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2006 VW Jetta 2.5L Road Test

Its Bigger but is It Better?

When the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta gets mentioned, somehow almost everyone who overhears needs to put in their two cents about the car. As I was talking on my cell phone at the grocery store one day, an eaves dropper overheard me talking about the new Jetta. After I had hung up, he thought it would be funny to comment on its new styling and said, "How about that new VW Corolla?" I was not amused, but I had to agree with him in one respect, the cars new styling looks a bit Corolla-esque. 

Now for my two cents! In a way, I feel the new Jetta has taken a few steps in the wrong direction (this being from a converted VW enthusiast), but it has also taken more steps in the right direction. If you can look beyond the

I feel the new Jetta has taken a few steps in the wrong direction as well as a few more steps in the right direction. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

exterior styling, which I, for one, am not a fan of, and maybe even the interior which I will touch on later, its whats on the inside, or better yet, the underside that really counts.

Ive touched on the exterior styling, but if I look at it from the perspective of a potential buyer who wants a little more bling than most four-door sedans in its category offer, the Jetta fits those requirements. The chrome

The chrome trimmed grille, as well as dual reflector halogen headlamps with clear, lightweight, chip resistant polycarbonate lenses, make for an eye-catching front end.? (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

trimmed grille, as well as dual reflector halogen headlamps with clear, lightweight, chip resistant polycarbonate lenses, make for an eye-catching front end, which cannot be mistaken for a Corolla. In addition, the exterior features body-colored mirror housings, dual chrome exhaust pipes, and body-color bumpers with matching front and rear valances, contributing to its outside appeal.
Moving inside, however, I dont find its styling all that jazzy. In fact,

I dont find the Jettas interior styling all that jazzy, in fact, this is another area where I feel the car has taken a step backwards. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

this is another area where I feel the car has taken a step backwards. For the lack of a more proper term, the interior is kind of... blah. It really has no striking accents or dashboard trim that would otherwise make me say "ooh" or "ahhh." There isnt even any chrome trim around the instrument gauges, which would have made the interior a little more upbeat.

On the positive, mind you, I can say that, like the previous generation Jetta, all the buttons and knobs are clearly labeled and easy to find, plus the button placement doesnt feel cluttered. I never feel lost when I initially sit in

The new Jetta is significantly larger than the previous generation. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

a Jetta, and thats a big plus for me because the last thing I want to do is fiddle around with buttons or be forced to flip open to the owners manual in order to find out how to turn the stereo on or how to get the heat to blow on my feet. Sometimes, it almost seems like manufacturers purposely confuse individuals just to show how state-of-the-art their technology really is. To me, its more of a hassle than impressive.

Where the new Jetta interior excels is in its size. It is significantly larger than the previous generation, partly due to its increased exterior dimensions: an additional 7.0 inches was added to its length and 1.0 inch to its width. This allows for an even comfier interior than the previous Jetta. This

Not only does the five-speed manual seamlessly transition from gear to gear, up or down, but it also feels sportier than its Japanese or Korean competitors with throws that are tightly spaced. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

same scenario is also true for the trunk, which now offers 16 cu-ft of space for stuff; a cargo capacity comparing to vehicles in the midsize sedan range. But wait a minute? The new Jetta has grown so much that its now classified as a midsize sedan, with interior passenger volume measuring only 1 cubic foot smaller than last years midsize Passat. The extra room made it handy for me to load all of my groceries in the back seat without having to use any of that cavernous trunk space.

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