Nefarious Racing

6+ Best MK6 Jetta Coilovers: The Ultimate Guide

MK6 Jetta coilover guide thumbnail

Are you looking to improve the looks and handling performance of your MK6 Jetta? One of the best ways to do this is to install a set of coilovers. In this guide, I’m going to give you the 6 best coilovers available for the MK6 Jetta on the market today.

Top MK6 Jetta Coilover Picks

Best Value For Money
Best Overall
Riaction GT-1
Riaction GT-1 for MK6 Jetta
KW V3
KW V3 for MK6 Jetta
Price: $993
Price: $2614
Buy here
Buy here

About the Volkswagen Jetta MK6

The MK6 Jetta was released in 2010 and sold until 2018. Unlike previous models, the MK6 was no longer the sedan “version” of the Golf, but rather had its own chassis which included unique bodywork and a longer wheel base.

The GLI model, essentially the Jetta version of the Golf GTI, is very popular among VW enthusiasts as it combines the Jetta with the performance and sportier look of the Golf GTI.

If you are looking to improve you Jetta both in terms of aesthetics and handling performance, coilovers are one of the best upgrades you can do to the car.

Benefits of Coilovers for the MK6 Jetta

Installing coilovers on your Jetta will allow you to do three things:

  1. Fine tune the ride height to the perfect setting for your preference
  2. Significantly improve the handling performance of the car
  3. Depending on the coilover model, you can fine tune the damper settings so that the suspension rides exactly how you like it

While the Jetta handled fairly well from factory for street use, for people looking to make their car faster and get better performance, coilovers are pretty much a must.

In this guide I’m going to give you the 6 best coilover options available today for the MK6 Jetta.

The Best Coilovers for the MK6 Jetta

KW V3

KW V3 for MK6 Jetta

Lowering range: 0.6-1.8 inches front, 0.4-1.6 inches rear (model dependent)

Dampening adjustment: Yes, 2-way independent compression and rebound

Price: $2614

The KW V3 coilovers are one of the most popular high end coilover kits in the world.

One of the reasons for this is that KW puts an extreme amount of engineering into every kit they produce, fine tuning each one for the particular car (not something most companies do).

This ensures that the kit reacts perfectly with the car, and in the case of the V3’s, gives you the perfect balance between street use and track driving.

These coilovers feature 2-way independent dampening adjustment, allowing you to independently adjust rebound and compression, so you can quickly fine tune the car for more comfort or more performance.

Another notable feature of these coilovers is their anti-corrosion properties. The shock bodies are made from KW’s special INOX-LINE stainless steel, and the spring perches are composite, meaning they are extremely resistant to corrosion. You will never have to worry about them seizing, and KW also offers a lifetime warranty to back this up.

Ride height is adjusted by the spring perch, which does mean you lose suspension travel as you go lower. This can result in a worse ride and cause the dampers to blow out faster if you are running at the extreme end of the adjustment range. The lowering range is also somewhat limited, so if you are planning to go super low, this may not be the right kit for you.

However, if you are after a very high quality and high performance kit that gives you a good balance of street comfort and track handling, the KW V3’s are a good option, especially if you live in harsh weather areas where corrosion is a problem.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by spring perch
  • 12-level independent compression adjustment
  • 16 level independent rebound adjustment
  • Special INOX-LINE stainless steel and composite spring perches which will never rust or seize
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Made in Germany
  • Rebuildable by KW

You can get the KW V3’s for your MK6 Jetta for the best price here (select your Jetta model on the next page):

GET MK6 JETTA KW V3 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Riaction GT-1

Riaction GT-1 for MK6 Jetta

Lowering range: 1-3 inches (25-75mm)  (depending on the model)

Dampening adjustment: 24-level rebound adjustment

Price: $993

Reaction’s coilovers are built with performance in mind, and are designed to be used on the track as well as the street.

The GT-1 series feature linear valved monotube dampers which give you 32-level rebound adjustment.

The linear damping is used on this kit to give a slightly more comfortable ride, so these would be more suited to the daily driver/street car that sees occasional track use or performance driving.

The ride height is adjusted by the shock body on these, meaning you retain full suspension travel at all ride heights, giving you a more comfortable ride and longer damper life.

These are also highly customizable (spring rates and valving, Swift Springs) and upgradeable to 2-way dampening adjustment and can also be switched from linear to digressive valving and vice versa.

Riaction have countless positive reviews and a great reputation, offering a quality product and excellent customer service with support in the USA. They also offer lifetime free labor on their coilovers, which means when you need a rebuild, you only need to pay for the parts. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by the shock body
  • 32-levels of rebound dampening adjustment
  • Lowers the car 1-3 inches on most models
  • Camber adjustable front strut mounts
  • Spring Rates: 8k Front & 5k Rear
  • Customizable (Swift Springs and/or custom spring rates) and upgradeable to 2-way or even switching between linear and digressive valving
  • Fully rebuildable
  • 2 year warranty against manufacturing defects, as well as a lifetime labor warranty which means you only need to pay for the parts, and they will service your coilovers for free!

You can get the Riaction GT-1 coilovers here for the best price:

GET MK6 JETTA RIACTION GT-1 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

BC Racing BR Series

BC Racing BR Series for MK6 Jetta

Lowering: Up to 1-3 inches (25-75mm) – Super Low kit goes 2-4 inches (50-100mm)

Dampening adjustment: Yes, 30-level

Price range: $1195

One of the most popular kits on the market today, the BC Racing BR Series is known for giving you the perfect blend of street comfort and handling performance for a fantastic price.

These coilovers have proven themselves time and again both on and off the track, making them a great option no matter what you use the car for.

One of the reasons they are so popular is because they are highly customizable.

Want to go super low? There’s an extreme Low kit that goes up to 4 inches lower than factory.

Want a more comfortable ride or better performance? You can get custom spring rates and valving, and even upgrade to Swift Springs for even more comfort and performance.

Another cool thing about these coilovers is that they are fully rebuildable, and BC Racing will sell you all the parts to do the rebuild as well as rebuild them for you.

They feature monotube dampers with 30 levels of dampening adjustment, and the ride height adjustment is done by the shock body which gives you full suspension travel at all heights. Applicable models even come with camber adjustable strut mounts (which includes the MK6 Jetta).

These coilovers are well known for being a great buy and have a fantastic reputation worldwide. They are excellent value for money and are one of the best coilover kits available on the market today.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by the shock body, 1-3 inches lower than factory, Extreme Low goes up to 4 inches
  • 30-level dampening adjustment
  • Monotube dampers with linear piston and dampening curve
  • Aluminium strut mounts with front camber adjustment
  • Spring rates: 7 Kg front & rear
  • Custom spring rates and valving available
  • Swift Spring Upgrade available
  • Fully rebuildable, parts or rebuild available from BC Racing
  • 1 year warranty

You can get the BC Racing BR series for your MK6 Jetta at the best price here:

GET MK6 JETTA BC RACING BR SERIES FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

ST X

ST X for MK6 Jetta

Lowering: Designed to lower to the mechanical limits of the car

Dampening adjustment: No

Price range: $1194-$1274

The ST X are the perfect coilover for those who just want to daily drive their Jetta, lower it and get a comfortable ride with better handling.

ST coilovers are actually made by KW and these are practically identical to the KW V1s, aside from the fact that they do not have the INOX-LINE stainless steel shock bodies. Instead, they use galvanized shock bodies, which is what allows them to be sold for a lower price.

So if you live in an area that doesn’t see a lot of harsh weather, these are a great option that will save you some money.

They don’t have dampening adjustment, but they do have twin tube dampers tuned by KW for the best balance of ride comfort and handling, and have a great reputation for being comfortable on the street, even when low.

The ride height is designed to be able to be lower the car to its mechanical limits, meaning you can go as low as you want with these coilovers.

These use the OEM top mounts for increased comfort levels, so be sure to order a new set if you get these coilovers so you can replace them at the same time.

The ST X are perfect if you are going to be daily driving your Jetta and just want a coilover that will go low and ride comfortably without any fuss.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by the spring perch, up to the mechanical limits of the car
  • Twin tube dampers fine tuned by KW
  • Galvanized shock bodies for corrosion resistance
  • Composite spring perch

You can get the ST X for your MK6 Jetta at the best price here (select your Jetta model on the next page):

GET MK6 JETTA ST X FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Godspeed MonoSS

Godspeed MonoSS for MK6 Jetta

Lowering: 1-3 inches on most models

Dampening adjustable: Yes, 16-level

Price: From $675

The MonoSS are Godspeed’s most popular coilover and provide an excellent option for those on a budget.

These coilovers are specifically designed to offer the perfect balance of performance and affordability, and give you a surprising amount of features given the low price.

The dampers are 52mm monotubes made of “carbon seamless steel” which have 16-level dampening adjustment. They are designed to handle street driving as well as track days, and these dampers make it easy to adjust the settings accordingly.

The dampers also feature “racing grade shock oil with a high viscosity index” and a “Performance Internal Piston” according to Godspeed.

The springs are made from high strength SAE9252 steel, and ride height adjustment is done by the shock body to ensure you have full suspension travel at all heights. They typically give you 1-3 inches of lowering compared to stock, depending on the model.

The Mono SS’ also come with pillow-ball strut mounts with Koyo Japan bearings which are camber adjustable on applicable models. Some vehicles use the factory strut mount.

They come with a 1 year warranty and the dampers can be rebuilt.

Considering the low price and many positive reviews to be found for these coilovers, they are a great option if you are on a budget but still want a decent coilover that can handle occasional track use.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by the shock body, 1-3 inches lower than stock on most models
  • 16-level dampening adjustment
  • Monotube dampers with racing grade shock oil and performance piston
  • Pillowball strut mounts with camber adjustment and Koyo Japan 6204z bearings
  • Anodized shock bodies
  • 1 year warranty

You can get the Godspeed MonoSS for the best price here:

GET MK6 JETTA GODSPEED MONOSS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Solo-Werks S1

Solo-Werks S1 for MK6 Jetta

Lowering:

Front 35-65mm (1.4-2.6 inches)

Rear 35-70mm (1.4-2.75 inches)

Dampening adjustment: No

Price range: $499

If you are on a budget but you really need to lower your Jetta, the Solo-Werks S1’s are the way to go.

These coilovers are extremely cheap yet offer superb value for money and will make sure you still retain a comfortable street ride while going low.

Solo-Werks was actually started by ex-KW engineers, so you are basically getting a lot of KW knowledge for a very low price.

While they don’t have dampening adjustment and don’t come with top mounts (you use the OEM ones), what they do have is excellent ride quality which can even handle track use. The dampers are twin-tube and are specifically tuned for every application.

The shock bodies are heavy gold zinc plated for maximum corrosion resistance, and have been salt spray tested for 500 hours.

They also feature special elastomer progressive bump stops which are designed to increase comfort even if you bottom out.

They also come with a 3 year warranty, which is unheard of at these price levels and shows you how much Solo-Werks believe in their product.

Overall, if you are looking for a budget coilover kit for your MK6 Jetta, you are going to struggle to find anything better for anywhere near this price.

Features include:

  • Ride height adjustment by the spring perch, lowers 35-65mm (1.4-2.6inches) front and 35-70mm (1.4-2.75 inches) rear
  • Twin tube dampers tuned specifically for the vehicle
  • Heavy gold zinc plated shock bodies which have been salt spray tested for 500 hours – for excellent corrosion resistance
  • Elastomer progressive bump stops for added comfort
  • 3 year warranty
  • Boesheild T-9 lubricant/protectant for the adjustment threads

You can get the Solo-Werks S1 coilovers for your MK6 Jetta for the best price here:

GET MK6 JETTA SOLO-WERKS S1 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Top 2 Coilover Picks for the MK6 Jetta

I’ve given you quite a few good options on this list, so now I’m going to narrow it down even further and give you my top two picks from this list – one for best value for money, and one for best overall.

Best Value for Money: Riaction GT-1

Riaction GT-1 for MK6 Jetta

The Riaction GT-1 is a very impressive coilover kit packed with features, the ability to upgrade, a 2 year warranty, and good support from the company. All this combined with the sub $1000 price tag makes these a fantastic purchase for the MK6 Jetta.

The only other kit that comes close to this value is the BC Racing BR Series, which has been around a liitle longer but is a bit more expensive and doesn’t offer the ability to upgrade.

Personally, if I had a MK6 Jetta, I would be going for the Riaction kit, which is why I have chosen to recommend it as the best value for money option.

GET MK6 JETTA RIACTION GT-1 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Best Overall: KW V3

KW V3 for MK6 Jetta

The KW V3 kit is an extremely impressive kit all round, from the engineering KW put into it to the 2-way independent adjustment, the extremely good corrosion resistance, the lifetime warranty and more.

For a coilover kit that will give you the perfect balance between street and track, these coilovers are hard to beat, which is why they are so popular.

If money is no object and you want the best all round kit out there for the MK6 Jetta, this is it.

GET MK6 JETTA KW V3 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE

Conclusion

I hope this has helped you to select the right coilovers for your Jetta. If you would like to suggest another kit to be included in this list, or you have any questions, feel free to post in the comments below.

Mateja Matic