Overview & Reviews

Few small cars have the following of the Volkswagen Jetta, one of the company's best-selling models in the United States. The name, says VW, refers to the Atlantic jetstream, "combined with the luxury and power of a modern jetliner." We're not sure about comparing the cabin and performance of this compact sedan and wagon to a Lear jet, but for much of its history, the Jetta appealed to buyers with its upscale design, refined cabin and strong engine options. It essentially bridged the gap between everyday compact economy cars and entry-level premium brand compact sedans. It was a niche almost unto itself.

More recent times, however, have seen VW go mainstream with the Jetta, cutting its price to make it a more viable option for small car shoppers. One of the most notable downsides of the associated cost-cutting was cheaper cabin trim. So more modern versions are cheaper but less distinctive. That said, a new or used Jetta remains a solid pick for shoppers looking for a compact car with European flair, good performance and, in the case of the TDI-powered versions, impressive fuel efficiency.

Current Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta is VW's most affordable sedan. There are five trim levels available: base, S, SE, SEL and TDI. The Jetta Hybrid and the performance-oriented Jetta GLI are both reviewed separately.

The base car is a stripper that must be special ordered and doesn't even come with air-conditioning. The S comes more reasonably equipped, with power/heated side mirrors, power door locks, air-conditioning and keyless entry. Both of these trims are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces a wheezy 115 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is optional.

Stepping up to the SE and SEL trims gets you a more desirable 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. The SE gets the same transmission choices as the lower trims, while the SEL is automatic-only. Besides the engine, these upper trims have access to more standard and optional features like heated front seats, Bluetooth and an iPod interface. The TDI, which is equipped similarly to the SE, features a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that is 50-state compliant and produces 140 hp and very impressive fuel economy. A six-speed manual or Volkswagen's DSG dual-clutch automated manual transmission are available.

In reviews, we've found the latest Jetta to be a fairly refined, roomy and comfortable compact sedan. The improvements made this year, such as the replacement of the humdrum five-cylinder engine with a perkier turbocharged four-cylinder and the fitment of an independent rear suspension for all trim levels, have boosted both overall performance and handling composure. As such, the current Jetta stands as one of the more appealing choices in this segment.

Used Volkswagen Jetta Models
The current, sixth-generation Jetta debuted for 2011. Compared to the previous generation, this Jetta is bigger and has a roomier backseat. But it also lacks the upscale interior of prior models.

The original engine lineup consisted of the base 2.0-liter inline-4 (115 hp and 125 lb-ft), a 2.5-liter inline-5 (170 hp and 177 lb-ft) and the turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel inline-4 (140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque). The first two engines could be had with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel offered a choice between a six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The following year saw only minor changes, while four-wheel disc brakes were made standard across the board for 2013. Potential buyers should note that these Jettas, though otherwise similar, lack the current Jetta's notable improvements. The latter include a more sophisticated fully independent rear suspension (previously exclusive to the Jetta GLI) for all trims as well as the substitution of the peppy yet more fuel-efficient turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine for the previous five-cylinder engine. These years also lack the availability of a rearview camera and VW Car-Net telematics.

The previous VW Jetta marked the fifth generation of Volkswagen's venerable four-door. It was introduced for 2005 (overlapping with the previous generation for one year) and ran through 2010. The sedan was the only available body style until the debut of the Sportwagen in 2009. Unlike the current car, the sedan and wagon were nearly identical save for the latter's extra cargo space.

Trim levels originally included the Value Edition, 2.5, TDI, 2.0T and GLI. The base engine was a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that initially made 150 hp, while the 2.0T and GLI featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 200 hp. This engine was available with Volkswagen's appealing DSG dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

The first diesel-powered fifth-generation TDI became the victim of new emissions regulations after 2006, but for those interested in getting excellent fuel economy, a used 2005-'06 Jetta TDI with its 1.9-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder (100 hp, 177 lb-ft of torque) should be a good pick. The TDI returned for 2009 with a new, cleaner-burning 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that produced 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual was standard and DSG was optional.

For 2008, VW reorganized the trim levels to S, SE, Wolfsburg (featuring the 2.0T engine) and SEL trims. The base engine's output rose by 20 horses (to 170 hp) and the GLI became its own distinct model within the VW family. The following year VW added more standard equipment (including stability control) and introduced an improved navigation system. Notably, '09 was the only year you could get the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the Sportwagen; it came with the SEL trim level. For this Jetta's final year, VW improved the interior and created the sport-tuned TDI Cup "Street" Edition.

In reviews, we found this Volkswagen Jetta set itself apart from domestic and Japanese economy sedans by offering a distinctly European interior and driving experience. It was a bit more expensive, but its higher-quality cabin, generous features list and quality engineering made it seem worth the extra investment. This Jetta was also a bit bigger than before, offering generous legroom, a large trunk and a more compliant ride than before. The GLI was also quite fun to drive. If there was anything that held this Jetta back, it was its styling, which just didn't resonate with buyers like its hugely successful predecessor.

The fourth generation, sold in sedan form from 1999-2005 and as a wagon from 2001-'05, was the most popular Jetta yet, and arguably the best-looking. It received minor styling and interior updates for 2004. Front seat-mounted side airbags were standard throughout the run; full-length side curtain airbags were added for 2001. It was also an entertaining car to drive and had top-notch build and materials quality. Scant rear-seat legroom was its major shortcoming. Although reliability has been spotty, a fourth-gen Volkswagen Jetta is still a good buy on the used market if its service history checks out clean.

As the base 2.0-liter engine offered weak acceleration and mediocre fuel economy, we recommend getting a fourth-generation Jetta with the excellent turbocharged 1.8T four-cylinder. It was available on the sedan starting in 2000 and on the wagon starting in 2002. Horsepower on the 1.8T also went from 150 to 180 in '02, but both versions of this engine were enjoyable. For even more power (but worse fuel economy), the VR6 engine was available, first with 174 hp and later upgraded to 200 hp for '02. This engine was only available on the sport-tuned GLI model for 2004 and later. With its firmer suspension and sport-themed body modifications, the GLI could also be had with the 180-hp 1.8T engine.

The diesel-powered Jetta TDI was offered throughout this generation (2002-'05 on the wagon) and provided mileage in the 40s. The 1.9-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder initially produced 90 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque and was upgraded to 100 hp and 177 lb-ft for 2004.

Although not as upscale as its successors, the third-generation VW Jetta was also quite popular. It was on sale from 1993 to mid-1999, though a strike at the assembly plant significantly limited '93 sales. Dual front airbags were phased in during the '94 model year. Air-conditioning was standard on most Jettas of this era, and ABS was generally optional. None of the third-gen Volkswagen Jettas were quick, not even the GLX model, which had a 172-hp VR6 engine, but all exhibited responsive handling.

User Reviews:

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  I love my car - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael - February 18 - 7:23 pm

  I drive a lot. I have about 12000 miles on my Jetta and I only bought it in January. I went with the wolfsburg and it has everything that I wanted in a car.

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  loved my vw jetta se - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By bijoupali - February 18 - 11:30 am

  Ive owned a 2008 VW jetta se for one year. I absolutely loved it. Its comfortable. Its fun to drive. Its reliable. The interior is very roomy and sexy. The exterior is also pretty. I drove the car in icy weather and it had very good control. The esp in it actually does work and makes it easy to regain control if you do begin to lose control. The only downfall to this car that I can remember is that the mpg isnt nearly as good as VW says it is. Its closer to 24/25 mpg not the 32/33 mpg that they advertise. Overall, its a great car and worth every Penny. Im actually about to buy another one, because I absolutely loved it.

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  rosemary12 - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By rosemary12 - February 18 - 7:19 am

  I bought this car in August of 2012 from the VW Dealer in Bedford Ohio. I bought this Jetta new after selling my BMW 5 series before walking into the dealership. I decided to buy a Jetta since I heard that many people who drive BMWs have switched to the the Jetta model since they like the German engineering. Biggest mistake I made in my life. I paid cash for the car and got a black sel with every feature you could get-including navigation and special wheels. All said and done I paid over $30,000.00 for this car with an additional extended warranty. As for the interior the plastic seats are very uncomfortable. No power adjustable seats, no telescoping steering wheel. Sold this car!

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  Excellent all the Way Around - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By WagsVW - February 17 - 1:00 am

  My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a high quality car. The diesel is great. Dont let the horsepower fool you. It has tons of low-end torque. Its steering is tight and it corners great. Plus it has tons of VW goodies.

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  This car is a LEMON. Stay away!! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By dirtmcgirt718 - February 15 - 10:45 am

  I got it used with 7k miles on it. After I ran the odometer up to 65k miles, I ran into the same intercooler problem other people have. The intercooler traps moisture in cold weather, and after the temperature rises, it sucks water into the engine, and the lights on the dashboard go haywire. The electronics are also horrible. Ive burned out countless lightbulbs, and apparently, after less than 3 years, and 65k total miles, my wiring harness has a short and needs replacement. VW refuses to believe theres anything wrong with the car, but clearly, Ive read about similar problems before.

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  Only ever owned 4x4 trucks and am wowed by a car. - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jerry - February 15 - 7:33 am

  I purchased my 2016 Jetta 1.4 S a few weeks ago. I did months of research online of new 2015-2016 fuel efficient cars. I narrowed the list with lowest cost, top highway mileage (including a hybrid), and top safety ratings. In the end the Jetta was top of my list on paper with an overall lowest monthly cost. I projected a 0% interest rate for 60 months with advertised sale prices and at the time (and still there is not much out there for real world Highway MPG results) I calculated a 37 mpg average (3 mpg lower than EPA estimate) @ 50,000 miles a year for the Jetta @ $2.10 a gallon. On the other cars I calculated all the same numbers except the mpg. On the others I went with the advertised estimated EPA highway mpg. I checked with my insurance company for quotes of similar cars and they were all in the same ballpark. Next I had to test drive my top three picks. It was a fun experience and also very clear to me what car was most comfortable, most powerful, and most fun to drive. Oh and ya the best priced. The EPA mpg is about right. The lowest mpg I have seen was driving roughly 300 miles all at speeds in excess of 80 mph and I averaged 38 mpg. Driving @ 77-78 mph I am averaging 41 mpg, and at 60 mph I am averaging 47 mpg.

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  Wouldnt sell it - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tom - February 12 - 7:33 pm

  I agree with the cup holder syndrome and the back seat space issue, but we still get 49+ mpg on the highway after 135k miles. One minor problem with a sensor but otherwise trouble free. Best small car we have owned in 40 years. As well as it is built, we plan to keep it for a long long time. A clear and shining example of why the US automotive industry is a failure.

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  Most reliable friend I have! - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Devin Christiansen - February 11 - 1:23 am

  This is MY first VW, and my familys twelfth, so I am a little biased on my love for the car. The fit and finish is luxury level, the ride quality is (for me) close enough to my old 3- series BMW that I cant justify the added expense of the BMW anymore. The only complaint I have is the rear brakes which seems to be a common complaint here. I will say this though, having had to replace the pads nearly every oil change, I will continue to pay for that hydraulic braking system. That braking system has saved my life on LA freeways more times that I care to admit! This is one of those cases of parts bin engineering but when your parts bin is "hand-me-downs" from Porsche...

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  2008 Jetta Odometer off - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Michael-Jetta - February 8 - 7:30 am

  I had an odometer problem with my 2008 jetta, it was off 4.8 miles for every 29.3 miles driven. They fixed it at 20,434 miles, total extra miles on car - 3,347.5. They tell me they reset the speedometer to specs. This fixed the problem, but VW refuses to adjust my lease for the miles or refund the money for the miles. They say the fix couldnt have fixed the odometer, Why did they make the adjustment if they knew it wouldnt fix it???. After complaining to BBB of Ohio, Volkswagen and the dealer settled for the cost to buy extra miles on my lease. You would be wise to verify your odometers miles to another car or two to see if its accurate. Ive seen other similiar complaints on the Web.

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  Love it... - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By mtbikercs18 - February 5 - 9:00 pm

  The new jetta is such a great car... I just traded in a 2001 1.8t Beatle for it. And i LOVED that car as well. The new style takes a little getting uesd to but the interior is sooo worth it. Over all i give ths car a 9.2... i love it....