Volkswagen of Naples

Volkswagen of Naples Reports VW reveals the Beetle TDI Clean Diesel at the Chicago Auto Show

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:44:25 +0000

At this year’s Chicago Auto Show Volkswagen announced that a TDI Clean Diesel model of the 2013 Beetle that will be available this summer at Volkswagen of Naples.

The 2013 Beetle TDI is the first TDI Clean Diesel Beetle we’ve offered since 2006, but we think you’ll agree that it was worth the wait. It’s the most fuel-efficient Beetle yet, with a predicted fuel economy of 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. Besides its excellent efficiency, what sets this model apart is what’s under the hood.

The Beetle TDI makes the most of Volkswagen’s innovative 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Clean Diesel engine, which puts out 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. That’s great news for your right foot, because all that extra torque equals substantially more responsive driving.

We don’t use the term “Clean Diesel” lightly. Like our other TDI models, the Beetle TDI features an exhaust system with a particulate filter and no less than three catalytic converters: one for oxidation, one for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and one for hydrogen sulfide. For those of you who aren’t chemistry a major, that means that engine emissions are reduced. For that, we can all breathe easier.

The Beetle TDI will be available in three trim levels, including a TDI with Sunroof and a TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation. All three levels are very nicely equipped, with standard features like power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise control; V-Tex Leatherette seating; the Kaeferfach secondary glove box; Bluetooth®; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with audio controls; three auxiliary gauges; Keyless entry with push-button start; and a Media Device Interface with iPod® cable.

For more information and availability of the (Think) Blue Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel Beetle, please contact Volkswagen of Naples at 866-364-0242, or visit their dealership in Naples Florida.

Volkswagen of Naples, located in beautiful Naples, Florida, is your leading new and used Volkswagen dealer serving Southwest Florida including all of Naples, Naples Park, Vanderbilt Beach, Immokalee, Golden Gate, Golden Gate Estates, Copeland, Goodland, Everglades City, Bonita Springs and Marco Island. We have a strong and committed sales staff with many years of experience
satisfying our customers’ needs. Feel free to browse our new and pre-owned inventory online, www.vwofnaples.com, to request more information about vehicles, set up a test drive or inquire about financing!

Volkswagen of Naples Service Department is proud to be the only dealer in South West Florida to offer “Service While You Sleep”. This elite service will allow our customers the option of dropping off their vehicle on their way home from work and picking it up in the morning. For your convenience, our Service Department hours include nighttime service offered until 3am along with a complimentary shuttle.

Volkswagen of Naples is conveniently located and easy to find
Traveling from Bradenton, Englewood, Punta Gorda, Arcadia, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Bonita Springs or Venice simply go South on I-75 to exit 105 (Golden Gate). Take Golden Gate west towards the Naples Airport to Airport Pulling Road. Go south on Airport Pulling Road approximately one mile, just past Radio Road on your left hand side.

Traveling from Miami, Coral Gables, North Miami, Pembrooke Pines, Hollywood, Hallendale, Coral Springs, Ft. Lauderdale, Plantation, or Boca Raton simply go West on I-75 to exit 101 (Collier Blvd -951). Take Collier Blvd South to Davis Blvd. Go west and follow Davis Blvd. to Airport Pulling Road. Go North on Airport Pulling Road approximately one mile on your right hand side.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Think new, think two, Think Blue: Volkswagen of Naples reports Volkswagen announces two new members of the Think Blue family.

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:28:44 +0000

Think of them as fraternal twins. At the Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled two new future-forward members of the Think Blue family: the Jetta Hybrid and the E-Bugster concept car.

Joining our production TDI models as well as our up! And NILS concept car in the Think Blue line, the Jetta Hybrid and E-Bugster are big on performance and light on carbon footprint. Both new vehicles are great examples of Think Blue, Volkswagen’s initiative to create environmentally friendly solutions, encourage eco-conscious behavior and contribute to a sustainable future.

“Think Blue is the philosophy behind our environmentally friendly, high-performance cars, fueled by TDI clean diesel,” comments Brian Massoll, Managing Partner, Volkswagen of Naples, located in Naples, Florida.

The Jetta Hybrid offers all the style and driving fun you’ve come to expect from the Jetta, but what makes this model different is—well, lots of things. For one, it’s the world’s first hybrid to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. But don’t worry—we didn’t sacrifice the any of the performance you’ve come to expect from the Jetta. Sure, it drives as a full EV up to 44 mph, but when you’re ready to rev it up, the Jetta Hybrid will take you from 0-60 mph in less than 9.0 seconds. Turns out saving the earth can be a lot of fun.

The E-Bugster concept vehicle is a truly unique creation. The “E” in its name is for “electric,” and “Bugster” is a combination of “Bug” and “speedster,” an apt name for the open-top two-seater with shallow windows and a cut-down windshield. But unlike other speedsters, the E-Bugster boasts a lithium-ion battery that enables it car to drive more than 100 emission-free miles at a time. While it takes design cues from the classic Beetle, it also features futuristic styling, like an arched and stretched front end, LED Daytime Running Lights that form a distinctive graphic on either side of the lower air intake in the front bumper, and EV-specific gauges.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen of Naples Reports Volkswagen of America U.S. sales up by 47.9 percent in January.

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:23:08 +0000

Volkswagen of America, Inc., reported 27,209 units sold in January, a 47.9 percent increase over prior year sales. Volkswagen will be hiring 200 additional employees, bringing the total employees to 2,700, in their Chattanooga plant.

• January sales total 27,209 units, a 47.9 percent increase over prior year sales
• The best January sales since 1974
• Jetta Sedan sales total 9,564 units in January, third best January ever
• Chattanooga-built Passat, Motor Trend Car of the Year, sold 6,318 units
• Tiguan sales were up 50 percent over 2011, best January ever
• High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models are up 30.2 percent, accounting for 17.6 percent of sales

“We ended 2011 strong and are seeing the momentum continue into 2012 with a 47.9 percent increase, demonstrating our growth strategy continues to take root,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “With the today’s release of our much-anticipated Game Day ad, ‘The Dog Strikes Back,’ our relentless focus on the core pillars of the business, and a full line-up of new and refreshed vehicles, Volkswagen is off to a strong start in 2012.”

The Passat continues to gain steam with 6,318 units for the month of January 2012. The strong demand has created a need for increased employment at the Chattanooga plant. Volkswagen will be hiring 200 additional employees, bringing the total employees to 2,700.

Jetta sedan remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 9,564, slightly down from last year’s record sales.

The 2012 Beetle, the feature of the upcoming game day ad, sold 1,401 units
.
The Touareg vehicles saw an increase in sales with 68 percent and the Tiguan increased 50 percent, marking the best January ever.

Volkswagen’s high-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 17.6 percent of sales in January, a 30.2 percent increase over 2011.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen of Naples Reports Volkswagen Introduces “Golf R Drivers Forever” iPad® app

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:17:18 +0000

With the arrival of its performance icon to U.S. dealerships this month, Volkswagen announced that it is bringing the all-new 2012 Golf R to a mass audience via an iPad® app.

• iPad® app launches as VW’s performance icon arrives at U.S. dealerships
• Six-generations of popular Golf models come alive with interactive application
• Exclusive footage highlights passion and enthusiasm for Volkswagen brand

Created with the enthusiast community in mind, the “Golf R Drivers Forever” app provides access to everything one needs to know about the Golf R. From the history of the popular Golf model and the community that rallies around it, to the focused engineers of Volkswagen R GmbH, this app covers it all.

Told through the perspective of Volkswagen enthusiasts and drivers who helped bring this car to the United States, the app provides an interactive narrative on the evolution of the Golf from its days as the Rabbit in the 1970’s all the way to the present 2012 Golf R model. Filled with exclusive interviews, articles and footage, this is one app all Volkswagen fans will want to interact with.

“The Golf R app was created to celebrate and thank the Volkswagen brand’s community of enthusiasts because they represent what makes the Golf R special,” said Jon Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “The app will help build awareness around the Volkswagen brand heritage and we are excited to offer this innovative approach that illustrates the performance of the Golf R.”

The editorial-driven iPad app features:
• Exclusive videos, photos, interviews and Golf footage. Highlights include:
• A mini-documentary about the world of Volkswagen including footage of the world-famous Autostadt, created by AWOL Films
• An exclusive interview with designer Chip Foose discussing his passion for the VW brand and love for the Golf
• Accounts from key members of the Volkswagen of America Product Marketing team and Volkswagen R GmbH team
• Fan testimonials and enthusiast stories
• Interactive timeline spanning the history of the Golf
• Golf R brochure with tech specs, photo gallery and 360° view of the car

The 2012 Golf R is the most powerful Volkswagen sports performance vehicle ever sold in the U.S. With 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the 2.0-liter TSI® engine offers performance and fuel efficiency, thanks to intelligent downsizing. Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel drive system: the latest generation of this system can divert up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S. will be equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission and come standard with top of the line features including dual-zone automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights, and unique 18” alloy wheels. For the first time, the Golf R will be available in two-and four-door models.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen of Naples Announces their Inaugural Membership to the Volkswagen 2011 Customer First Club

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:16:43 +0000

Volkswagen of Naples, located in Naples, Florida, has been ranked one of the top twenty Volkswagen Dealerships, nationally, to earn this honor presented by Volkswagen USA.

This is a truly special honor as it’s our customers who determined the winners through their voices in the Customer Experience Survey. The national Volkswagen Dealership winners excelled in all aspects of the customer experience: new car, pre-owned and service. The exclusive number of members shows just how high the bar was set and what exceptional, Volkswagen Vow-like experiences have been provided by Volkswagen of Naples and fellow inaugural members.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen of Naples Announces Passat Receives “Best of 2012” Top Honor from Cars.com!

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:59:21 +0000

TDI® Clean Diesel model, also available at Volkswagen of Naples, was recognized as “Eco-Friendly Car of the Year”.

Adding to a growing list of awards, the new-for-2012 Volkswagen Passat has earned additional praise from Cars.com for its outstanding value and long list of standard features. Named “Best of 2012,” the Passat captured the third annual award from the popular online automotive source. The Passat’s long list of standard features includes Bluetooth® technology, dual-zone automatic climate control, class-leading rear seat legroom, and Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance program for a starting MSRP of $19,995.

Prior to choosing the “Best of 2012” awards, editors at Cars.com tested more than 65 models released for 2012. Editors picked their top six before selecting the 2012 Passat as “Best of 2012.” The Passat ousted the Subaru Impreza, Range Rover Evoque, Hyundai Veloster, Hyundai Accent, and Audi A7.

In addition to the “Best of 2012” honor, Cars.com named the Passat TDI Clean Diesel model their “Eco-Friendly Car of the Year.” The clean diesel’s 2.0L four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and an exceptional 236 pound-feet of torque. Boasting an industry-leading 795-mile range on a full tank, the Passat TDI manual has an EPA estimated 43 mpg on the highway. As the only affordable diesel in midsize sedan segment, the Passat delivers excellent performance while maintaining exceptional fuel economy.

“This recognition is an honor. Volkswagen set out to bring to market a sedan that appealed to the American consumer in the highly competitive midsize segment and the Passat is quickly earning a spot on the U.S. consumer’s shopping list due to its exceptional value, strong list of standard features, and German heritage,” said Brain Massoll, Managing Partner, Volkswagen of Naples, located in Naples, Florida. “Accolades such as this indicate that we’re succeeding.”

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen of Naples Announces a Sales Increase of 56%!

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:57:19 +0000

With the hot selling all-new Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen of Naples reached and amazing sales increase of 56% in December making it one of this South Florida’s automotive dealers best month for 2011!

In the past calendar year, the Passat has been showered with prestigious awards, most significantly Motor Trend 2012 Car of the Year. Other honors for VW’s new American-built family sedan include:

• A 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one of nine such awards for the Volkswagen brand
• Popular Mechanics Magazine 2012 Automotive Excellence Award for Fuel Efficiency (for the TDI® Clean Diesel model)
• 10 Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2012 by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com
• Ruedas ESPN Best Sedan

“2011 has been a very good year for us,” said Brian Massoll, Managing Partner of Volkswagen of Naples, located in Naples, Florida. Not only have our cars garnered the praise of the automotive press and industry analysts, but the Volkswagen brand’s product strategy of offering affordable German engineering coupled with our local pride of making sure everyone of our customer’s has the best car buying experience clearly resonated with our South Florida public.”

Volkswagen of Naples Service Department is proud to be the only dealer in South West Florida to offer “Service While You Sleep”. This elite service will allow our customers
the option of dropping off their vehicle on their way home from work and picking it up in the morning. For your convenience, our Service Department hours include nighttime service offered until 3am along with a complimentary shuttle.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF NAPLES!

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:38:42 +0000

Volkswagen of Naples Service Department is proud to be the only dealer in South West Florida to offer “Service While You Sleep”. This elite service will allow our customers
the option of dropping off their vehicle on their way home from work and picking it up in the morning. For your convenience, our Service Department hours include nighttime service offered until 3am along with a complimentary shuttle.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

Volkswagen returns to the Super Bowl

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:12:30 +0000

New 60-second ad features the all-new 2012 Beetle, on sale at Volkswagen of Naples, Volkswagen’s redesigned icon.

Volkswagen of Naples announced today that Volkswagen of America, Inc. will advertise during the Super Bowl® for the third consecutive year. Following the success of last year’s two 30- second spots, Volkswagen will premiere one 60-second spot at the beginning of the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVI.

The spot will feature the all-new Beetle, which arrived in dealerships in September. The 2012 Beetle was teased as a silhouette in last year’s advertisement, but the iconic redesign is now ready for its Super Bowl close-up.

“Volkswagen is excited to showcase the all-new 2012 Beetle on football’s biggest stage. The Super Bowl is the perfect platform to feature the bold, dynamic, and sportiest Beetle ever made,” said Brain Massoll, Managing Partner of Volkswagen of Naples.

Volkswagen enjoyed unprecedented success after last year’s Super Bowl spots, “The Force” and “Black Beetle”. “The Force”, which featured the 2012 Passat and mini Darth Vader, quickly became a pop culture phenomenon when it debuted online before the Super Bowl. It was voted the Number One ad of the year by ADWEEK and continues to be a hit with consumers, racking up more than 45 million views on YouTube.

The overwhelming attention from the commercial piqued interest in the 2012 Passat months before it hit the market. This ensured that the car entered the market with momentum, with more sales in its first two months than the last Passat model sold in all of 2010.

“Black Beetle” teased the all-new Beetle’s muscular shape, generating strong interest for the newly redesigned car months before it hit dealerships. The 2012 Beetle is available in two forms: stylish Beetle and sporty Beetle Turbo, both available at Volkswagen of Naples located in Naples, Florida. All models offer standard technology features such as Bluetooth® and an iPod® interface, heatable front seats, and a ‘kaeferfach’ secondary glovebox.

Volkswagen of Naples Service Department is proud to be the only dealer in South West Florida to offer “Service While You Sleep”. This elite service will allow our customers
the option of dropping off their vehicle on their way home from work and picking it up in the morning. For your convenience, our Service Department hours include nighttime service offered until 3am along with a complimentary shuttle.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395

The Jetta We’ve Been Waiting For Is At Volkswagen of Naples!

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:57:48 +0000

Volkswagen of Naples, located in Naples, Florida, announces the 2012 Jetta.

The motoring press hasn’t had the greatest of relationships with the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. When the sedan debuted, critics slammed the newest generation as a Wal-Mart interpretation of a model many of us had grown up loving. The nicer-than-expected materials, playful handling and quiet cabin had all been scrapped in favor of a bargain basement price tag wrapped in styling as risky as sunblock in summer. The machine simply felt like the latest casualty of the Volkswagen campaign to become the world’s largest automaker. To make matters worse, buyers didn’t seem to care.

Despite a tide of vitriolic ink that’s risen around the 2012 Jetta, the model has seen an explosion of sales that’s left plenty of critics tapping their microphones and asking, “Is this thing on?” If anything, the exercise has proven that when it comes to moving vehicles in the now fiercely-competitive compact segment, price is still king no matter what the critics say. So, when Volkswagen promised to satiate the model’s longtime fans with a new GLI, the rank smell of skepticism came wafting through newsrooms across the country.

But with a stylish exterior, sporty indoor appointments and an upgraded suspension, the 2012 Volkswagen GLI seemingly makes up for the base model’s deficiencies, at least on paper.

Every Jetta GLI comes from the factory wearing a unique, more aggressive front fascia. A honeycomb grille replaces the standard slats, and vertical fog lights help give the sedan a more poised look compared to the dopey round treatments of the standard model. The GLI’s fascia also includes a faux splitter that juts out from the vehicle’s nose. That sort of garb typically serves as a magnet for steep gas station entrances and parking barriers, but we didn’t notice any unwanted touching during our week with the vehicle. The 2012 Jetta GLI manages to keep its nose far enough from the pavement to prevent scraping.

Move to the vehicle’s flanks and it’s easy to spot the stylized 18-inch alloy wheels that come as part of the Autobahn package. These rollers replace the 17-inch pieces that arrive with the base GLI and do much to improve the Jetta’s presence. Look closely and you can spot a set of red painted calipers peeking through the spokes, though don’t get too excited. The calipers themselves aren’t any larger than those found on the Jetta 2.5L. Volkswagen has been kind enough to swap the base 11.3-inch ventilated front rotors for 12.3-inch discs on the GLI, however. The rear discs remain the same solid 10.7-inch rotors found elsewhere in the lineup.

Speaking of the rear of the vehicle, the GLI Autobahn wears the same back valance as its less sporting kin, though those with a keen eye will spot dual exhaust outlets and smoked taillamp lenses. Move indoors, however, and the changes are more readily apparent. Volkswagen swapped the base cloth seats for heated sport buckets draped in leatherette and stitched in contrasting red thread. While the
seats offer more bolstering than the base chairs, they still aren’t what we’d call form-hugging. That is, unless your form happens to be one derived from frequent feedings at the Golden Arches.
What the seats lack, however, the steering wheel more than makes up for. Volkswagen has bolted on the same flat-bottom piece found elsewhere in the company’s stable, and the perforated leather-wrapped wheel feels just as excellent here as it has in other applications. Since our tester came equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, discreet matte black paddles were tucked behind the steering wheel’s spokes. The clickers offer a good enough action. Take a gander around the rest of the cabin and you’ll note that the same contrasting red stitching that shows up on the wheel and seats also adorns the shift boot and hand brake lever. Volkswagen even replaced the hard shell dash with what we thought was a long-lost soft-touch covering.

The pricier Autobahn trim also rolls in a fantastic Fender premium audio system. The kit was co-developed by Fender and Panasonic and pumps 400 watts of power through nine speakers. Trust us when we say this is one that will make you want to ditch your iPod and satellite radio in favor of a good old-fashioned, high-quality CD.
GTI fans will find plenty familiar under the hood of the GLI. The four-door offers 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque from the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine found under the hood of the hot hatch. While a six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment, buyers can opt for the six-speed DSG gearbox found in our tester. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the first configuration should net 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway while opting for the DSG fetches 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. We saw around 18 mpg, but we did indulge in abnormally aggressive driving up the valleys and ridges of Appalachia’s Cumberland Plateau and 26 combined in somewhat more sane circumstances. We’re guessing that a driver with all of their marbles in place will see fairly close to what the EPA estimates for the Jetta GLI.

That same 2.0-liter turbo four finds its way into everything from the GTI to the Passat and the Beetle as it has for years, but at some point in the not-too-distant future, Volkswagen is going to have to answer to the fact that it isn’t the only company putting forced-induction four-cylinders into its products anymore. Ford has managed to wring 240 horsepower from its EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and even the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T is good for 274 ponies these days. Ludwig, you’ve got some explaining to do.

It took us a spell to grow accustomed to flipping through gears in anger with the DSG, though once we did, we found the 2012 Jetta GLI Autobahn to be remarkably playful. That’s thanks in no small part the vehicle’s rear suspension. While the base Jetta is left to trundle along with bits lifted from a Roman ox cart, the GLI benefits from a multi-link rear set up and special damper and spring rates on all four corners. The entire machine is more than half an inch lower than the base model, and the lower center of gravity certainly helps when it comes time to pick your line through a few apexes.

Volkswagen has also thrown in the same XDS electronic locking differential found in the GTI. The system utilizes the brakes to limit the amount of torque sent to the inside wheel during hard cornering, reducing wheel spin in the process. XDS promises to be both cheaper and lighter than a true limited-slip unit, and the tech works fairly well, but if you get too aggressive with the throttle, the specter of traction control will float in and put a stop to your fun in a hurry. Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn the latter system off.

Under a serious thrashing, the Jetta GLI is happy to offer up handling that could likely give the 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan a run for its money, especially given how Honda has softened its performance compact in its latest generation. The 18-inch wheels on the GLI provide fairly sharp turn in and body roll is kept to a minimum, especially compared to the base Jetta. Even the electronic power steering is weighted nicely enough and provides some semblance of feedback. Those larger rotors helped dissipate heat and keep brake fade to a minimum, too.

Make no mistake, with only 200 horsepower on tap, this is a momentum machine more than a powerhouse, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining. This combined package offers more mature styling than compacts like the Ford Focus with a sharper driving experience and more backseat room. It’s a commuter that can handle a little after-work flogging on the way home and ask for more.

There are some issues, however. Volkswagen will ask you to pay for the pleasure of putting Jetta GLI Autobahn keys in your pocket. At $25,545 plus a $770 destination, our tester is the second-most expensive Jetta available, falling only behind the Autobahn with navigation. That’s nearly $3,000 more than the Ford Focus Titanium five-door and over $3,000 more than the Honda Civic Si. It’s also only $50 cheaper than the much more powerful Subaru WRX. Even so, the more refined Jetta GLI Autobahn would be easier to live with on a daily basis, and, if you’re willing to sacrifice the leatherette seats, 18-inch wheels and Fender audio system, a base GLI can be had for $23,495. That’s a number that’s much more in line with other topped-out compacts in the segment.

You can still expect to see a few ghosts of the base Jetta floating around the vehicle, however. The cabin is still a bit noisy at highway speed with the Fender audio system turned down. The door caps are still rendered in elbow-aching hard plastic, and there’s plenty of engine, tire and wind noise to live with. This is still a compact, after all. We also found the DSG’s shift logic to be a bit on the lurchy side around town, leading us to believe that the six-speed manual could provide a smoother option. Almost no one at this price point is particularly concerned with how many hundredths of a second faster a dual clutch box can swap gears over its human counterpart, and if they are, they’d probably choose something inherently quicker like the WRX.

It might not be quite as entertaining to drive the GTI, but even so, the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn remains a vehicle that simply feels good. That’s nothing short of a shower of praise given the base model’s considerable shortcomings. With our tester’s purposeful fascia, larger wheels and lower ride height, it even looks good sulking in a parking lot. Buyers concerned that VW has lost its way with the Jetta need only point their eyes toward the GLI and breathe a sigh of relief.

Volkswagen of Naples Service Department is proud to be the only dealer in South West Florida to offer “Service While You Sleep”. This elite service will allow our customers
the option of dropping off their vehicle on their way home from work and picking it up in the morning. For your convenience, our Service Department hours include nighttime service offered until 3am along with a complimentary shuttle.

Contact Information

Volkswagen of Naples

www.vwofnaples.com

601 Airport Rd., S

Naples, FL 34104

Sales:

1-866-364-0242

Service:

1-866-352-6629

Parts:

1-866-314-8395