Volks Jetta: The fair tale continues

Once upon a time, there existed a very good German automobile that was accessible to all peoples of the world. It was named Beetle, and it was the best selling car in the world for some four decades.

Its diminutive exterior camouflaged a remarkably roomy interior, partly due to mounting the wheels outside the bodywork, and allowed the car to go just about anywhere on earth, regardless of path width.

It was a happy little car with a very small rear-mounted engine that could handle the dirtiest of fuel without complaint, and when it was loaded up with people, it had remarkable traction from its rear wheels, but very light steering.

But the world was changing, so Beetle’s maker (who went by the very descriptive name of Volkswagen) decided to offer a more “acceptable” car for the masses in the form of a front-engined, front-wheel-drive hatchback called Golf. Like the swan into which the ugly duckling matured, Golf was about the same size as the aging Beetle but had the versatility of a boxy design, albeit a smidgen less interior comfort for passengers, and the attractiveness of updated engineering.

Alas, in North America, the Golf was not the charming prince Volkswagen expected to awaken sales from their princess-like slumber in the largest market in the world. Even a cute bunny-rabbit name (because Americans considered Golf a diversion, not a conveyance) couldn’t get Americans to consider purchasing it.

So in 1980, Volkswagen created a four-door sedan out of Golf and called it Jetta (Bora, Atlantic, Fox, Vento or Sagitar in other parts of the world). Like the knight in shining armour, Jetta was highly regarded and widely accepted by the buyers in North America due to its slightly upscale equipment levels and the perceived premium German engineering over the Japanese compacts of the time.

Through to the latest (fifth) generation, Jetta has retained the qualities that made it initially desirable — easy access to seating, large trunk, economical engine and superb handling — while steadily improving on the things potential buyers didn’t like — heavy steering, confusing switchgear, noise in the cabin and diminished rear seat room — with each generation improving on the previous one.

Presently, Jetta receives motivation from a standard 170-hp 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine or a 200-hp turbocharged 2.0-litre four. The base engine is plenty powerful when Jetta is already moving, but makes the car feel sluggish when pulling away from a standstill. It’s by no means a tortoise, but it would require considerably better get-up-and-go to be classified as a hare.

One of the previous concerns addressed in the current generation is shift quality, with a slick six-speed manual standard fare, to be optionally replaced by a six-speed automatic with sequential shift mode (previous Jettas’ automatics were widely poo-poo’d, probably because they mostly took off in second gear unless the driver wanted more oomph by pressing the right pedal to the floor).

Fit and finish has also been remarkably improved from the early generations and Jetta doors close with a satisfying and secure “thunk.” The downside with the sure-closing mechanism is that rear-seat access is sometimes compromised in tight confines when the rear doors don’t open as wide as they are able.

Many occupants will now find comfortable seating front and rear on premium fabric upholstery that is not too cold in the winter nor too hot in the summer. Previous generations’ complaints of compressed headroom should not resurface unless said occupants followed Jack down the beanstalk.

The only drawback to extended rearseat comfort is the absence of a cupholder, which apparently is available as part of the optional centre armrest; however, surely a door pocket could be extended to create a place for a water bottle.

The final complaint to be addressed was price, with previous generations often keeping potential buyers at bay due to prices that were higher than those of Jetta’s closest competitors.

The new model year dawns with lower suggested pricing than the previous one, probably due to the strong loonie performance against the American greenback. With starting prices falling below $30,000 (all but the top of the line trim), Jetta is now priced equally to competitors such as the Mazda3 or the Subaru Impreza.

And the motto of the story is: Jetta’s a good car!

Fact File

2008 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5

As tested, before tax: $29,475

Configuration: front engine/FWD

Options: Comfortline package ($2,500) includes chrome exterior trim, front and rear floor mats, heatable washer nozzles, front centre armrest, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-in. alloy wheels, heated front bucket seats, premium audio system with in-dash 6-CD changer; auto transmission ($1,400); power sunroof ($1,400); electronic stability system ($450); side curtain airbags ($250)

Freight: $1,335

Engine/Transmission: 2.5L I5/6-speed automatic with sequential shift

Horsepower: 170 @ 5,000 rpm

Torque: 170 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm

Fuel required: 60 litres, regular

EnerGuide fuel ratings (L/100 km): 11.0 city; 7.2 hwy.

Observed fuel economy: 8.9 L/100 km combined over 743 km

Warranty: 4 years/80,000 km

Model price range: $23,475 - $30,375

Engines available: 2.5L I5 (170 hp/170 lb.-ft.); 2.0L turbo I4 (200/207)

Transmissions available: 6-speed manual; 6-speed auto with sequential shift

Competition: Chevrolet Cobalt, Honda Civic; Hyundai Elantra; Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer; Nissan Sentra, Pontiac G5, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla

Strengths: Economical; sports sedan handling; solid fit and finish

Weaknesses: Higher price than some rivals; anemic power from standstill

Car of the Month: 1991 MR-2 Turbo

With all the RHD MR-2s kicking around, its almost refreshing to see a LHD version that has been modified. This particular beast has enough power to take on just about anything it meets on the track. Boasting over 300 WHP and cool sleek JDM looks, one might almost classify it as a sleeper.

MR-2 Turbo / 3S-GTE 1991

• OWNER:Tran chez HP Autosports

• EXTERIOR

VIS carbon fiber hood & pop-up lights (CF), JDM 93-up front signal lights and rear lights, Border front bumper, Tom’s side & rear bumper, candy apple red paint job.

• INTERIOR

Stock.

• WHEELS & TIRES

Spyn 2 piece 17×7 front 17×8 rear with Dunlop SP-Sport FM901 215/40R17 front 235/40/17 rear.

• SUSPENSION ET BRAKES

Tokico white & Eibach Prokit, all bushing in poly-urethane (suspension & engine), GREDDY 2-piece 4 pistons big brake kit (front), Power Slot & EBC Yellow pads (rear), stainless steel brake lines.

• UNDER THE HOOD

A/C, power steering removed, Greddy TD-06SH-25G, Blitz downpipe, HKS blow-off-valve, TRD caps (oil, coolant), K&N filter, braided stainless steel oil & fuel lines, AEROMOTIVE adjustable fuel pressure regulator, upgraded intercooler fan + extra cooling fan, engine oil cooler, 1993 + up trottle body, Supra fuel pump, AEM Tru-Time cam-gear, HKS 264 degree camshaft, HKS metal head gasket, HKS valve spring set, ACT 4 poke race disc, ACT heavy duty pressure plate, JUN lightweight flywheel.

• ICE

stock.

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