Clarkson can be a retard sometimes. The Jetta is actually quite nice inside (although UK versions may be a little more basic), and he was driving the non-turbo 2 liter. I guess when your homeland mismanages its automotive industry to the point that its virtually nonexistant, you have to run around bashing everyone else to try and bring them down to your level. He kept complaining about how boring the car was, I guess it would be more entertaining to Clarkson if it was breaking down all the time. I nominate Clarkson to play Lurch on the next Addams Family movie.

I think the grill of the new VW/Audi models were inspired by Clarkson’s mouth! Its sad that he found it boring on the Jetta!

To be clear, he loved the GTI, and Top Gear named it Car of the Year. Interesting considering how close the Golf and Jetta are.

Funny how the worst dressed man on TV can bash car styling. On one episode of the British version of “The Office”, Ricky Gervais was going to get ready for a date, and he looked in his closet and said “Oh my god I have Jeremy Clarkson’s wardrobe.” and he didn’t mean it in a good way.

Yeah he sometimes is exaggerated, although I can’t but agree with him on the design. I mean, come on! As avixe said, though, the GTI does indeed look similar. And I don’t like that one either. How much better was the design of, say, the 4th Golf? I guess VW’s inability to walk the extra mile and actually design a berlina like a berlina and make it a little more, not aggressive, but responsive is what Clarkson is actually complaining about. Not to say I’ve had quite a few friends bring back their new VolksWagens for minor breakdowns

The new jetta looks like a Toyota Corolla….

It’s conservatism done wrong, boring to play it safe. He has a point, but with the mass appeal of the jetta you’re bound to step on toes no matter what you say about it.

Who’s Clarkson?

Friends, I’m gonna have to abologize about my first comment. Clarkson would actually make a better “Herman” in the Munsters movie, than a modern Lurch.

TYPICAL TEENAGE CHICKS CAR…, DOES IT ALSO COME W/ FLOWERS???

It’s true the Jetta looks like a corolla in the front – that’s where they screwed up – the hood is so slanted that it makes it look like the small car it is. The reason the previous jetta was so successful aside from the passat was because it was a small car that looked bigger than it was – that’s the trick with small cars – what guy would want to drive a car that says “look how small I am”.

clarkson is right, i dont doubt his eye seeing as hes been in this industry for decades. face it VW fans, the interior is so ungodly boring its almost as bad as a domestic. all the buttons and dash are illuminated by neon blue lights and the layout hasnt changed for YEARS. audi suffers from the same problem….just way too boring. nice interiors? infinitis M (not the G), lexus IS, Acura RL, Merc E and S class, new jag XK. more of course, but those stand out in my opinion.

i agree it no longer has any character you cant pick it out of a crowd of cars like you could the old ones…its bland and vw made a mistake styling it.

I don’t like how the entire VW line now has completely flat dash boards. They should make the controls protrude so far out that rear passengers can press them. That way, when the driver is making a left turn with both hands, the rear passenger can adjust the clock for daylight savings time. This would save the passengers much grief, if they are car pooling. There is nothing like being one hour early to work, only to find that it is President’s Day.

I have a 2.0T New Jetta…and let me tell you it doesnt drive like a JAP…

Looks like a nice car to me and a signfiicant improvement over the old Jetta. It’s a little staid in design which is to say it’s conservative but that’s the market segment.

Clarkson is dead on as usual.

New Jetta is stupid poop.

BTW, what’s with the wannabe-bentley grill? Talk about retarded.

I was wonder if this is why BMW put Bangle in charge of BMW body work. LONG TERM (abusive)complaining by vapid airheads like Clarkson constantly harping on what was close to perfect design. The original BMW “Braun toaster” HVAC dials were close to perfection. Those dials are now history in BMW cars. Fortunately many automakers are now using (a variation at least) of those “Braun toaster” HVAC dials.

You have to consider the source of the remarks. German design is very conservative, serious, and stolid. That is a good thing. The POLAR opposite of something like, oooooh, something ferociously stupid and ugly like…Austin Powers.

Austin Powers is the reason why I like the fact that my bloodline runs through the middle of Germany. Always remember where rocket science was born. Germany. People like Clarkson and his supporters are why aspects of the U.K. are considered to be rubbish.

Wernher Von Braun invented a missile to be used against England. Oh, that’s good. Is that what Jeremy Clarkson is mad(mentally unstable)about?!