鈥淭he new Volkswagen Jetta lineup features a complete line of models for 2006. A sporty turbocharged GLI model joins the line along with a fuel-efficient TDI turbo diesel. That's in addition to the most popular models, which are powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. The Jetta was redesigned and re-engineered from the ground up midway through the 2005 model year. The new Jetta GLI features a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with a broad power curve boasting 0-60 in 6.7 seconds. Regardless of engine, we found the new Jetta responsive around town and comfortable on long trips. Volkswagens are known for handling, and the new Jetta carves through corners with precision. Indeed, the GLI reminds us why Germany is renowned for building excellent sports sedans. The new Jetta is larger than previous models, and it features a more spacious interior stuffed with convenience and lavished with Volkswagen's legendary attention to detail. Its driver enjoys excellent visibility and ease of use with logical controls and instruments. Build quality is superb inside and out. 鈥淰olkswagen interiors are closely studied by the competition for good reason. Volkswagen designers accomplish more with less, combining expensive-looking materials with simple but attractive styling and excellent ergonomics. 鈥淎s soon as the Jetta pulls away from the curb, there's a noticeable feel of solidness and a clear sense of high build quality. As there should be. A large part of the investment in the Jetta went toward increasing structural integrity. The stronger structure forms not only a more solid grounding for suspension and drivetrain components, it helps reduce unwanted noise from being transmitted into the cabin. The other element that was considered most critical in the design of this performance-oriented car was the suspension. 鈥淭he all-new Volkswagen Jetta is a delectable dish of European-bred automotive technology, superior materials and tangibly good build quality. This new Jetta is both a comfortable long-range cruiser and a snappy runabout. For those who want to make quicker progress down the road, the turbocharged GLI is a slick performer right out of the box.
Not so鈥攖he 1.4T鈥檚 184 lb-ft torque figure matches that of the 1.8T, and it arrives 100 rpm sooner at a low 1400 rpm. In practice, though, this engine needs the tach needle swinging past the 2500-rpm mark to wake up. Turbo lag isn鈥檛 the issue; instead, it鈥檚 the five-speed manual鈥檚 tall gearing, which dulls the 1.4T鈥檚 might. To make up for the lack of a sixth forward gear, VW chose ratios for third, fourth, and fifth that are taller than those in the six-speed gearbox offered in the GLI. Adept drivers can circumvent the transmission鈥檚 ratio allotment by downshifting to a lower gear and freeing up the 1.4T. Around town, we kept the revs up by staying in second or third. The engine is so smooth and makes such pleasant, muted mechanical noises that you鈥檒l hardly mind playing in the upper half of the rev range. And shifting is no chore at all, thanks to the buttery shifter and light clutch-pedal effort.
Surprisingly, this driving style didn鈥檛 excessively drag down fuel economy, as we recorded 31 mpg over the course of this test鈥攋ust 2 mpg down on the 1.4T鈥檚 EPA city estimate. On our 75-mph highway loop, the Jetta averaged 37 mpg, which is quite good. Yet we鈥檝e seen more than 40 mpg from Honda Civics with the available 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder. Despite being down on horsepower and torque relative to the smallest powerplants available in the Civic and the Mazda 3, the 1.4-liter turbo acquits itself well at the test track. At least Volkswagen gives Jetta SE buyers today鈥檚 must-have items for an affordable price. Standard equipment includes Bluetooth connectivity, heated front seats, vinyl upholstery, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a sunroof, and a 6.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay integration. 21,715 sticker鈥攐n par with the similarly equipped Mazda 3 Touring鈥攐ne must appreciate the Jetta鈥檚 minimalist mind-set. Some buyers might notice and enjoy the way the Jetta鈥檚 doors shut with a substantial feel, the center armrest that can slide fore and aft and tilt to the driver鈥檚 desired position, or the car鈥檚 precise fit and finish. Others might consider the Mazda 3, a favorite of ours that has a nicer interior and drives even more sweetly than the Jetta.
The post-scandal VW TDI remains a torque machine, with enough low-end oomph to overcome its unresponsive six-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen also says shift programming changes with the fix, with normal mode shifting at slightly higher engine speeds than before, and Sport mode slightly lower. We observed no significant difference on either front. It still takes a concerted stab on the accelerator pedal to induce a downshift, but the early wave of torque means you can ratchet up speed even if the transmission camps out in a high gear. The Volkswagen Group鈥檚 Gen-1 diesel vehicles account for about 55 percent of the nearly 600,000 U.S. 2009-2016 model years involved in the automaker鈥檚 emissions scandal. Gen-1 diesels 鈥?all EA189 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines from 2009-2014 鈥?employ filters, rather than exhaust-treatment fluid, to remove pollutants. Regulators approved a fix for the batch, considered the hardest nut to crack, in mid-2017. Two later generations of diesel four-cylinder engines, as well as a diesel V-6, are all involved in the emissions-cheating scandal.
All but a select group of vehicles have approved fixes to reduce emissions. The fix took a few hours on our VW Jetta SportWagen TDI. It involved a new nitrogen-oxide catalyst, two under-hood labels and a software update, among other equipment. The dealership performed a separate recall involving an engine-airflow flap and oxygen sensor, which Volkswagen later told us occurred alongside the emissions modification because of potential wear and tear. Should You Buy One? Should you buy a VW involved in the scandal? For interested shoppers, Cars.com鈥檚 experience says yes, at least for a Gen-1 car. Our results indicate similar performance and drivability after the fix, and the mileage penalty is modest. Lose sleep over the high cost of diesel fuel if you must, but not over lost miles per gallon. Fuel prices notwithstanding, these mileage figures are still outstanding, even by today鈥檚 standards. Most examples should have the fix at this point. On Volkswagen Gen-1 cars, two labels under the hood signal the fix: One shows completion of the modification, while another shows updated emissions compliance. Cars.com鈥檚 Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com鈥檚 long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don鈥檛 accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com鈥檚 advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
