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2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Road Test

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

It took me a while to warm up to it, but now I think that the Jettas new chromed grille looks good. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

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

And Im not the only one who came around after a week, my neighbor bought a new Jetta in the same color. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

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

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. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

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;

The trunk lid forms a bit of a top lip that hints at, but never flaunts, a spoiler.? (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

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

Inside, there is plenty of room for everybodys elbows and knees, but not so much that it feels like an empty warehouse.? (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

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

All surfaces that are within reach are made of materials that are so friendly to the touch that I couldnt ask for anything more. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

makes it larger than the old Passats trunk - Ed.) I think you get the picture.

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