2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Excellent Ergonomics

yes i love how simple things are laid out in my GTI.

Nothing special here...

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/evox/stills/gallery/5343_57.jpg

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/evox/stills/gallery/5831_55.jpg

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/evox/stills/gallery/5996_55.jpg

As long as the car doesn't come with fancy toys like temperature control and Navi then in most case the controls are all easy to use and straight forward.

But louiswei, the cars you listed weren't german!

Oh yeah? Before you go praising the Jetta as a model of ergonomic sense, lets um, take a look here:

1) The Cruise control stalk is horrible. It's been integrated to the turn signal. Try to hit "accelerate" with too much force and oops, now you're signaling left (thanks, 3-blink tap!) Want to cancel? Oops, you just turned it off!

2) That radio you're looking at as a model of ergonomic efficiency. Where's the "AUX" button? Why isn't it labeled? The AUX button is the most important button there is.... and it's nowhere to be found.

3) This doesn't effect your model, but it does on the Sportwagen models- that multi-function trip computer's inputs are horrible. Same maddeningly fussy buttons as the cruise control only on the right stalk. How do you reset average fuel economy? OH, that tiny hidden button about the size of a tic-tac! Of course! (To see this done right, take a look at a Nissan Maxima)

4) Headlight controls. Knob to turn them on, stalk to activate brights. How do you turn on parking lamps? I don't even know if it's possible.

The AUX button is the most important button there is?????????????? ROFLMFAO you slay me!

mikeolan, did they change the cruise control for 2008 and later? My 2006 has a separate stalk on the left, the best and simplest cruise control I've ever encountered.

Welcome to the world of daytime running lights, there no longer is a separate parking light position. Just leave the switch in the headlight position, when you shut down the engine the headlights go out, but parking lights stay lit.

Radio controls are clear and simple, like the rest of the car. Radio sound quality could be better, though, but road noise in this class of car means a great radio sound is largely irrelevant.

seppoboy, they actually moved it for 2007. IMO the best cruise controls are on the left steering wheel stalk, designed so that they can be activated with your thumb so you never have to take your hand off the wheel. But I actually think the 2007+ VW version is better than the separate stalk because it can be activated with your ring or pinky finger. With the 2006 version (as with the low-mounted Toyota cruise controls) there's no way to activate/change it without having to take your hand off the wheel.

none of those features are noteworthy or uncommon. What about the famous VW recline knob for the seats. Is that ergonomically sound too? That is one of the dumbest designs in a modern car. I have no idea why the G8 has such a setup.

Almost all modern cars that lack auto climate control have a three knob control system. I believe the Fit still uses an 80s vintage slider system though.

Er, "left steering wheel *spoke*"

I'd prefer buttons on the damn wheel- access it with your thumb. I'm particularly of Nissan's "tabs" - a quick flick of your thumb and it's DONE. PERIOD.

VW's current setup requires way too precise of a motion or else you'll accidentally signal left or right. It's a downright stupid design that you have to encounter every time you're on the freeway- and given the car's purpose, it's even MORE stupid.

"I believe the Fit still uses an 80s vintage slider system though."

Negative. The slider on the Fit is only to select between fresh air and recirculate.

This is one thing I love about my '06 Jetta, everything just falls into place.

Oh and I love the recline knob. It gives you infinite settings in manual form and is much safer to adjust while driving.

mikeolan, why do you need an aux button when you can have an iPod docking station in your air conditioned arm rest compartment?

as for the lights, you turn the knob all the way to turn lights on... and you turn it one short for parking lights... how hard is that to understand? lol...

and cruise control is not exactly a common practice in Germany... people actually want to pay attention to driving, unlike here...

@huyracing:

1) The one I drove did not have an iPod docking station, just an AUX-in port in the center console.

2) http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/01/assets/images/2009-vw-jetta-tdi-001-alpha-thumb-555x416.jpg . Again, no parking lamp setting is indicated.

3) Cruise control is helpful in saving gas if used correctly, and on a car where long range distance is a major benefit, I don't think I'd do 500+ miles on the highway without it. More people need to use cruise control on the highway- it's easy to spot the drivers who don't and fluctuate +/- 10mph and are nearly impossible to pass without flooring it.

@mikeolan

I love flooring it to pass people on the highway because my car has a boxer engine(great sound). It's also an excuse to my passengers on why I "had" to floor it. :)

@Subaru123: Well with a Subaru you don't really have any other option given their transmission programming...

@mikeolan

1. one of the easiest cruise controls to use, not sure how much of a butterfinger you are but its pretty simple, sure it could be better but compared to a toyota's cruise its miles better.

2. press the CD button twice, you get AUX.

3. cant say, i dont have a sportwagen.

4. i dont understand your argument. whether you turn them on via the stawl or a knob the brights are always on the stalk. parking lamps? it has DRL's...like most cars.

@mikeolan

You are partially right. Their 4 speeds automatics are well 4 speeds, and their old 5 speed down shifted about 10 seconds after you floored it and down shift so your at red line and then it needed to up shift right away.

But now they have a CVT, 6 speed manuals and a great new 5 speed like in my Tribeca that down shifts on a dime and is silky smooth yet aggressive on quick up shifts. So yes your statement was true 2 years ago but not anymore except for their 4 speed.

@pengwin:

1) You mean to tell me it's better than the stalk system Subaru uses, the button system Nissan uses, or the button system GM uses? Camaro aside, they're all thumb-reachable. I don't understand how anyone can think a rocker button at the end of a stalk is anything close to ergonomically friendly, but unless you're hitting it at the right angle you need to grip the stalk to keep from signaling a turn.

2) It's not labeled.

4) Parking lamps and DRLs are not the same thing. Parking lamps you put on to have the dashboard illuminated without burning your headlamps or pulling into a parking spot (say a restaurant) without blinding everyone inside. It's a courtesy thing. Parking lamps also show your tail lights if you're in such a situation.

DRLS are just a waste of money.