The Volkswagen Jetta comes as a four-door sedan or SportWagen. A 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine generates 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic sport mode are available.
Jetta S ($16,990) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, power locks with remote, cruise control, ASR traction control, CD player, eight-way manually adjustable front seats with lumbar support and new power recliners, split folding rear seat, manual tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, and 205/55HR all-season tires on 16-inch steel wheels. Jetta S comes with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic ($18,065).
Jetta SE ($19,850) adds a power tilt-and-slide sunroof; V-Tex Leatherette (imitation leather) seating surfaces; real leather-covered steering wheel and shifter; heated front seats and washer nozzles; ten-speaker stereo with MP3-capable, in-dash six-CD player and window diversity antenna; Sirius Satellite Radio; Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) with Electronic Differential Lock (EDL); a front passenger seat that folds flat for carrying long objects; bright window trim; and 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The SE comes with the manual or automatic ($20,925).
Jetta SEL ($22,900) adds a multi-function steering wheel, premium instrument display, premium audio, a 115-volt power outlet in the rear of the console, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The six-speed automatic is the only transmission available.
The Jetta GLI ($24,300) is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-4 packing 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard; there's also a six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gear) transmission that operates in manual or automatic mode ($25,375). Suspension and brakes are beefed up appropriately. Inside are eight-way adjustable sport bucket seats, a flat-bottom padded steering wheel, and lots of aluminum and bright-metal trim. Auto-leveling, high-intensity Xenon headlights are also standard, as are ESP/EDL, and 225/45 all-season or summer-performance tires (no charge either way) on 17-inch alloy rims. The Autobahn package ($3,020) adds a power sunroof, leather seats (with heat and power lumbar support in front), heated washer nozzles, and a premium audio system. Eighteen-inch wheels with 225/40R18 all-season ($750) or summer-performance ($890) tires are available.
The Wolfsburg Edition 2.0T is powered by the same engine as the GLI and the same six-speed manual ($20,875) or six-speed DSG transmission ($21,950). Seats are leatherette, and wheels are 17-inch alloys. VW says it will produce just 12,500 of these limited-edition models in just four colors: Reflex Silver, Black, Salsa Red, and Platinum Gray.
Options for Jettas not already equipped include the sunroof ($1000), heated front seats and washers ($225), 16-inch alloy wheels ($450), and ESP/EDL ($450). SEL and GLI Autobahn buyers can opt for a navigation system ($1800) that comes with either a CD changer or an iPod adapter, but not both. (Either way, MP3 capability is lost.) GLI buyers can choose the premium stereo ($325) without the rest of the Autobahn package. Optional on all Jettas are rear-seat side airbags ($350); and an iPod adapter ($199), which replaces the auxiliary input jack and which may not be available with certain other options. SportWagen options include a panoramic sunroof and a fold-flat right front seat for long loads.
Safety features that come standard include front airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags for torso protection, and curtain-style airbags for head protection front and rear. All Jettas have anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, and traction control (ASR). Roadside assistance is included in the Jetta warranty package.