport 1.5T manual
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