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Car group tests

Volkswagen Jetta vs Kia Optima

Can VW’s new Golf-based Jetta saloon flatten the Kia Optima?

Saloon cars sales used to be big business in the UK, but over the past three decades buyers have instead turned to the versatility of a hatchback, or if they want more room, an MPV or an estate.

However, in other markets, saloons still sell like hot cakes, and one of the mainstays of the sector globally is the Volkswagen Jetta. The current car was launched in 2010, but with the rest of the VW range getting an update, the company has decided to give its four-door a bit of a spruce-up, too, in the shape of new lights and cleaner engines.

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The Jetta is far from the only choice in the class, though. For this test, we’ve lined up another saloon that’s proved more popular overseas than it has in the UK – the Kia Optima. Like the Jetta, it delivers plenty of room, and is competitively priced, too.

For this test, we’ve lined up diesel auto versions of each to see which is the most attractive small saloon on the market.

Volkswagen Jetta review

Kia Optima review

Follow the links above to read individual reviews, and scroll down to find out which saloon comes out on top...

Head-to-head

Styling

While these two cars share a saloon bodystyle, they couldn’t be any more different in terms of looks. The Jetta is upright and restrained, while the Optima’s swooping roofline and rakish rear end give it the look of a coupé in comparison.

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But the Kia’s style doesn’t come at the expense of space, because the car’s larger size means it has more interior room than the Jetta, while boot space is similar, too.

Options

VW offers a variety of options on the Jetta. Premium leather is £2,145, sat-nav costs £525 and climate control is £850. Front and rear parking sensors cost £465, while a camera is £165. However, all this kit is standard on the Optima, which has only one option – metallic paint, at £510.

Gearbox costs

Both cars are available in manual or auto forms. The Jetta’s DSG box costs £1,425 extra and raises CO2 emissions to 120g/km. The manual Optima starts out at 128g/km, so is already dirtier than the Jetta DSG, but add the auto for £1,555, and emissions take a pounding, rising to 158g/km.

Verdict

1st place: Kia Optima

A combination of comfort, space and style secures the Optima victory here. Sure, it’s not the cheapest car to run – we’d choose the manual to cut costs – but it makes up for that with a generous standard kit tally that makes the Jetta seem spartan in comparison. Add head-turning looks, the ability to carry five passengers in comfort and a refined diesel, albeit one that needs more power, and the Kia’s a winner.

2nd place: Volkswagen Jetta

Like other facelifted models in the VW range, the updated Jetta has been given the bare minimum of tweaks, but really needed to be updated to current Golf Mk7 standards to be competitive. It does deliver better running costs than the Kia, but the Jetta’s key selling point – its vast boot – is no more practical than the Optima’s load bay, and the distinct lack of kit makes the VW look poor value, too.

Key specs: 

 Kia Optima '2' 1.7 CRDi autoVW Jetta 2.0 TDI BMT (150) SE DSG
On the road price/total as tested£24,450/£24,450£23,850/£26,505
Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000)£9,291/38.0%£9,158/38.4%
Depreciation£15,159£14,692
Annual tax liability std/higher rate£1,308/£2,615£952/£1,904
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles)£1.588/£2,646£1,388/£2,313
Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost17/£342/G/£18022/£347/C/£30
Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service£329 (3yrs)£299 (2yrs)
   
Length/wheelbase4,845/2,795mm4,659/2,651mm
Height/width1,455/1,830mm1,482/1,778mm
Engine4cyl in-line/1,685cc4cyl in-line/1,968cc
Peak power/revs134/4,000 bhp/rpm148/3,500 bhp/rpm
Peak torque/revs325/2,000 Nm/rpm340/1,750 Nm/rpm
Transmission6-spd auto/fwd6-spd DSG/fwd
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel70 litres/full-size50 litres/space saver
Boot capacity505 litres510 litres
Kerbweight/payload/towing weight1,595/455/1,300kg1,448/587/1,500kg
Turning circle/drag coefficient10.9 metres/NA11.1 metres/N/A
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery7yrs (100,000)/1yr3yrs (60,000)/1yr
Service intervals/UK dealers20k miles (1yr)/170Variable/223
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos.7th/10th19th/31st
Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./starsN/A94/86/56/5 (2011)
   
0-60/30-70mph10.7/10.7 secs8.3/8.0 secs
30-50mph in 3rd/4th4.2/5.0 secs3.2/5.3 secs
50-70mph in 5th/6th8.0/13.5 secs7.3/9.8 secs
Top speed/rpm at 70mph122mph/2,000rpm135mph/1,850rpm
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph53.2/36.5/9.9m55.8/40.9/10.2m
Noise outside/idle/30/70mph62/48/63/68dB66/50/62/67dB
Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range40.2/8.8/619 miles46.0/10.1/506 miles
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined35.8/57.6/47.1mpg51.4/68.9/62.8mpg
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined7.9/12.7/10.4mpl11.3/15.2/13.8mpl
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket188/158g/km/27%165/120g/km/20%
   
Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/cameraSix/yes/yes/yesSix/yes/£465/£165
Automatic box/stability/cruise controlYes/yes/yesYes/yes/yes
Climate control/leather/heated seatsYes/yes/yes£850/£2,145/£425
Met paint/xenon lights/keyless go£510/no/no£540/no/no
Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/BluetoothYes/yes/£250/yes£525/yes/yes/yes
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