Perhaps more than any other model in VW's fleet, Jetta deserves the tag as a people's car. It provides a respectable amount of room for five adults to travel in comfort, contains a bona fide trunk and other storage spaces to stow gear, offers a choice of powertrains that range from economical to exuberant, stocks a long list of standard convenience items, yet holds a tight grip on bottom-line prices.
As Volkswagen's historical best-selling model in North America, Jetta shares a compact-class platform with the hatchback Golf but works as a four-door notchback sedan or five-door wagon.
Engine choices start with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter, four-in-line borrowed from Golf with 115-hp. Then there's the 90-hp TDI. A 2.8-liter, V6 engine, available for Jetta's top two editions of GLS VR6 and GLX VR6, reaches to 201-hp with a five-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. Jetta's fourth engine -- the 1.8-liter, turbo four -- makes 180-hp.
A notchy five-speed manual works well with the 1.8T, but VW also offers the five-speed automatic Tiptronic. With 2003 issues the 1.8T engine becomes a new option on Jetta GL, which also supports more standard gear like cruise control and power windows. New 15-inch alloy wheels and a power sunroof drop into GLS, while a new color chart shows shades like Campanella White and Alaska Green.
