Volkswagen Jetta reviews

2003 Volkswagen Jetta Driving Impressions

There ought to be a rule that Jetta GLS 1.8T drivers have an accessible winding road, or else they'll be wasting some of the Jetta's finer aspects. The Jetta, especially with the 17-inch wheels, 45-series performance tires and sport suspension, gobbles up the twisties like a seven-year old goes after Fruit Loops. The Jetta has lots of lateral grip and the stability to utilize it. Shock absorber damping is compliant but firm, allowing the suspension to react to a bump in mid-corner and be done with it. Transients, left to right and back again, are equally well handled. While the front-drive Jetta does not have the precise handling of, say, a BMW, it does not have near the price, either.

The turbocharged engine slings the front-wheel-drive Jetta forward with authority. Despite a claim from VW that sound deadening was added to the turbocharger, a faint whistle can be heard as the turbo spools up. Turbo addicts will enjoy it, others won't notice. The engine has minimal turbo lag, that small time lapse some turbocharged engines have between the moment you slam down the gas and when you begin to feel the car rocket forward. Instead, the Jetta has a broad torque spread. It offers good pulling power almost from idle. A quick launch, as you might need to jump from a standstill into a gap in fast moving traffic, requires some revs and a little slip of the clutch, however. Otherwise the engine bogs for what seems like an eternity as that truck looms in the rear view mirror. The engine, once up on the turbo, is hoot for enthusiast driving, willing to rev smoothly to redline with a clean mechanical sound. It'll blast out of a toll plaza.

The shifter's throw is on the long side, front to back, but close side to side. It's precise and has little slop, and is enjoyable to use, with even clutch take-up with a well-weighted pedal. There is an optional 5-speed automatic that has the Porsche-developed Tiptronic manual-shifting system, the only car in the class so equipped.

The engine is not just for sporting driving, however. It delivers sufficient torque (power) across the rev range to eliminate the need to downshift for most hills, and it integrates well with the cruise control, always maintaining a steady speed. The turbo can be caught out in some situations, however: lifting and repressing the throttle can make the engine feel momentarily like it swallowed an egg. It's smooth at idle and quiet on the highway, overall a very civilized engine with more than a bit of a wild streak. Premium unleaded is the recommended fuel.

Payback for the Jetta's aggressive handling abilities comes on the highway. Either the performance tires generate more noise than others, or the firm suspension transmits more, but a noticeable amount of road noise comes up through the chassis. The ride is firm, but not objectionable, and will provide the driving enthusiast with a desirable feel of control.

The four-wheel disc brakes are remarkable in their casual effectiveness, very linear in result and with just the right amount of required pressure. The pedals are spaced well for the enthusiast, and a dead pedal to the left gives the driver place to brace the left foot. Electronic brake proportioning distributes braking power as needed for hard braking with any passenger or cargo load, reducing the application of ABS and shortening braking distances. In other words, you can stop more quickly no matter what the situation.

1.8T and VR6 Jettas come with an electronic front differential lock, which improves grip on pavement and in slippery conditions under acceleration, reducing the amount of traction control application. That means quicker, more stable acceleration performance.