VW Jetta - CBU vs CKD specifications comparison

The VW Jetta in Malaysia has finally began its CKD operations.
The Jetta will be assembled in Pekan, Pahang and will join its Passat, Polo Sedan and Polo Hatchback brethren as one of the locally assembled VW model here in Malaysia.

The CKD operations begun from April 2014 onwards. Any Jetta delivered from May 2014 onwards will most likely be a CKD model.

The CBU (from Mexico) model will no longer be on sale.

So finally my lazy ass brought me to bring you people a more complete spec-to-spec comparison compared to what you have read out there.

Of course I am more complete laaa, I got a CBU model ma..
Ok jokes aside. Lets go through the similarity first.

On the power and transmission front, the 1.4L twincharge engine (160PS, 240NM Supercharger + Turbo Charger) and the 7-speed DSG dry-clutch gearbox is the exact same unit as found in the CBU model.

On the safety front, you still get 6 airbags (Dual Front + Side + Curtains), ABS, EBD, BA, ESP and

ISOfix anchors with top tether on the 2 outer rear seats.


On the convenience front, you still get the same
- fabric seats
- dual zone aircond
- glove compartment cooler
- rear aircond vents
- auto lights & wiper
- auto-cruise
- coming home and leaving home lights
- all round one touch power windows
- electronically foldable side mirrors with heating function
- front and rear fog lights
- auto dimming rear view mirror
- interior front and rear seat map/reading lights
- overhead sunglass storage compartment
- 3 12v power socket (front seat, rear seat, trunk)
- rear hook mounted on B-Pillars

On the chassis front, it maintains the rear multi-link suspension as before. (Thank god !!)

(Multi-link rear suspension yet able to provide 510L of boot space that somehow feels much bigger. Real world usage as below.)

On the outlook and exterior front, it is exactly the same as the CBU model. In-fact, park a CBU and CKD model side by side, you won't be able to tell the difference at all.

So far so good?
Now for the items that is omitted in the CKD models.

No Driver and Passenger vanity mirror lights for the CKD model. (CKD left, CBU right)

No Tyre Pressure Monitoring. (CKD left, CBU right)

No paddle shifters on the steering wheel. (CKD left, CBU right)

Relocation of the aux-in port to the headunit. More on this later. (CKD left, CBU right).

(Ignore the USB port and the ESP off switch on my car.)

So much NO, now time for some yes. Haha.

Fret not, with the CKD model, you do gain something.

You gain the following.

RCD320 with bluetooth support compared to the RCD310 model that comes with the CBU Jetta's.

(Sadly RCD320 do not support OPS function). Don't worry, the CKD Jetta still have 4 front and 4 rear parking sensors.

The Aux-In port is now built into the RCD320 head unit. The SD-Card slot and USB slot is also found on the head unit itself as compared to RCD310 where the USB in is located in the glove compartment.

With the CKD, you have a 6 speakers (Front Tweeters, Front & Rear Door mounted speakers) setup instead of the CBU 8 speakers (Front and Rear Tweeters, Front and Rear Door mounted speakers).

You now have a leather based adjustable arm-rest.

Well, certain CBU models has it too due to the running changes that VW constantly does to its product.

So there you have it, the different in specifications between the CBU and CKD models.

The original list price for the CBU model is RM 151888 without insurance while the CKD model list price will be RM 134888 without insurance factored in. 

All in all, the CKD is RM 17000 cheaper compared to the CBU model. 

Will this RM 17000 able to offset the missing functions/features? You have to do the math yourself.

Should you buy one? (Below is purely my personal thought)

If you are buying a car purely based on power with some decent handling thrown in, then this is the most powerful car in this price range. No car comes close, not even the Peugeot 308/408 turbo. The 1.4L twincharge engine and DSG gearbox combo will simply blow the competition away. Not to mention the hilariously cheap yearly roadtax (RM70) in relative to the performance that you get.

But if you take a moment to calm down and step back and look at a bigger picture, to be frank, apart from the engine and gearbox combo, the Jetta is actually quite plain outside and inside. Everything is just functional and business like. 

There is no sat-nav of anysort, heck there is not even a touch screen head unit. Apart from that there is no funky push start button or keyless entry or some fancy light greetings when you walk near your car. Just plain o'l remote control and insert key and twist to start way. If you are fine with this method like I do, then its good.  

Also do bear in mind this is about the only car north of RM 130k that do not sport leather seats. Not a deal breaker but still to think that even leather seats is found in cheap cars like the Myvi, at least VGM should have offered some option for this.

(Fabric seats yo..)

As for the maintenance and servicing, to be fair there is some improvement in the service centers lately but in general the experience is still some step behind what Toyota and Honda has set.

So at the end of the day, your money, your choice.