2006 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Specifications

It Grows On You

You can count me in with the hordes of people who saw the new Jetta grille at first and said, “What the…” Yes, its a lot of chrome. Yes, its kinda weird. And yes, I think it looks good. It took me a while to warm up to it, and seeing it in pictures it just seems big and clunky, but when you come out of  a highway pit stop and see it sitting under the lights, or come back to it after a long day playing on the beach boardwalk, you might just come around.

When I saw it in that light, and in contrast with some of the other mild and inoffensive sedans littered around the parking lot, I was giddy that I was getting into my blood red Jetta - I dont think VW calls it blood red, but I cant think of a better name for it and Im not big on researching color names - (Spice Red - Ed.) with its big chrome grille and other shiny chrome bits.

And Im not the only one who came around after a week. Though I have only met him once (the old strangers passing in the night scenario), the guy with the parking stall next to mine in my buildings garage must have been impressed. Within a week after having returned my tester, I see a shiny new Jetta sitting in his spot, in the exact same color. Granted, I havent spoken to him to confirm my testers influence, but I cant pass it off as mere coincidence. And though his was only the 2.5, and with the base rims, it was still a fabulously red and chrome trimmed Jetta. Choice!

Of course, theres more to it than just the color and the chrome. The shape is not as cleanly elegant as the previous Jetta and definitely not as conservative as the one before that, but I find that it is a very mature evolution of the VW midsize sedan; a grown-up car for not-so grown-up adults. And the 2.0T is the perfect engine for those not-so grown up moments on the highway or childish lapses from the stoplight. But before I get into the driving fun, more on its ever-important styling (yes, we are the image generation).

Where the old Jetta combined some very clean, geometric curves and flat surfaces, this new iteration experiments with more organic, fluid shapes, all flowing rearward from the aggressive front end. Aside from the slightly unfortunate resemblance to a low rent Corolla, the bumpers meld naturally into the hood, and in the rear, grow into the taillights, while the trunk lid forms a bit of a top lip that hints at, but never flaunts, a spoiler. Stylish.

One of the more functional aspects of the design is its size. Its big. And not just average midsize big, but almost big big, and the biggest big was the trunk. Holy cow is it big! Im guessing you could fit at least six medium-sized clowns in that trunk, and while thats not the exact measurement system used by our editors (17.7 cu-ft which makes it larger than the old Passats trunk - Ed.) I think you get the picture.

Moving into the cabin, there is plenty of room for everybodys elbows and knees, but not so much that it feels like an empty warehouse.  I dont think I tried squeezing five in it the week I had it, and while Im sure its up to the task, I consider it a roomy four-person suite and leave it at that (its only one cubic foot smaller inside than last years Passat - Ed.).

My testers interior was also very bright and pleasant because of its light tan fabric covering the seats, and matching plastics on the lower dash and door panels. Volkswagen does such a good job with a simple, efficient, well organized design and all surfaces that are within reach are made of materials that are so friendly to the touch that I couldnt ask for anything more. My only concern is that because of the light color of the seat fabric, as well as the carpet, it would often look as dirty as it really was, as opposed to a darker color that would hide the dirt, but lend a more somber atmosphere. Its a trade-off, so you make the call.

Once I got settled in the adjustable drivers seat with lumbar support, which did a fair job of supporting my back and a great job of holding me in place (the fabric was so grippy I would almost call it sticky), I was all set for some turbo adventures.

And adventure I did, all over town and onto the freeway and connecting highways, spreading the blood red love of style and the whine of the turbo around the city for anyone who was quick enough to catch a glimpse or hear the scream. Its a car that I took out late in the evening just for the sake of driving around, and particularly on the highways, because thats where its right at home. It might not be an Autobahn champ, but on the 100 km/h limited highways here in NA, its light curb weight (you laugh, but the 2.0Ts 3,106 pounds makes it lighter than the 3,230 pound 2.5) and beyond zippy engine (zippity? zippedy-doo-dah?) put the grin on my face and the power to the wheels whenever and wherever I wanted it, which was pretty much everywhere and all the time. While I will have more to say about the wheels and tires later, out on the highway they did the trick and kept me safe, secure and suitably thrilled.

Part of the fun equation was the automatic transmission. An auto tranny, fun? Before you start thinking what a loser I am, yeah, Id take the standard 6-speed if offered, but this 2.0T had VWs top-tier DSG sequential manual transmission. The only thing missing was the paddle shifters, which would have suited this engine and my driving style just fine. For paddle shifters you have to make the jump to Audi and its A3, and Im still hoping they will be part of the package once the 2.0T arrives dressed up in GLI trim, which gets a snarly black honeycomb grille instead of the chrome dress uniform, plus fatter wheels with low-profile tires and lowered sport suspension.

As it was, this is a great model for someone with tuner intentions. I lost count of the number of times I started shopping other cars and thinking if those 18-inch wheels would be a good fit, or imagining what a good skirt package would do for its looks and what dropping it an inch on some Enkei springs would do for the handling in corners. The GLI is more for the guy or girl who says, “I want the whole package, and I want it right now!”

What the GLI shares with the Jetta 2.0T is one jumpy little engine. Its turbo comes on so quickly that I could hardly ask for much better. Horsepower maxes out at an even 200 at 5,100 rpm, but torque is up to 207 as early as 1,800 rpm, meaning the only thing hanging you up off the line are those rather skinny, squeamish tires. You have three options with the transmission: D for drive; +/- for manual shifting; and S for sport.

My personal favorite was actually S; the car figures out which gear it should be in, but rather than optimize fuel economy it keeps it one cog lower and by so doing maintains higher revs, up in the neighborhood of the 3 and 4 on the tach and therefore always ready for immediate action with a little extra dab at the throttle. It also downshifts a little early when slowing down, for a bit of engine braking, which I always like. Obviously, leaving it in D is a better option in stoplights and traffic, because with either of the other two it tends to lead to a rise in blood pressure and anxiety - as in “why, oh why wont these people move faster or get out of my way?” - which is a very bad thing when driving. Never drive angry!

One thing that was great in and around town was the electromechanical steering, making negotiating tight turns and parking lots a cinch. Despite the power assistance, the wheel tended to feel a bit light and loose in hand when cruising at highway speeds, but I guess power-variable steering isnt really in this price point, really. Im guessing the GLIs steering is tuned tighter across the board, another thing to take into consideration when cross-shopping.

Another slightly disconcerting thing was the wheel/tire and suspension package, which seems geared to simple cruising and city navigating, whereas the engine just begs to be pushed into that next corner or snapped into that fast lane and cranked past the semi that should not be cramping you in. Push it on highway cloverleaf ramps or though some tight and winding roads and the body will lean while the tires feel like theyre going to give in a bit early for my tastes, but my tastes tend to run a bit extreme, or at least so Im told.

Whats not extreme is gas consumption. EPA estimates actually rate the 2.0T as a more fuel-efficient choice than the base 2.5, thanks in part to its FSI fuel injection, so technically youd be helping to save the planet, or at least doing less damage.  If youre really looking to save money on gas then youll be shopping the TDI anyway. After a week with the Jetta I drove over 600 miles of combined city and highway driving, and I managed about 23 mpg. EPA rates it at 25 and 34 for city and highway, so I guess that tells you something about my driving habits, although EPA ratings are not to be taken as literal real-world expectations, but as more of a comparative tool.

I had high expectations going into my week with the Jetta 2.0T because I have long been a “Drivers Wanted” kind of guy, and this new engine is right down my alley; powerful, responsive, zippy, and it delivered. The comfort level was spot on from the outset, and the surprisingly bright interior lifted my mood every time I was in it. But, once again, it took a week of walking out to the parking lot and seeing that shiny chrome grille grinning wider each time to wrap my mind around its new, and now I admit, good looks. Feel free to disagree or even disparage me with spiteful comments, but my parking-spot neighbor obviously agrees, and I think a lot more people will come around as well.