Entered CNET Catalog: 08/11/2005
SKU: 100515622
Manufacturer: Volkswagen
Product summary
The good: In-dash six-disc CD changer supports MP3 CDs with ID3 tagging; 60/40 split seat with rear armrest trunk access.
The bad: Cheap-feeling switch gear and buttons; stereo display is difficult to see in sunlight.
The bottom line: Not particularly high tech, the Volkswagen Jetta has a stereo with good MP3 support, but the interior materials feel cheap.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/07/2005
The Tiptronic transmission makes life easy for the commuter but provides manual control when wanted. The Jetta's Electronic Stability Program works with the ABS brakes to provide traction control. Additional safety comes in the form of electronic parking assist, front active head restraints, and a variety of air bags. Our test car came with option package two, which includes XM Satellite Radio, a power glass sunroof, and the HomeLink system. Equipped with the six-speed Tiptronic transmission ($1,075) and option package 2 ($4,660), the Jetta lists for $26,740.
The shape of the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta represents a big change from its predecessors. Gone are the boxy corners and the rectangular lights. VW has replaced them with more refined, curvaceous bodywork and lights that feature circles and ellipses. Unfortunately, the interior doesn't live up to the expectations generated by the exterior styling. Even with the seats dressed in optional leather, the cabin does not exude quality. Much of the switch gear seems to have come from the bottom of the parts bin. The worst offender is the stereo facia, which looks like it was ripped from a 1980s entry-level econobox. The old-school black-on-gray LCD is very difficult to see during the day. If you're wearing sunglasses, forget about it. Five small, cheap knobs that control the equalizer, the balance, and the fader sit immediately below the display. Although easy to use, they seem very out of place in this day and age.
Despite the visual drawbacks, the stereo is a halfway decent unit with 10 speakers, XM Satellite Radio, and an in-dash six-CD changer that supports MP3 CDs. We found navigating MP3 CDs an easy affair. A button marked Cat/Folder let us swap folders, and buttons on the steering wheel and the stereo allowed us to select tracks. We were also pleased to see the artist and song info from the ID3 tags. We found the XM radio controls a little more awkward. When we used the tuning dial, the radio took about three seconds to display the station name and song information, which made finding the station we wanted a lengthy task. However, when we used the 18 presets, the information came up nearly instantly.
We found many of the controls rather unintuitive. For example, the multifunction indicator, which displays fuel economy and miles to empty, is controlled by a rocker switch and a button on the windshield-wiper stalk. The car lacks a switch to turn off the red nighttime background lighting, which bothered us as it reflected off the gearshift surround. Even the temperature controls for the air conditioning were not obvious. Once we became accustomed to the layout, navigating the controls became easier, but we never got used to the buttons on the steering wheel. Since all the buttons had the identical size and shape, telling them apart by touch was difficult, and we were constantly pushing the wrong thing. This could make for some interesting phone conversations if the two mysterious telephone buttons ever become operational.
A 2.5-liter, five-cylinder (in-line) 150-horsepower engine delivers power to the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta's front wheels. Tipping the scales at 3,285 pounds when mated to the six-speed Tiptronic transmission, it reaches 60mph in just over nine seconds. Engine, wind, and road noise make it seem faster, but at least we didn't notice any significant torque steer. The Jetta has an EPA mileage rating of 22mpg in the city and 30mpg on the highway, but we got 18.4mpg in a bit more than 50 miles of city driving, albeit with a bit of a heavy foot.In normal drive mode, acceleration seemed sluggish, but when we pulled the gearshift back into sport mode, the car showed more pep. The manual gear-select mode uses the pattern that's become pretty standard: push forward to upshift and pull back to downshift. We prefer the more logical system on the BMW 330i, where pushing forward downshifts the car. The dashboard could do with a better display to show the current gear, especially since the transmission will still make some changes automatically and lock you out from others. In the end, we found the manual mode most useful for managing revs and power on the freeway, not for sporty back-roads driving.
Air-bag protection comes in the form of front, front supplemental side, and side-curtain bags. The 2005 Volkswagen Jetta also features crash-active front headrests, crash-optimized foot pedals that descend upon serious impact, side-protection door beams, and daytime running lights. The Jetta rates well in crash testing: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it four stars for front impact and five stars for side impact, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a Good overall rating for the front and a Best Pick for the side.The electronic stability program (ESP) adds another layer of safety with its antislip regulation and electronic differential lock. You can turn off the ESP for driving with snow chains or on loose surfaces. The car also has an electronic parking assist that uses ultrasound sensors in the rear bumper to calculate the distance to obstacles behind the car. It proved somewhat unreliable in warning us about impending collisions when we tested it with trash bins and recycling bins, but it is supposed to fare better with larger objects such as walls or other vehicles.
The Jetta includes a 4-year, 50,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty, a 5-year, 60,000-mile power train limited warranty, a 12-year, unlimited-distance corrosion perforation warranty, and 4 years of roadside assistance.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40out of 40 user reviews
I love my VW Jetta it is amazing
Pros: The interior is great, drives super, has a lot of get and go. Great Gas Mileage, nice added features.
Cons: I have no dislikes
out of 40 user reviews
great car to drive
Pros: gas,look,confortable,heated leather seats, wood trimming, moon roof, just a great car i love it
Cons: i dont have on so far
out of 40 user reviews
there so stupid vw doesnt carry xm sirius stupid peoplo
Pros: good car wel designed
Cons: wish i would have gotten the newer 170hp but not mine just 150hp since its a 06 model
out of 40 user reviews
Poor build quality, cheap interior
Pros: Lots of features, price, looks
Cons: Build quality, reliability
But couple of days later I started seeing the flaws. This is a fairly new car with 41000 miles and its just above 2.5 years old. The first thing I noticed is the driver side door open sensor/switch doesnt work everytime. so even if i open the door the car doesnt know the door is open and the cabin lights dont come on. To me this is a major flaw.
Creaking sounds from several areas.
The age old VW problem of the rubber peeling off the surface of all the buttons and interior panels. The buttons look nasty when the thin rubber coating bubbles up over time and eventually peels off. VW had this problem for atleast 10 years now their engineers dont know how to fix it I guess or they dont want to save money and gain customer satisfaction...either way they suck.
The roof liner is not the best...It is coming loose at the edges around the door openings an around the roof console.
And I can keep going on and on, and this is just from 2 weeks of ownership.
Even with full warranty this car is not worth buying. I will live with it for a few months because i already bought it.
So my honest suggestion for you is STAY AWAY FROM VW. IT SUCKS.
I pity all VW owners including myself.
out of 40 user reviews
outstanding car for great price
Pros: everything
Cons: none at all
out of 40 user reviews
very poorly made plastic cheap snap on parts
Pros: tdi seemed solid while i owned it ayhow
Cons: all the plastic falls apart. headlights always out. belt cracking.. electrical/power JUNK
these cars are made in mexico and no longer should carry the name VW. for it is no longer VW quality of the past, or they just always were junk and i never knew and was suckered into buying one of these junkers. but this will only happen once ::::
out of 40 user reviews
stick to computers
Pros: i love this car
Cons: cnet is on dope
out of 40 user reviews
I'm thinking the reviewer was stoned! This car is one hell of a value!
Pros: Power Sunroof, Great sound system and options for iPod, Speedy engine, great interior materials.
Cons: None, truly!
out of 40 user reviews
again - the Cnet editors are wrong
Pros: quality of car, easy to drive, economy
Cons: i like the size & simply design of the older jetta - this one is too big and odd looking
thats an incredibly false statement the editors said. the jetta, as for most volkswagens, has some of the highest quality materials in its class. The only other car i can think of in the same price range with equal material quality is the volvo s40.
everything feels hand stitched, very solid feeling, little plastic is visible - excellent for a $15,000 car.
out of 40 user reviews
Smart Design, Excellent Fix/Finish, Buy the 2.0T
Pros: Handling, Interior Design, 2.0T Turbo Engine
Cons: 2.0T should have 17 inch rims standard
out of 40 user reviews
A slightly above average car when compared to the competition.
Pros: Excellent array of standardized features; a blast to drive; very appealing design.
Cons: Average MPG vs Competition, mediocre reliability reports, limited A/V upgrades available.
The standard set of features on this model are absolutely incredible and exceed most competitors I've been researching in a similar price bracket of $22,000 - $28,000; namely Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity and Mazda.
When comparing performance I find it quite sluggish compared the Acura TSX, Nissan Altima and Mazda6 as its raw power even in the 200hp model simply don't compare. However, they do make up for this with accurate suspension and braking. As for fuel economy 22/30 mpg simply set this car in an average rating as the TSX, Altima, Mazda6, Accord, Camry all get better overall gas mileage. I guess it could be simply due to the 5cylinder engine when compared to the 4's found in most of the cars I've compared; yet even the V6 Accord and Altima get better mileage.
I found the new sound and navigation system to be less "high-tech" when compared to the competition as control knobs do feel a bit flimsy and overall sound quality seems average to my ears. What bothers me most is the lack of upgrades available in this department, not only does VW offer limited upgradable features for A/V, but the indash layout itself makes it uncompatible to install third party units(Alpine, Kenwood, Panasonic, Eclispe, Infinity, Pioneer, etc.) without having to pay considerably more for custom harnesses, brackets, and installations. I know this because I do custom work myself. If VW is going to make it difficult to swap out the stock deck and nav system then they could at least offer premium upgrades themselves such as Bose speakers, color indash cd player, or a complete interactive nav system.
Don't get me wrong, this is a great car to drive and own...but for my needs it's just not for me...though I really wish it was.
out of 40 user reviews
The above ocmment is stupid, I think you were in your neon.LOL
Pros: Great on gas, lots of leg room, huge trunk that a plus, great car overall for the price.
Cons: No ocns irght now my car is only three days old.
out of 40 user reviews
Solid Engineered Car (and baby friendly)!
Pros: Solid feel, great interior, computer, gas mileage, tunes, and room!
Cons: Exterior is a little plain.
Since you'll probably read a lot of reviews about the engine, torque, etc. (which are great), I'd like to share some of my favorite features with you:
* Seats - They are solid, comfortable, and easy to adjust. For some reason, American car seats are just too mushy (I feel like I'm riding on a couch). Did I mention that they are Leatherette? (That's German for "Pleather"). But, they are not the pleather of old. Everyone who has ridden in my car says "ooh, leather". Plus they are great if you have kids, as I do, because spilled milk cleans up in a snap.
* Stereo - solid feel, easy to use, plays MP3 CD's. The front loading CD allows you to load 6 MP3 CD's. That's a lot of tunes. Plus it include a Mix feature (shuffle in ipod terms).
* Computer - The computer displays on your dashboard lot's of information such as gas mileage and fuel remaining, exterior temperature, direction, etc. Most importantly, you can program or adjust some of the automatic features in the car. e.g. - by default the doors automatically lock when you start driving. A few adjustments through the trip computer allow you to turn this off. You can also adjust other parameters such as the lighting scheme, key fob actions, and more.
* Climatronic control - In our Jeep Cherokee, my wife will melt my feet as I drive because she seizes control of the temperature controls. However, the VW's climate control gives each passenger their own temperature setting. You just enter the temperature setpoint that you want and it takes you there. No more melted feet. This system is even smart enough that it controls the fan speed so that it doesn't blow cold air on you until the car has warmed up.
* Interior lighting - the blue and red dashboard lighting is quite unique and pleasing. Using the key fob, the car lights up like a Christmas tree when you approach through a dark parking lot and unlock your car.
* Rear seat and trunk space - unlike many other sedans the Jetta has so much trunk and rear seat space, you have to see it to believe it. The rear seat is baby friendly. VW's latching system allows you to put a baby seat in one of three positions (left, center, or right). In the center position, there is still room for two grown adults to ride comfortably. That's because the rear area is so spacious. I am by no means small. At 6'1" I can actually sit comfortably in the back and load our baby in his seat, rear or front facing, with out breaking my back. Unbelievably, this is easier than our Jeep SUV. The trunk also holds a full size stroller lengthwise and only takes up half the trunk!
* Performance - Great gas mileage 25-32mpg saves alot of $$ these days. Ofcourse the VW is a quiet smooth riding and sharp handling vehicle. We drive a manual transmission, which further enhances the driving experience.
I love driving this car. Mostly it's the small features that make this car worth owning. Seldom mentioned in brochures or reviews, these small features make me appreciate my decision to buy this car (automatic darkening mirror, red overhead LEDs are on at night to see inside the car but save your night vision, smart radio displays station and song info, full size spare tire, quality stitching on seats, frost warning at 39degF, passing turn signals that automatically turn off, the little latches that keep the floor mat in place, the rear seat drop-down writing desk/arm rest/rear access hatch, the special shelf in the glove compartment for the vehicle manual, and more). The point is, I keep noticing these small details each day which makes me happy to know that I definitely got my money's worth.
out of 40 user reviews
An excellent vehicle, CNET way off on this one.
Pros: Ride, comfort, stereo, torque, amenities.
Cons: Power (although not if you opt for the 2.0T)
out of 40 user reviews
Very German--
Pros: Awesome interiors, Excellent features, great drive, slick gearbox
Cons: Somewhat low on mileage(Gasoline) and looks could have been more sporty
out of 40 user reviews
Way off guys!
Pros: Solid handling and excellent performance in a small car
Cons: Higher than average price
out of 40 user reviews
2006 GLI a Driver's Car
Pros: Interior, Great Handling, 32MPG, Safety Features
Cons: Audio is average
out of 40 user reviews
i think this car is pretty much awesome
Pros: nice stereo, good accelaration, good design
Cons: no complaints
out of 40 user reviews
Get a clue CNET
Pros: Safety, interior, sound system
Cons: Reliability of brand
And I love the comments about being a cavalier or neon. Not even close.
out of 40 user reviews
Car is GREAT
Pros: Look, Power, Inside, Great Stero, Audi RElated...
Cons: Few Minor Bugs, HUD on Gear Selecter, Setting the Limit
out of 40 user reviews
TSX Want to be?
Pros: I cant think of a single pro
Cons: 15 yeas of being the worst ranked car in its very large class..
out of 40 user reviews
Great German Sedan!
Pros: Great interior styling, new base engine with some umph!
Cons: A tad more MPG would be nice.
out of 40 user reviews
The best car for the money
Pros: Great interior quality, nice ride, great options for low price
Cons: none so far
Thank
out of 40 user reviews
the GLI rocks!!!
Pros: 2.0 litre engine, DSG transmission
Cons: no DynAudio option
out of 40 user reviews
A good European sporty sedan that places driving experience and value high on the priorities list.
Pros: Handling, Fit an Finish, Interior
Cons: Exterior styling a bit lackluster
The Jetta's handling capabilities have improved greatly (although still outdone by the class leading BMW). Where the Jetta does shine is in fit/finish and overall quality of materials. The interior is excellent, and contrary to this odd C-Net review, the Jetta is no disapointment there. Materials are the same as found in the pricier Audi line and fit/finish are virtually the same. The seats are well bolstered and comfortable. Controlls are logically placed and functional. The only real negative on this vehicle is the exterior styling which Im admittedly not a huge fan of.
Horsepower and torque are bumped up considerably in the 2.0 turbo.
out of 40 user reviews
The New Jetta quite frankly rocks.
Pros: Interior, exterior, engine.
Cons: Little quirks.
The stereo system is lovely; the 'extras' that make up the Jetta are excellent.
out of 40 user reviews
Seriously....
Pros: Everything...
Cons: Price Tag...
out of 40 user reviews
This Car is fugly!!!
Pros: Good gas mileage, multiple engine configurations
Cons: Look at it.
out of 40 user reviews
'Is that a new Corolla?' is not a compliment for VW owners
Pros: The -only- saving grace is some nice upgrading to the interior, e.g., new climatronics controls.
Cons: In one word, the new design is: BLAH. It is uninspired. Looks more like a corolla than a jetta.
The Jetta used to lead the class in available features as well, but is now falling in line and even behind (think no navigation) in the class. Remember when rain-sensing wipers were amazing? Auto-tinting rearview mirrors? Yes, yes... but the new model has not only lost its techie appeal, but its sex appeal. The new Jetta looks like the ugly daughter of a Toyota Corolla. It is not a matter of understated german design. Its a matter of a bloated blob with a mirror on the front to try to hide itself.
I'll stick to buying used pre-redesigned, quality volkswagens.
out of 40 user reviews
The reviewer did not drive the same car I own!
Pros: interior quality, extra fratures, gas mileage
Cons: plastic wheels
I just purchased one in May, and I've had it for about months. I have over 6000 miles on it and I think it's the best car I've ever owned. The interior is the highlight of the car. It's luxurious and well appointed, with no quality issues. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a mid-priced auto with a lot of features. The reviewer mentioned that the previous Jetta was more of a technical tour-de-force, but I disagree. The new model definitely has many standard features not found on more expensive cars, Let CNET do what it does best. They excel in testing televisions and computer equipment, not cars. Read a review in Car and Driver or Motor Trend. Those reviews will give you a better understanding of the Jetta. It's a great car with superior features. Test drive it and you will understand.
out of 40 user reviews
Exceeded all our expectations with quality and power.
Pros: Exceptional materials, drive and safety for the budget.
Cons: Confused with a Corolla and even a Lexus.
out of 40 user reviews
Stick to what you do best. Don't review cars... ever.
Pros: interior, exterior, fit and finish
Cons: engine, price
out of 40 user reviews
Puzzled by review - Jetta is a good value
Pros: Interior, handling, safety
Cons: Initial quality issues
The Jetta's interior is well-appointed (near-luxury car) and thoughtfully laid out. It's charms are subtle, perhaps too much so for the reviewer. It uses a lot of soft materials instead of hard plastics, and VW pays a lot of attention to detail with such things as comfortable, supportive leather seats down to floor mats that lock into place, silicone-dampened grab handles, and an air-conditioned glove box with a separate slot for the manual. Gauges are easy to read, and the radio displays all presets on screen. (I rate the interior a 7)
Also, the Jetta comes standard with 8 airbags, stability control, and all-speed traction control. It also has the highest side-impact rating by the IIHS. That deserves more than a "6" in my book. (I give it a 9)
I have the high-end GLI with the turbo engine, so performance is better than in the test model. However, even on the base the handling is excellent. (My rating is 7. I would give my own GLI an 8 because of the 197hp engine and sport suspension).
Complaints include initial quality issues. I had a broken rear cupholder bracket and a broken headlamp washer nozzle. The interior and suspension are also so tight that there is some minor rattling over bumpy roads. Finally, the interior can take some getting used to if you are new to VWs, but I don't consider it a major hurdle. Every manufacturer is a little bit different.
Overall, I think the car deserves a 7.5. The site allows whole numbers only, so I rounded up.
out of 40 user reviews
the New Jetta is great
Pros: comfortable , well laid out interior
Cons: 1st model year woes
out of 40 user reviews
Cheap interior materials? On a Jetta? Thats a joke right?
Pros: High interior and exterior build quality. High number of standard features. Excellent safty features and ratings.
Cons: Underpowered in the 2.5 liter, so just get the 2.0 Turbo.
out of 40 user reviews
Great Car--You Blew It!!
Pros: 50 mpg, glides down the road, wonderful ride
Cons: Sunvisors are too short
out of 40 user reviews
German Sour Kraut!
Pros: Chicks dig the Euro-Styling!
Cons: Not good for 4x4ing! Not as fast as a lot of other sports cars! Not a hybrid engine!
out of 40 user reviews
Cnet please don't review anymore cars.
Pros: German safety, speed of a 2.0T, easy chippable with big gains, and style.
Cons: New body style but that's just my opinion.
Cnet please try to list more & better pros than a 6 disc changer that can play MP3's.
out of 40 user reviews
Very happy Jetta 2.5 owner!
Pros: Audi-like interior, lots of features
Cons: New Corollla-like styling takes getting used to
out of 40 user reviews
Bunch of idiots
Pros: German engineering, Audi heritage, good gas mileage
Cons: None to list
