2005 Volkswagen Jetta

The redesigned Volkswagen Jetta finally has arrived, much to the relief of Volkswagen fans and dealers. The late 2005 sedan is larger, roomier and heavier, with different styling and a bigger, far more powerful base engine. It's sorely needed to help Volkswagen revive its U.S. sales momentum.

The Jetta's youthful, lively reputation has attracted young, college-educated single people and couples and long has been Volkswagen's best-selling car in America, with its "formal'' German styling and conventional trunk. For years, the Jetta was basically a Volkswagen Golf hatchback with a conventional trunk. (Europeans have favored the more utilitarian Golf hatchback.)

A main Jetta attraction in America is that it's the most affordable European-badged sedan and is German-designed -- the least costly ticket to the German sedan owner's club. That gives it snob appeal because other German autos such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW are costlier -- although they're more prestigious.

So it's no surprise that Volkswagen emphasizes in a press release about the 2005 front-drive Jetta that it's "German-engineered'' and "distinctly German,'' with a "solid Teutonic feel and ambience.'' It also says the Jetta has a "distinctive German character'' and was engineered to "master the left [fast] lane of Germany's high-speed autobahn highway system.''

It's ironic in light of Volkswagen's emphasis on the Jetta's German engineering that German cars have recently lost some of their reputation for having high quality and exceptional engineering.

For instance, Mercedes autos have been made so electronically complicated that Mercedes' quality ratings have taken a hit. Even BMW's complex features have met customer resistance by many Americans. Moreover, Volkswagen has gotten below-average customer satisfaction scores for dealer service and vehicle reliability.

Time will tell if the improved Jetta -- made in a high-tech Mexican plant -- will help Volkswagen regain its old high-quality reputation. My early production test car was built more solidly than the last-generation model, with nice body panel fits and paint, but part of its rear armrest fell out of place.

The Jetta arrived in 1980, and more than 2.2 million have been bought in North America. However, U.S. sales last year fell to 91,790 units from 117,867 cars in 2003 -- mostly because it's long been overdue for a redesign.

The new Jetta is the fifth-generation model and the largest Jetta ever. Compared to the 2004 model, the more rigidly built model is 7 inches longer at 179.3 inches, 1 inch wider, nearly an inch taller and has a 2.6-inch longer 101.5-inch wheelbase for more room and a better ride. However, the car is 335 pounds heavier at 3,230 pounds -- and that adversely affects acceleration, fuel economy and handling.

Models offered are the $17,900-$18,975 Value Edition and $20,390-$21,465 2.5 sedan. Both have a 2.5-liter, 150-horsepower engine tuned for U.S. driving and designed by the same man who did the Lamborghini sports car's V-10 engine. The Jetta engine is built for typical U.S. driving and provides good merging, passing and off-the-line punch. The previous-generation Jetta had a base 2-liter, 115-horsepower base engine. (The Jetta station wagon has been temporarily discontinued.)

The five-cylinder inline (not V-shaped) engine has dual overhead camshafts and 20 valves. It's backed by a five-speed manual gearbox or responsive new six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature. Estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. It needs only regular-grade fuel.

Scheduled for later in the model year is the $21,385-$22,460 TDI version of the new Jetta sedan, with a 1.9-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine generating 100 horsepower but more torque than the gas engine. It will work with a five-speed manual gearbox or Audi-sourced Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). That's basically an "automated manual'' six-speed transmission with no clutch pedal that's becoming popular in Europe.

The TDI will be a little slower than the regular Jetta, but is expected to have much better estimated economy: a combined 40 mpg -- or higher.

A 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine comes still later in 2005.

The Jetta's new electro-mechanical power steering is responsive, but a little heavy. A new independent rear suspension provides a nice ride and better handling. The nose-heavy car still wants to understeer -- or continue in a straight line -- when pushed hard through curves, but not excessively so for a front-drive auto. (BMW and Mercedes have rear-drive for better weight distribution and handling.)

Braking is impressive, although the pedal should have a smoother, more linear action.

Even the Value Edition is well equipped, with standard items including a climate control system, AM/FM stereo with CD player, cruise control, tilt-telescoping steering wheel, power windows and heated outside mirrors, split-folding rear seat and a full-size spare tire.

Standard safety items include anti-lock brakes, traction control, front side air bags and head-protecting side curtain bags.

The 2.5 adds features such as dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, leatherette seating, in-dash 6-disc CD player, rear center armrest, chrome window trim and a stability control system.

Options for the 2.5 (and TDI) include a $280 anti-skid system, $1,960 option package with a power tilt-sliding sunroof, premium sound system and slightly larger 16-inch alloy wheels with wider (55-series) tires. There's also a $4,660 package with leather upholstery, wood trim, satellite radio and power driver and front passenger seats.

The Jetta's new rounded styling is sophisticated, but the car has a more generic appearance -- it could be mistaken for a compact Japanese sedan. (It looks much like the Toyota Corolla.)

The upscale interior is another story: Front seats are supportive in curves and comfortable on long trips. And the nicely designed dashboard has easily read gauges, large climate controls and highly placed sound system controls, although bright sunlight washes out some of that system's readings. The cockpit has good materials -- even the ceiling has upscale textured material one might find in luxury autos.

Wide doors have easily grabbed handles that help make it a snap to slip in or out. Four 6-footers fit comfortably, but three-across rear seating for adults is a squeeze. The back power windows lower nearly all the way.

The trunk is huge for a compact and can be considerably enlarged by flipping forward the rear seatbacks. The trunk has a rather high opening, but it's wide and has a thoughtful protective bright strip on its sill to prevent cargo scuffing. The lid has non-intruding hinges and a covered interior for soundproofing. An indented pull-down area prevents hands from getting dirty on outside metal.

The new Jetta has been worth the long wait, but Volkswagen must move more quickly getting new models to market in today's ultracompetitive auto world.

2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

PRICES
$17,900-$21,465

LIKES
Fun to drive. Well-equipped. Chic interior. Huge cargo area. New six-speed automatic transmission.

DISLIKES
Nondistinctive new styling. Reliability still a question mark. Rather high trunk opening.