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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  Delighted with 2016 VW Jetta - 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
  By jbrooksws - May 28 - 5:26 pm

  We kept passing down our 2004 Volvo S60 from oldest son to youngest son to dad...to died. Hmmm - children in college - limited budget - shopping for a new car. Could not have been more surprised and pleased with the little Jetta. Thanks to the financial straits VW finds themselves in - great great deal. Checked out the safety - that was good - test drive was good and I am now in the car for a month and a half -- not very long but enough for some first impressions that I hope may help someone else. Sorry - cant start a new paragraph so I think this ends up as one long paragraph. First of all - my issues: dont understand why VW does not hike the price of the car $300 bucks and put key fob door unlock. The car has pushbutton start, but I have to remove the key to unlock the door, then put it back in my pocket. I know its a niggly thing but. More performance oriented observation - be prepared -- in the midrange in middle gears - there is a little big of turbo lag. I have a pair of SAAB 9-3s and a Ford Edge Eco boost so I think I understand turbos - Im just not used to lag - been many many many years since I have been aware of lag. OK having said that just be prepared for it so your revs are in the right place or you are either in sport mode or manual mode and then you can manage it. Every day driving, or even Freeway merges you wont notice, and a heavy foot and kickdown will spool the turbo up fast and make up for the lag. The Sport version moves you up to leatherette from cloth - I had this in one of my Audis one time and I actually like the leatherette - does not absorb perspiration like the leather does. My interior is black and the seats are off white with black trim - its a little austere. OK regarding fit and finish. This is a cheap car, but despite what the reviewers keep saying, it doesnt really look and feel it. I am happy with the trim out and quite honestly, the more mature I get, the more I really appreciate what a car is -- what I can afford is a lot different than what I want to spend now a days so Im happy to look at my well finished interior and thing about the money I did not spend on zerbrano wood trim et al. I have never sprung for nav systems in a car so I was presently surprised to find nav, and other gizmos standard in a cheap car. Gadget gurus may not be impressed, but I repeat this is a cheap car. So its comfortable on the road in both city and highway - even though its roughly the same size as my SAABs, it feels a little tighter - could be the prevalance of black in the interior I dont know. The back seat has a lot of room and the trunk is certainly more than roomy. As you would expect one or both seats flip down - there is also a ski boot. Thus far I am averaging a very nifty 31 combined so this car really sips gas. While I really enjoy cars, I do look at the other part of the equation as well - watched the videos of the safety tests - that was good. Also Consumer Reports said the headlights stink so get the lighting option. I did and the headlights are really good. They are HID so I always think about what the replacement cost will be once they are out of warranty...but they are really good. One note about the lights in the low end and in the sport version (did I mention that this car was cheap?) the headlights are manual - so you have to turn them off. That would be a handy dandy dealer option that VW could extend to its dealers - a plug in switch that automates that - kind of like Porsche used to do with its Boxter and Caymans back in the day - all the cars had computers, but the option required the dealers to plug in a couple of relays and voila fully functioning computer. Oh and the customer had to part with some additional hard earned dollars. Anyway - summing up - I am very pleased with this car - like the color - bright red - cabin is a little dark and windshield is a little close - I am used to more expansive. However I am no longer paying luxury car insurance rates, or property tax rates. The car has good acceleration, handling and brakes - great fuel economy so its a good little car -- then add in the GREAT deal I got. I think this one is going to be a winner!

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  Love my VW - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Love my VW - May 28 - 7:16 am

  I purchased my VW used in June of 2008 and have not had any problems. I have an hour long commute to work everyday and was looking for a vehicle that was inexpensive, reliable and good on gas. This car has met all of my needs. Other than bringing the car in for regular maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, etc), I have not had to do anything else. Keep in mind that this car requires synthetic oil.

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  Wanna Waste Your Money? Buy A VW. - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Angie - May 26 - 9:20 pm

  This was my second car and taught me the biggest lesson of my life. Buying this car means putting a lot of money into it. I was looking forward to blacking the car out and when i saved up money to do so on my project, something always went wrong. In the shop at least 2 or 3 times a month. Burns oil constantly. Electrical system difficulties. Headlight covers get really hazy. The way they have the rear view mirror is ridiculous and doesnt stay on well with heat.

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  The Jetta is a great car! - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ty_allan - May 25 - 7:43 pm

  I purchased a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta this year with 133,000 miles on it and it runs awesome. It is really comfortable and the heated seats are really nice. Everyone that rides in it says they love it.

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  Loving the New Jetta - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By IML8 - May 25 - 6:00 pm

  This is my second Jetta. While I am still partial to the old body style, I love the interior of the new Jetta and the extra room it provides. The biggest reason I bought a Jetta again was for their safety record, as I was recently in a head on car crash (I was in a Jeep Liberty).

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  No Regrets with 08 WE Jetta - 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joe801 - May 25 - 5:16 am

  Ive only been driving this WE Jetta for about 1.5 months, but, Ive been very satisfied thus far. The exterior is growing on me, but everything else was a hit from the start, Especially the power. I look forward everyday to drive it.I test drove over a dozen vehicles. The 08 Saab 93, and 08 Honda Accord(to big)were the only competitors, but the Jetta was 5k cheaper.

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  LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP - 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
  By spietrowski - May 24 - 10:00 am

  The pluses of this car are that it is very fun to drive. The engine is powerful and acceleration great. It feels solid on the road and handles well. HOWEVER, never again. In the 6 years Ive owned it Ive had to fix: various front end problems, the transmission, window regulators, security system, damaged hoses and now the ABS

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  best car ever - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By steve stearns - May 24 - 10:00 am

  this car is the greatest you can take through anything and its handles pretty dam good on the off road

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  Most for the money - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Adam M. - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I looked at Accord, Altima, Camry, and others when researching this car and none of them could match the options, quality, performance, or style for the same price. The only drawback is the Jetta is a slightly smaller car than the others. The interior is comfortable and beautiful, the optional leather is very good quality, and I love the cool blue gauges. Dont get the V6 unless you really want it - the 1.8T is nearly as powerful, gets better mileage, and youll save money. Theres plenty of power and torque over the entire rev range, passing and merging are a breeze.

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  Great car - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joe richardson - May 24 - 3:40 am

  I love the six speed trans, the car has a real solid feel to it and I think it has more than ample power.