Similarly, the Jetta's interior decor is distinct from the Golf's, regardless of model. And there's even a slightly different feel to its on-road behavior, though in the realm of general manners, the distinctions are not what you'd call pronounced. Although the car's width has also expanded, from 66.7 inches to 68.3, its overall length has actually shrunk by more than an inch, to 172.3 inches, similar in size to a Chrysler Neon. And the net result of these dimensional adjustments is athletic proportions that put the beholder in mind of a BMW 3-Series or Audi A4 sedan. Which is exactly what VW wants.
Proportions are only part of the appearance story, of course.
The previous Jetta was a boxy-looking affair, a design that suggested utilitarian usefulness but which was never in danger of winning any beauty contests. The new Jetta, in contrast, echoes other recent Volkswagen-Audi designs with its rounded edges and elegantly curved roofline. It's a design that also makes better use of interior space, particularly behind the front seats. Even though the new body is shorter than the previous generation, it provides 1.8 inches of additional rear seat legroom. The Jetta really needed that increase.