The Volkswagen Sutar is one of the most controversial cars in China. On the one hand, it has long been the benchmark for compact cars, requiring price increases and waits in most parts of the country, and the pricing level remains high to this day. On the other hand, it is accompanied by a variety of quality problems, and the design flaws of the previous generation Sutar suspension system have caused consumers to queue up in front of the 4S store again after buying the car.
Volkswagen has two main products in the compact car market, namely the hatchback Golf and the Golf-derived sedan Jetta. The Jetta and Bora in the Chinese market are the Chinese versions of the second-generation Jetta launched in 1984 and the fourth-generation Jetta in 1998. Starting from the fifth-generation Jetta, this series in China is named Sutar, produced by FAW-Volkswagen, and the Sutar currently on sale is the sixth-generation Jetta, which was launched in China in 2012 and remodeled in 2014, with a multi-link independent suspension instead of the previous non-independent suspension with design defects.
Although it is the brother model of the Golf, the handling, quietness, and suspension of the Sutar are far from the Golf, and it is no wonder that it is much cheaper than the Golf abroad. The sporty orientation of the Golf seems to have been completely abandoned in it, and its chassis not only feels floaty, but there are even lateral shakes when it encounters bumps in the steering, which is completely tuned to the level of a family car. However, the Sutar also has an advantage that is not at all like European cars: its cabin is relatively spacious and comfortable, and the second-row ride experience is much better than that of its sister Golf.
The main reason for Sutar's popularity in China is that it used to be equipped with a 1.4T turbocharged engine and DSG 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that are relatively new to the Chinese, along with the Golf, and Volkswagen called this combination a "golden partner", which was very successful and made Sutar have the status of a compact car benchmark. Later, the DSG dual-clutch transmission equipped with the Sutar and Golf had frequent accidents due to its extremely low reliability, but consumers would rather avoid the "golden partner" and buy the 1.6L naturally aspirated version with a manual transmission.
In today's compact car market, the powertrain of Sutar is not advanced, and the defects of the dual-clutch are also very obvious, equipped with a 1.4T engine and dual-clutch models, in the initial stage has reached the point where you have to step on the accelerator to move, but the DSG gearbox of Sutar does a good job in terms of shift speed, it may be the fastest shift among all dual-clutch transmissions.
Sutar's 1.4T engine has the lowest power in the 1.4T of many joint venture brands in the same class, and it uses 95 gasoline with higher cost. This engine has a high torque, but the high torque lasts for a short time, resulting in a weak output at both ends and a strong output in the middle. Reflected in the specific driving experience, it feels weaker at low speeds, and after the turbine is turned on in the middle section, there is often a sudden eruption, forming a "push back feeling", but once the speed is high and you need to accelerate again, (for example, when you need to step on the accelerator deeply on the highway and get away from the big truck as soon as possible), the car will become weak again.
As a product that is about to be replaced next year, the overall configuration level of Suteng is acceptable, due to the enthusiastic pursuit of the market, Suteng has been priced high, China is the most expensive country in the world, but there are relatively large discounts in many cities.
The quality and reliability of Sutar is still mainly concentrated in the oil system, and the quality problems of Volkswagen's turbocharged engines may be difficult to solve for a long time.
Sutar has done a very good job in terms of safety, and has been awarded the highest safety level (TSP) of the IIHS for three consecutive years, which is also one of the safest cars in this class.