2006 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Specifications

Its a Question of Quality

Theres no more important car for the future of the Volkswagen brand than its compact Jetta, and therefore I was expecting the German automaker to pull out all the stops for the all-new 2006 version.

And if I were merely looking at the spec sheet its easy to see that the companys engineers didnt hold back. Its base engine is much more powerful yet offers greater fuel efficiency, transmission class-leading with six forward speeds, suspension system more sophisticated as its now fully independent and improves both ride and handling, convenience and safety features more plentiful, and structural integrity more robust.

So why the hesitation? Well, I hate to be so trivial but the previous car was one of my favorite designs in the compact class, this one leaves me a bit flat. Its banal styling has been compared to some rather pedestrian economy cars by more than one of my colleagues on more than one occasion, and despite the attempt its chrome grille gives in adding bling, it most likely wont stir up a great deal of passion among new car buyers.

But styling is an individual thing I suppose, and Im sure some will salivate over this latest model even more than they did for the old car. Who knows, maybe in time it will prove to be a classic, and my reputation, along with that of my like-minded colleagues, will become tainted due to our lack of vision. The technicians in the crowd wont care for such drivel anyway, more impressed with the new Jettas ultra-tight body panel gap tolerances and high quality paint finish.

And all Volkswagens are class leading when it comes to interiors, right? Oh no. What are these shiny plastic dash panels doing inside what was the best cabin in the compact class? The layouts not quite as attractive when compared to the last one too. Ah, but the metallic accents, that feel as real as anything on the market, are beautifully detailed. And that cheap looking plastic feels pretty good as well; you know, the soft-touch stuff that comes in higher priced premium cars? Its not quite as upscale compared to what Audi offers, but it shouldnt be considering the higher price that Volkswagen Groups luxury brand charges. The fitment of all buttons and switchgear is also first-rate, giving the driver and all occupants the feeling of superior quality. And whats this? Cloth-lined A-pillars! No other car in the compact segment goes so far to coddle its occupants.

The steering wheel in my test car is perfect too, with ideal hand positioning, a leather-wrapped grip that should be raised up as the standard of the industry, and superb adjustability for rake and depth.

Likewise, the seats are also top-tier. My tester features leather seating surfaces that look and feel high-class, and their support is as good as this segment gets, with all the adjustability I needed.

The six-speed automatic shifts seamlessly when in fully automatic mode and doesnt hunt around when tackling long, steep hills. It also comes standard with manual shift capability, a feature Volkswagen made popular years back when it introduced Tiptronic to the masses. While early to the game, VWs manual mode isnt my favorite. It upshifts automatically from first to second and then second to third, much before redline. I like the types that hold a given gear even when redline is reached, and especially appreciate it when the software programmers dial in some fuzzy logic so that theres no jerkiness when riding the rev limiter.

Volkswagen offers two engines in the new Jetta, a new 2.5-liter five-cylinder that replaces both the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 2.8-liter VR6, until the 200-hp FSI I-4 turbo thats in the Euro GTI arrives, making a Jetta GLI, or a new V6 is added to the lineup that is, and the ubiquitous 1.9-liter turbodiesel, dubbed TDI. The oil burner delivers more torque, at 177 lb-ft, and should therefore be the best when the car is fitted with an automatic gearbox. Still, the new five-cylinders 170 lb-ft of torque is only slightly less capable, and its higher output of 150-horsepower compared to the TDIs 100 should make up the difference when accelerating to highway speeds.

Dab the throttle and the Jetta 2.5L gets up and goes without any lagging around, albeit the engine drones a rather hum-drum exhaust note. At highway speeds theres plenty of pep for passing, mind you, and the uninspiring drone becomes a distant memory lost in the blur of the passing landscape.

Im not a giant fan of front-wheel drive cars, per se, but Ive nevertheless held a soft spot for VWs Jetta as it has always been a terrific drivers car. The new model is even better now that it integrates a fully-independent suspension system, including a multi-link rear setup and optimized front axle.

Tight corners are childs play, enhanced by the Jettas new electro-mechanical steering system. It devours curves no matter the speed of entry, or so it seems. Sure theres oversteer, but with the new cars wider track and wonderfully balanced chassis setup its hardly noticeable unless its fully loaded and you get the apex of the corner wrong. Still, its a forgiving little mite even when pushed beyond reason, and is controllable enough to go where its pointed and in so doing keep driver and passengers out of harms way in the case of a potential accident.

Of course, gravity is gravity, inertia is inertia and rubber, no matter how grippy modern day compounds are, will eventually give way to sheer stupidity. VW should be commended for accessorizing the new Jetta with standard electronic stability control and antilock-equipped disc brakes all round, but theres still the possibility that some of its cars will inevitably be hit by other low flying pilots driving beyond their capabilities in less advanced cars, or worse, SUVs, and therefore the new models rigid little body shell has been crammed full of safety gear.

Such passive safety features include front side-thorax airbags, Side Curtain (head) Protection in front and rear, crash-active front headrests, crash-optimized foot pedals that descend upon serious impact, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), three-point safety belts at all five seating positions, adjustable headrests for each occupant, front belt pretensioners with load limiters, and safety belts with emergency locking retractors.

Those protected will enjoy a larger passenger compartment to absorb the impact, with more head, hip, shoulder and legroom, plus a larger trunk. Of course, such benefits will be just as appreciated whether side-swiped or not, and I can attest that the new Jettas interior is more comfortable than the somewhat cramped previous version.

So, styling aside, and the questionable interior surfaces put out of mind, the 2006 model is a much better car than the outgoing Jetta. Its roomier, safer, more fun to drive, more fuel efficient and runs cleaner, so why shouldnt you just go out and buy one?

By all means do, as you may be fortunate enough to be rewarded with years of enjoyable, trouble free service. Compared to its Japanese competitors, Mazda3 accepted, this is a wonderful little sedan that not only drives like a premium product but also appears to be put together like one. Whether or not it will be reliable, however, is another question.

VW is quickly losing its reputation as the builder of dependable cars, after rating poorly by owners, survey after survey, year after year. Personally, I have received more mail from disgruntled Volkswagen owners than for any other brand, as the cars often are cited as experiencing electrical foibles and, according to owners, the brands dealers are not always capable of sourcing and then fixing the many headaches. A common complaint is poor service too, not just that the dealer isnt able to remedy a given problem, but that customers are not dealt with in the most professional manner.

It seems that the letters from my readers mirror the experience of those surveyed by J. D. Power and Associates in last years Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) report, which shows Volkswagen rating in 35th place out of 39 nameplates. Now thats bad! Factor in that the brands which rate worse are Kia, Suzuki, Isuzu and Daewoo, the first now joined at the hip with Hyundai, which is currently rated higher than Toyota in initial quality surveys by the same organization, and should therefore improve its CSI rating measurably as well, the second hardly a mainstream seller, the third only selling trucks and SUVs, and the last out of business completely, and things dont look too good for this once highly rated automaker.

And I havent even mentioned Volkswagens hopeless J. D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) results, which positioned it in second to last place out of all brands sold in the U.S. Ugh! VW does a little better on the dependability front, but still only manages to beat Isuzu, Daewoo, Kia and Land Rover, to wallow in 33rd place out of 37 automakers, again with one of those only selling trucks and SUVs and another defunct. Truly, VW should stop building luxury cars that no one wants (i.e. the Phaeton) and put its money into building back a reputation for dependability.

And its too bad, because the new Jetta is a really nice car. It deserves to be valued on its own merits, without the questionable reliability issues and without the dealer service problems.

So go ahead and buy the new Jetta, as thousands will, but do so being warned. It will reward every mile with superb road manners and top-tier convenience, luxury and safety features, but the tens of thousands of surveyed owners that place this brands cars near the bottom of the heap cant be altogether wrong.