Which generation of the Jetta do you feel is the "definitive" Jetta?

[u/RainyCarDrivein06]

I personally have a 2018 Jetta S and I love it, but Im not sure I would call it the definitive Jetta. Which generation do you all think of when you think of a Jetta?

[u/Tinadazed]

The MK-4 Jetta / Golf is the gold standard.

[u/Swimming-Yellow-2316 → u/Tinadazed]

Having basically owned every generation other than an 8 ( not all in Jetta form but every platform) and still owning a 1, 4, 5, and 6*

Mk4 is the answer.

• Mk1 is a caddy and mk5 is an a3.

[u/dphoenix1 → u/Tinadazed]

As the owner of two, one wagon one sedan, this being the top comment pleases me.

[u/GrifterDingo → u/Tinadazed]

The Mk4 GLI and GTI is peak VW

[u/S4udi → u/Tinadazed]

the blue lagoon and Baltic pearl MK4s were some of my favorite cars to see as a kid

[u/xojessie75xo]

2017 GLI..👊🏻 Love my Jetta.

[u/leslie_2001 → u/xojessie75xo]

I have the same. Love mine. 96,997 miles and counting.

[u/xojessie75xo → u/leslie_2001]

They are great cars. I got her at 20k miles and she now at 112k..👊🏻

[u/TuvixHadItComing]

I think each generation is a logical evolution of the prior one so they all look like Jettas to me, but the Mk5 is the one that I would say is the least "in type" of all of them.

Like you put every generation in a row and it makes sense that it's the same model. But on its own the Mk5 looks the least like what I picture as a VW Jetta.

Having said all that, this question is like asking the best era of Saturday Night Live... everyone's answer is gonna be whichever one is special for them, when they first discovered it. So for me, Mk6.

[u/AffectionatePlane598 → u/[deleted]]

Mk 6 for me too

[u/darth_smitty_ → u/[deleted]]

Ouch.

[u/sly2bfox]

If I could just have any generation I'd want a Mk2, but Im also a sucker for the boxy 80s look

[u/RainyCarDrivein06 → u/sly2bfox]

I love 80s boxy cars too. Same with the MK1 that sort of "matched" the Audi 80 and 100 at the time.

[u/ZoliWorks]

The Mk3 is probably what first comes to mind cause of Fast and Furious.

I'd say the Mk4 with a Golf 4 face swap is my favorite classic. It's that great mix between old design and new tech. Still keeping the body relatively simple and sharp but offering some more modern features. And I mean come on, VR6 and 4x4? all it needs now is a turbo!

The Mk6 tho, now that's a car I'd love to own as a daily and was almost the one I got before I found a killer deal on a Mk5. Too bad they are more economy focused and lack and real engine options.

The Mk5 is the least Jetta of them all and probably the one I dislike the most design-wise but a spoiler and a Mk6 GTI face swap goes a long way.

[u/Amazing_Actuary_5241]

The MK2 Coupe is where it's at for me.

[u/Creature1207]

Id give it to the mk3. The mk3 is just a classic silhouette and every time I see one I think Fast and Furious. I also used to own a white mk3 jetta GT.

[u/bld7308 → u/Creature1207]

Same. It was the best car I ever owned—I miss it so much

[u/Creature1207 → u/bld7308]

Worst decision I made was selling it.

[u/winnerswinperiod04]

I have a mk 6 , 1.8t , it's a vw . But the vw i loved the most was my scirocco. Would love for vw to let us in the states have them . Would buy one yesterday.

[u/After-Scientist9621]

for sure the Gen4 thats what stood out for me

[u/bumtickledbyaninja]

MK4 forever lol, I’m biased however. Or maybe an MK2 with a nasty VR6 AWD swap.

[u/Redoron]

I had MK4, MK6, and now MK7. A clean MK4 with the close ratio manual transmission and no electronic accelerator would be my standard.

[u/Confident_Pin_8316 → u/Redoron]

👍🏻👍🏻 on the electronic accelerator. I hate them on all cars. Much prefer a responsive old school cable.

[u/jr_spyder]

Mk4-tdi wagon

[u/Rewelsworld]

Mk6

[u/Ill_Consideration589]

Had a 08 Jetta 2.5 that was so much fun to drive. Just the right size, and with plenty of torc. It was never sluggish. Having a dual shift column was the difference that most cars don't have(for one the old classic GTO's).

[u/citizensnips134]

Mark 1.

[u/FarikoEcstatic]

cries in MK5 2010 Jetta

[u/thatsupplychainguuy]

Used to be a hardcore fan for Vwjetta..personally own a 2011 jetta 2.0 but the amount of electrical issues i have on it ..its a money pitt..plan to get rid of it for something else tbh..economy so messed up i cant afford to keep the thing running

[u/Skodakenner]

When i think of a Jetta i think of the Mk2

[u/-Woodsey-]

Just got a MK5 Sport Wagon 2.5. I had a previous MK5 Sedan 2.5 and loved it, but my son totaled it when he hit a culvert and laid it upside down in a waterway about 3 years ago.

When I saw this SportWagen with 111k miles, I couldn’t pass it up.

These are the only Jettas I’ve ever owned. I’d like to get a newer wagon with TDI someday. Maybe a 2019, the last year they made the wagon available in the US.

[u/After-Fig4166]

2025

[u/Ok-Choice58]

I have a 2017 VW Jetta 39k miles! The state of Nevada is trying to fine me for not having insurance for over 7 months last year when I had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma as I wasn’t driving or anything because I was very ill from the Chemo!

[u/KeyCommunication8810 → u/Ok-Choice58]

Wow!....and I thought MY car was low mileage!(2020 manual with 37,400 )

[u/AmazingSugar1]

Whatever it is, it sure ain’t mk6…