2007 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Specifications

Why the Long Wait for Such a Popular Model?

To Volkswagen of North America, the Jetta is the single most important car. Forget the Golf, New Beetle, Passat, and especially the slow selling Phaeton: on the basis of sales, the Jetta trumps all. Its this compact sedan/wagon combo that is preventing Volkswagen from spilling further red ink, accounting for some 40 percent of last years sales in the United States. The Jetta is of such great importance to the North American market that VW chose to create and launch the new version prior to the still future introduction of its fifth-generation Golf, despite the fact that the Golf has been on the European market for over a year and a new one would most definitely reinvigorate sagging sales in the compact hatchback.

And for all the work done on this models behalf, the completely revamped Jetta, now in showrooms, is much improved over the outgoing model. For essentially the same price - $17,900 compared to the 2005 model at $17,680 - a larger, more advanced Jetta can be bought. With a stiffer structure, larger cabin, the perception of improved quality, an all-new 150-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-five, and available six-speed automatic gearbox, its a more complete package. Its no wonder then, that VW chose it to launch their shiny new chromed corporate nose, a face which will be used on many future VWs.

Although controversy has surrounded this new chromed nose, as well as the entire 2006 Jetta design, most customers of older models will likely make a bee-line straight for their VW dealership and purchase a new model, although a select number have been left wondering about its sibling, the Jetta Wagon. One of two wagons which Volkswagen offers, it is a popular choice amongst buyers for a variety of reasons, one of which is the availability of a fuel-efficient turbodiesel powerplant. Also available with a 180-horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and in base 2.0-liter 115-horsepower guise, the old girl will continue on until the fifth generation Jetta wagon appears. But when will that be?

In an interview with Reuters, VW executives have confirmed that the Jetta Wagon will once again be produced. The puzzling thing is that they dont know when. Best estimates have suggested a late 2006 build with models arriving in showrooms in early 2007. Or its possible, said the report, that the car might not arrive until 2008. Thats a long way off for a vehicle that holds high market appeal, and an important, and possibly critical position in VWs roster.

Whats holding up production? Most German manufacturers are usually fast to market with five-door variants of four-door models. Look no further for examples from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. A rival positioned closer to Volkswagen in target demographic, Volvo, brought its V50 wagon out simultaneously with its redesigned S40 sedan last year, and Japanese competitor Mazda, most capable of wooing customers away from Volkswagen due to its sporting DNA, brought a five-door version of its new 3 to market at the same time as its four-door sedan, and followed up with a Mazda6 sport wagon soon after its award-winning sedan shook up the midsize segment.

VW is usually quicker to market with such models, such as with its new Passat Wagon that will be available in calendar year 2006, but there are some extenuating circumstances for the Jetta Wagons lethargy to market. For one, the lone source for Jettas is the Pueblo plant, in Mexico. European Golfs with trunks, namely Bora, Vento and Jetta models, were previously all built in Wolfsburg alongside the European-model Golfs; however, due to slow demand an executive decision was made to build all Jettas in North America. Its a similar move to what VW did with the New Beetle.

With the ability to produce some 2,000 units per day, the Pueblo manufacturing facility is one of the largest vehicle plants in North America. And while VW will be increasing production capacity, part of the blame for the wagons late arrival rests on the fact that it must retool for the launch of the fifth generation Golf and GTI, as well as the facelifted 2006 New Beetle.

But there are rumors that the Jetta wagon wont just be the Jetta Wagon. In a bid to make every vehicle in its range as distinctive as possible, it has been suggested by multiple sources that Volkswagen will offer it with its Haldex-based 4Motion all-wheel drive, a daring sloping tailgate and a unique name. Expect to see a full lineup of engines for the Jetta Wagon too, including the 250-hp 2.5-liter inline-five, the 2.0-liter FSI turbo inline-four, as well as the 100-hp 1.9-liter TDI that has developed such a loyal following, and perhaps even the 134-hp 2.0-liter TDI.

Word has been spreading that VW may even add a fifth engine, a small-displacement direct-injection motor thats both turbocharged and supercharged, a powerplant which promises to combine high power with low fuel consumption and emissions - or nightmares, if VW rushes it into production.

The new Jetta Mk.V is turning out to be worth the hype; refined, well-built, and reasonably equipped. Hopefully, VW has ironed out issues with reliability and quality; it desperately needs a sales success to prevent a further flow of the red ink. As a product that could make a significant impact, if all goes well between now and the Jetta Wagons 2007 scheduled production, VW may actually be able to reach its goals of 500,000 unit sales in the U.S.