2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5L Road Test

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

Theres no more important car for the future of the Volkswagen brand than its compact Jetta. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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 previous car was one of my favorite designs in the compact class, this one leaves me a bit flat. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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

What are these shiny plastic dash panels doing inside what was the best cabin in the compact class? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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?

My tester features leather seating surfaces that look and feel high-class, and their support is as good as this segment gets. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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

Volkswagen offers two engines in the new Jetta, a new 2.5-liter five-cylinder and the ubiquitous 1.9-liter turbodiesel. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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.

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