Jetta Owners Club UK

The History Behind The Name
The Mk3 A3 Jetta (Vento)

Mk3 (Vento VR6)

Known in Europe and the UK as the Vento, the Mk3 was a refined evolution of the previous generation Jetta. The Vento debuted in 1991 while the Jetta debuted in 1993 after an initial production delay at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico, which was chosen to supply American and Canadian dealerships. Hailed as the "Poor Man's BMW", it was designed in-house under Herbert Schafer. The third generation Jetta was criticized for its "boxy" design. Though only offered as a four-door saloon, the Mk3 provided more trim levels than any other previous Jetta model. Exterior changes to the A3 through its production run were subtle, such as a new grille, body-colored rub strips, and different hub caps.
The GL was the base trim while the GLS was the luxury trim with central locking and electric windows, optional sunroof and leather seats, etc. The Trek was a special trim that included a bike rack, a Trek bike, spoiler, rocker panel covers, alloy wheels, and in 1997, other accessories and options available for the top-of the line GLX, save for the VR6 engine.
The K2 was a similar package, but in place of the bike was a K2 snowboard or a pair of K2 skis. It should be noted that Canada received 2 models that never saw the US Market: Golf/Jetta CL were decontented GL models, featuring a 90 horsepower 1.8L Mono Motronic engine. The CL trim level deleted rear headrests, height adjustable seats, Premium Sound System and CD Changer prep. The CL was dropped after the 1997 model year. Canada also received a Jetta GL Turbo Diesel from 1993-1996. The 1.9L AAZ Code diesel was rated at 74 horsepower and had a range of over 900km. The AAZ diesel was a bored and stroked version of the 1.6L Turbo Diesel that the Mk2 Jetta had. Sales of the Jetta GL Diesel were swift, however the engine has not aged well and many owners have had significant crankshaft failures. The City was a minimalist Jetta without a radio or air conditioning, while the 1994 Limited Edition and 1995 Celebration packages were value-priced GLs. The Music Edition was a GL with a 6-disc CD player standard. All were powered by a 2.0 L I4 making 115 hp (86 kW). The diesel engine once again made its comeback with Volkswagen's revolutionary 1.9 L TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) 90 hp (67 kW) diesel engine and was offered as a separate trim level. By far, one of the most exciting trim levels was the GLX, replacing the GLI designation. Motivated by the renowned VR6 DOHC six-cylinder, the 172 hp (128 kW) power plant was able to catapult the Jetta to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, the fastest Jetta to date. For those who preferred the GLX's looks, the GT and Wolfsburg Edition offered GLX accessories without the venerable VR6.