Test drive: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta

All new, all better

Completely new, the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta is larger outside and in, more powerful, refined in all respects. A 2.5 liter, 150 hp, 5-cylinder engine sits behind the handsome grille and for a few extra bucks you can get a 6-speed, Tiptronic automatic transmission. Suspension is now fully-independent, steering is electronic by-wire, ABS and traction control standard. The well-equipped base Value Edition sells for $17,900. Two available luxury packages push up the price moderately.

First Glance

More than 50 automobile journalists from Canada and the US were invited to San Diego to test the new Jetta. Volkswagen couldn't have chosen a better place. The Jetta is a fun car to drive and San Diego's canyons and nearby desert runs make for a wonderful playground, while the city's blend of modern and traditional architecture offers a perfect setting in which to view the new car's exterior design. Not everyone in our group agreed on the Jetta's styling, though; some liked it, others were less enthusiastic. I found myself wavering, admiring the car from one angle, dubious when viewing it from another. Regardless, the 2005 Jetta is a totally new sedan, and it bristles with changes including, significantly, an improvement in rear seat roominess; a 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine with optional 6-speed automatic; and a switch to fully-independent suspension. The list of standard equipment is impressive, to the point where the Jetta is now comparable to cars in the European premium class. But it's the driving that counts and numbers make the difference, as we shall see in a moment.

In the Driver's Seat

A real pleasure for test drivers is a car where we feel at ease the moment we're seated and can drive off as though we'd been doing it all day. The new Jetta is such a car. For starters, a taller stance makes it easier to climb in and out and there's more room inside, especially in the critical rear seat area. Location and design of controls and instruments is impeccable... with one annoying exception. The brake pedal height in automatic versions is excessive. Twice I caught the sole of my shoe in quick stops. That aside, the interior is refined and luxurious, using quality materials. Jetta's lengthy equipment list includes, among other features, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, 8-way seats with lumbar controls, power windows and doors, manual climate control, heated power mirrors, outside temperature display, console with adjustable armrest, AM/FM stereo and CD player, footwell lighting, plus active head restraints, front and side-thorax airbags, and side curtain protection. Moving up from the Value Edition gets you the Jetta 2.5 (a confusing series name as all Jettas come with a 2.5 liter engine) which adds more interior features, including a trip computer with compass, rain sensor, and automatic climate control.

On the Road

A student of numerology might be inclined to suggest the numbers 6, 5, 4 have a special significance. Think about it. 6-speed automatic; 5-cylinder engine; 4-wheel independent suspension. Add them together and the result is a better road car, one that lives up to Volkswagen's ongoing theme: Drivers Wanted. I should hasten to explain that a 5-speed manual is standard but wise buyers will order the Tiptronic-equipped automatic, for it's a beauty, deftly matching performance with economy. The inline 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder engine is charged with a similar task and certainly accomplishes its mission as our canyon-carving trip to the desert proved. And the arrival of a fully-independent suspension represents a major improvement in ride and handling. Electronic steering, traction control and ABS are standard; for a mere $280 one can add VW's Electronic Stabilisation Program. Worth every penny. What all this translates to is a 4-door sedan that's genuinely fun to drive, stable through the turns, powers out with authority. 150 hp and 170 lb./ft. of torque proved to be more than enough in our run, which included sections of twisty, empty roads where I was able to corner the Jetta with, shall we say, considerable enthusiasm.

Journey's End

Volkswagen did its best to get us excited over its marketing plans. Aimed at young professionals with a zest for life, folks who try to get more out of living, they said. Frankly, Hilda, I don't give a damn! It's the car that counts. So I'm happy to report that the new Jetta is a superb automobile; not without faults but a great improvement over the previous model and guaranteed to make certain Oriental manufacturers and at least one German very nervous. The overall increase in size is legitimate, the performance is scintilating. Judging by the fit and finish of our test cars, plus the millions of dollars invested in upgrading the Pueblo, Mexico plant where all Jettas will be made, quality won't be an issue. Nor will safety, thanks to a rare combination (for the price) of passive and active safety features. As mentioned, the mostly-handsome styling had its detractors but I liked it, especially from the front where a V-shaped chrome inset harkens back to VW Beetle days and perhaps heralds a return to chrome as respectable decoration. (What's next? Whitewalls?) Down the pike is a TDI diesel version, a turbocharged 2.5, and a VR6. "Don't wait" is my advice, for a 2.5 with one of the two add-on packages is all you'll ever need.