The Volkswagen Jetta has a base price of $17,130. The Jetta is Volkswagen's top-selling car, partly because it has respected German engineering and is the lowest-cost European-designed mid-size sedan for less than $20,000.
The front-drive Jetta arrived in 1980 and has enjoyed a youthful, lively reputation that has drawn young, college-educated single folks and couples.
For years, the Jetta was essentially a Volkswagen Golf hatchback with a conventional trunk, but the current-generation model debuted as a redesigned mid-2005 model.
The new Jetta had much more of a contemporary look and was larger, roomier and heavier, with a bigger, more powerful base engine.
The new Jetta also had a decidedly sportier attitude, especially the enthusiast-oriented GLI model with its all-pro tailback moves. However, all versions remained pleasant, upscale sedans.
The high-mileage diesel engine -- the next best thing to a complicated gas/electric hybrid engine -- has been dropped for 2007, although a new Jetta diesel is scheduled to arrive next year.
The base 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder, 150-horsepower gasoline engine provides good punch in town but delivers just adequate passing on highways. That's odd because the engine was designed exclusively for the U.S. market.
The best Jetta engine is the 2-liter four-cylinder, with a power-boosting turbocharger. It generates 200 horsepower and more torque than the five-cylinder and performs well both in town and on the open road. The turbo engine is essentially a sophisticated Audi unit, as Volkswagen is associated with Audi.
Jettas without the turbo engine do 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds, while the turbo engine lowers that figure to 6.4 seconds. That's a world of difference, and the performance of the turbo engine during merging into fast traffic and passing on highways illustrates the turbo's superiority.
Jetta five-cylinder models start with a manual gearbox at $16,490, while the GLI costs $24,110 with a manual transmission and $25,185 with an automatic.
I tested the limited production (only 1,200 units) "Fahrenheit" version of the GLI, which isn't all that special or different from the standard turbo Jetta. It's not hard to find in a parking lot because it has extremely bright "Fahrenheit Yellow" paint that some might find too garish. lt also has unique yellow interior trim and stitching -- and extra-wide 40-series tires on special 18-inch wheels. It costs $27,880 with the manual and $28,955 with the automatic.
My test car had the manual transmission. As with all Jettas, it has a slick shifter, but a long, though not heavy, clutch throw.
Special features for the regular GLI include a sport-tuned suspension that lowers the ride height, larger alloy wheels (17-inch vs. 15- and 16-inchers) and wider (45-series) tires. Optional are $750 18-inch wheels with 40-series tires.
The GLI also has such items as subtle styling touches, leather-wrapped wheel with radio controls, aluminum interior trim and powerful bi-xenon headlights. The fold-flat front passenger seatback in other Jettas is deleted, but split rear seatbacks -- offered on other Jettas -- fold nearly flat to enlarge the cargo area.
You can set a Jetta up for more driving ease with a six-speed automatic transmission, or opt for sportier driving with a five-speed manual (for the base version) or six-speed manual (for higher-line models). The manual transmission versions call for a fair amount of shifting for lively moves in traffic and a downshift for the fastest passing on freeways or highways.
The Jetta is relatively heavy for a compact car at 3,230 pounds because it has a good amount of comfort, convenience and safety equipment, which adds economy-eating weight. City fuel economy thus is lower than that of compact economy cars.
The figures are an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 30 on highways with either the manual or automatic transmissions with the five-cylinder base engine. They're 23 and 32 with the turbo engine and manual and 25 and 32 with that engine and special, highly responsive DSG automatic/manual transmission.
Regular-grade fuel is recommended for the base engine, premium for the turbocharged engine.
Adding weight to the Jetta are items including air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and power mirrors, windows and doors with remote keyless entry. Jettas also have front side and curtain side air bags.
There are plenty of options, which allow a buyer to make the Jetta sportier or more comfortable.
My solidly built test Jetta GLI's electro-mechanical steering was precise, and its sport suspension and wide tires on 18-inch wheels assured above-average handling. The ride was supple, but a Jetta rides best with its smaller standard wheels and tires. The GLI's anti-lock brakes, working with summer performance tires, provide phenomenal stopping power.
Traction control is standard for all Jettas. An anti-skid system is optional ($450) for the base model, standard on others.
The five-cylinder sounds gruff during hard acceleration, but the turbo engine is smoother. The quiet businesslike interior has high-quality materials and is roomy for four 6-footers, although it's roomiest for an occupant behind a front passenger.
Front GLI seats are very supportive in the upscale interior. But a curious jack-style lever controls driver seat height and bottom cushion positioning. And the circular control that adjusts front seatbacks to a comfortable position requires awkward mechanical adjustments. However, the seat position is comfortable after a driver finishes adjusting it, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel assures a comfortable driving position.
The speedometer and tachometer are easy to read, but gasoline and temperature gauges are too small. And blue/purple gauge lighting hinders nighttime legibility. However, decently sized radio and climate controls are easy to reach and use. Front cupholders are nicely positioned, but the rear armrest has pull-out cupholders that seem flimsy.
The large trunk can be easily loaded and its inner lid is lined for added quietness. All doors have small storage pockets and the glove compartment is large.
Volkswagen has a long-range plan to sell far more cars in America. The Jetta fits right in with those plans, at least for now.
