2006 Volkswagen Jetta

In 2005, Volkswagen of America celebrated its 50th anniversary and its best-selling bread-and-butter Jetta's 25th with the arrival of the all-new 2006 Jetta sedan, seven inches longer (179.3 in.), an inch wider (69.3 in.) and a half-inch taller (57.5 in.) than the previous model on a 2.6-inch longer 101.5-in. wheelbase. It's been stretched from the "entry/premium compact" class into "premium mid-size" to challenge BMW, Saab and Volvo as well as corporate cousin Audi. VW calls its market position "affordable German engineering," which translates into: more expensive than domestic and Japanese competitors, but less pricey vs. other German cars.

Styling

We loved the Jetta's launch ad campaign, which featured not-totally-mature young adults who (like their Jettas) are, "All grown up. Sort of." It contrasted the tedium and boredom of adult working life with the excitement of these new cars. One TV spot had a youthful business type taking older colleagues to the airport. A passenger asks him to check the sports scores. He clicks on the radio to—what he was listening to last time in the car—rock music so LOUD it nearly blows them out of their seats before he can get it turned down. Clever magazine launch ads showed not-quite "grown up" Jetta drivers doing donuts in fresh snow on their way to work, enjoying a sci-fi movie and skinny-dipping on a deserted beach.


The standard 2.5-liter transverse-mounted DOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine is up one cylinder and 35 horses over the previous 115-hp four, and delivers a solid 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard transaxle is a 5-speed manual, while a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic and an advanced DSG (automated manual) are optional. Engine choices expand to include a 100-hp (177 lb.-ft.) 1.9-liter direct-injected diesel and a 200-hp 2.0-liter direct-gas-injected turbocharged four. Our automatic-equipped test car felt adequately strong around town, but somewhat power-challenged with heavier loads and when passing on two-lane roads. Zero-to-60 acceleration required a ho-hum 11.5 seconds, but the 5-speed manual is a bit quicker. Both manual and automatic powertrains deliver 22 mpg city and 30 highway EPA fuel economy.


The MacPherson strut front suspension is much improved over its predecessor's with separate springs and dampers, a more direct steering ratio and higher transverse rigidity. Rear suspension, for the first time on a Jetta, is an advanced multi-link independent design that greatly enhances ride and agility while providing a large opening into the surprisingly spacious 16-cu.-ft. trunk. The precise, new electro-mechanical power steering varies assist based on speed and other driving factors, provides active return and can "assist with straight-ahead driving adjustments when necessary" (in strong crosswinds, for example) with excellent on-center feel and straight-line stability.

Interior

The significantly stiffer (60 percent greater static and 13 percent better dynamic torsional rigidity) "safety-optimized" body structure (on VW's new Golf V platform) uses advanced energy-absorbing crumple zones to distribute crash energy to the sides, away from the passenger compartment. The 14.5-gallon fuel tank is better shielded than before, and rear protection is further aided by a high-strength bumper cross-member and rear side members designed to absorb and redirect impact forces around the passenger compartment.