Volkswagen Jetta (2005 - 2010) Midsize | Compact

Volkswagen Jetta (2005 - 2010) Midsize | Compact 

DESCRIPTION

The fifth generation Volkswagen Jetta Mk5 debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 5 January 2005. One major change to the Mk5 is the introduction of the first multi-link independent rear suspension in a VW Jetta.

Styling reflects a new direction for the Volkswagen brand, with a new chrome front grille, first seen on the Golf Mk5 R32, which has since spread to other Volkswagen models.

The Jetta available in the U.S., is powered by a 2.5 litre 5-cylinder 20-valve engine in most trims. In North America, the Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine was not offered in five U.S. states when the Mark 5 Jetta was introduced, due to the tight emission standards promulgated by the California Air Resources Board. In addition to California, four other states adopted the more stringent California standards.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 561-570 of 793  
[Feb 23, 2001]
Jarl Luscomb
Model Reviewed: /Bora (Jetta) 115hp

Strength:

Solid well built car, nice looking style. We bought this car for fuel economy but have been let down by VW so far. Fuel economy should have been its main strength but not here...

Weakness:

I'm receiving POOR mileage from the start (33mpg)US or (41mpg)UK. Thats conservative driving, unloaded, only the driver, on country roads. Our current mileage is 4000 and the average fuel economy is still the same. We have written VW an have been told basically by one person "what you get for mpg, is what you get." My family has had over 10 VW Diesels in the last 20 years and have consistantly gotten 43mpg avg. 2 differant dealers have given us excuses why the poor mileage: 1st-engine needs to be broken in should see better by 10k and by 40k we should get 45mpg (US) or 60 mpg(UK). Thats a long time to wait,don't you think?? 2nd-blames the cold weather and says it should improve by summer. Now I lived in Upstate NY and in winter its cold much worse than the UK winters, and our VW diesels couldn't care less as far as mpg is concerned.

Probably won't buy another VW and won't recommend one either.

Similar Products Used:

All other VW diesels owned before Rabbit, Golf(De), and 7+ Jettas all had much better mpg.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[May 10, 2001]
Josh Phillips

Strength:

The car is nice looking.

Weakness:

I drove off the dealership lot feeling pretty good until I decided to check the oil. It had none showing on the dipstick. I took it back they changed the oil and said nothing was wrong. Check engine light comes on two months later. Guess what? No oil again. I change the oil every 3000 thousand miles, which I find humorous b/c the owners manual says you can change it every 7000. Anyway back to the dealership. Nothing wrong. A month later. Check oil light on again. Now, they tell me now that they can burn a qt every 1500 miles. I wish I knew this when I bought it. The drivers side door squeaks so bad it sounds like it is going to fall off. My next car will not be a volkswagon.

Not a dependable car. Looks good but drinks oil.

Similar Products Used:

It doesn't

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Feb 21, 2001]
libtech21
Model Reviewed: Jetta 4dr

Strength:

First of all, I love this car. It's fast for the engine size, and looks great. I love the simple interior that for some reason stays clean. My Jetta is also great in the snow and never hesitates up a hill. As long as you get some nice wheels (16" Enkies on mine) and some engine mods, forget any other car. Neuspeed sway bars are a good addition too.

Weakness:

The occasional joke from the fellas about its "cuteness" , the rear doors are a pain in the ass (left rear's hand flew off as I was opening it, right rear only opens from the inside), one of the four right passenger seat mounts is loose, so its a little tippy (friends say it makes it more of a thrill to ride in), other than that, there's not much bad you can say about my A2.

I love this car. It was my first car and I'm still having fun in it. I would recommend an 89 or earlier jetta to anyone as a first car, I'm looking at a 94 GL for my second car. This car never ceases to amaze me, it takes me up 15 times to the mountain every year without chains, and with 160,000 miles it still runs strong. A tip to anyone out there who wants to buy a jetta, NEVER get an automatic, they dont run as good and take almost all the fun out of this car. For the money, Jetta's are the best deals, I have never found a better one. Get a jetta.

Similar Products Used:

Its hard to compare it to any car, I have never driven a car like it.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 19, 2001]
Morgan
Model Reviewed: JETTA GLS 1.8T

Strength:

SPEED,Fuel ECONOMY,Solid Interior FEEL & LOOKS. This is my first VW car.

Weakness:

Two tone front/rear skirt is a bit distracting, but some of us can live with it...Ride quality doesn't compare with the 2000 BMW 325i but it trys easily with simple modifications here and there.

Since, I'm still halfway through college, this is the one 4-door vehicle that comes pretty close to the BMW 300 series. You'll get lots of compliments with the dashboard interior lightings. The miXture of red/blue does something to women who rides with you...it's magically "goovy". I've owned this car for about 3months with 4750 miile and So far, So GOOD, BABY! NO complaints.

Similar Products Used:

2000 BMW 325i

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 14, 2001]
Dave
Model Reviewed: Jetta GLS 2.0 L

Strength:

Beutiful interior
Solid feel
Handling
Lots of standard equipment.
Fun to drive

Weakness:

Very poor assembly and terrible reliability. My 2001 Jetta GLS has had been fixed for the same problem 5 times, engine light on. Too bad such a nice looking cvar is plagued with such problems. If I did it over again I definitely would not buy this car.

Although this is a sharp looking car with a very nice interior its reliability problems are way too much. VW should consider moving assembly back to Germany as this car is horrendous when it comes to reliability and assembly quality. I would certainly pay a premium for this vehicle if it were assembled in Germany and quality and reliability were ensured. Otherwise if I was doing this over again I would never consider the Jetta with its problems today.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jan 19, 2001]
Scott Vaccaro
Model Reviewed: GLS VR6

Strength:

Great car, fun to drive. One of the best handling cars I have ever driven, and that includes some true sports cars such as GT Mustangs, Pontiac T/A's. I got ever option you could w/o going to the GLX model and really enjoy the leather heated seats and quality of interor materials. The indigo dash is the coolest at night, I always get compliments on the car where-ever I go. Everything is verywell thought out and solid. It gets around good in all weather such as ice and snow. I will definetly buy another VW when the time comes, I'm waiting for the "Colorado" SUV they are working on. Couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Weakness:

I wish the GLS model had the auto-dimming rear-view mirror like the GLX. I also would have made the sunvisors a bit bigger so when you have them on the side windows they cover a little more.

I would highly recommend a Jetta but get the VR6 if you can. I love that every model has a ton of standard features like ABS, Dual and side airbags, security system and power widows and locks. I have had no mechanical (or other) problems in the almost 2 years I have owned it. The back seat isn't the roomyest if you have large passengers but overall the car has alot of versatility and charm.

Similar Products Used:

I compared the Ford Contour and BMW 3 series. The Ford didn't have the feel of a very solid car, although it was a bit quicker if you took it in a straight line. It definetly didn't handle as well as the Jetta. The BMW really didn't impress me as being much better than the Jetta and was $12,000 more. I did like the BMW's sound system better by now VW has the Monsoon systems for the 2001 cars and besides you know what kind of sound system and upgrades you could make w/the 12,000 you save by getting the Jetta.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 19, 2001]
lenny
Model Reviewed: /jetta Gls,auto,2.0l

Strength:

looks good. good gas mileage. love the canyon red color. handles pretty good for a vw. sporty ride.

Weakness:

2.0L engine has no power should have waited for the 1.8T or buy the VR6. 3 months after having the car I heard noise coming from the drivers side front wheel. took it to dealer they said nothing was wrong with it. still heard noise. noise disappeared after couple of months. cloth seats are hard to clean picks up everything. cheap paint job I have scratches all over. transmission sounds like its about to die. I cant stand the hesitation it takes when u shiff from park to drive-really annoying.front bumper hits everything be careful when parking

I recommend the VR6 and 1.8T versions of this car. This car is great for a teenager/young adult. Im planning on trading for something bigger SUV maybe. It is fun to drive.

Similar Products Used:

I owned a lincoln town car before this(not comparable)luxury VS economy
it is better than a civic

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
3
[May 16, 2001]
Brett
Model Reviewed: GLS

Strength:

Looks Good, kinda like a BMW. . . handles OK as long as there are no breaks in the pavement. I would have more to say here if I was in my first few weeks of owning it!!

Weakness:

Gas mileage not as good as it should be, poor ergonomics (when seat is adjusted for comfortable seating and distance from the pedals the steering wheel is too far away), the electrical system is one big nightmare!! First the Check engine light comes on after a month, the dealer says it is fine, then the car starts idling at 3000 RPM at random times, then the sun roof sticks open. . . the dealer tries to fix it which for some reason entails taking off the driver's sidedoor(?). Then the front passenger window decides to stay down when I was half way back from San Francisco, that was fun on drizzly night. . . the dealer says the part is $300 to fix it and they can't work on it for three weeks. So they cut the cables and tape it up for a couple weeks till I can get it in there. Then the driver's side window does the same thing!!! The dealer gives us a Ford Contour while they are fixing the window and my wife says she wants to keep that car instead!
Many of the knobs on the radio and climate control system have parted company with their previous hosts. The seats all flop around on their mounts and have to be re-torqued all the time. This is all in the first year of ownership! Then we get a few months of trouble free driving. . .until I notice a strange thumping sound that sounds like a front tire is unbalanced, but it is time for new tires now anyway so I figure new tires and balancing should solve that. . .nope! I take it to the dealer and they tell me that both the front axles have fractures in them and need to be replaced!!!!! I asked my wife who drives it to work everyday (if all goes well) if she has been out there drag racing people or launching the car off speed bumps. . .or maybe driving over curbs, but she denies all counts. The dealer says this isn't uncommon on a car with such high miles (62,000!) I guess compared to the terms of the VW warranty that may be high miles. . .but my other cars are usually doing just fine with more than three times that. Then the lock in the trunk falls out, and the ignition sticks in the start position causing all kinds of havoc until you figure that one out! Jeez. . .I can't belive I am still paying for this horrible thing!!!!!

I would like to say that the problems listed above are all fixed in the newer models, but my friends who own newer Jettas, GTIs and Beetles all have had more than their fair share of similar troubles.
If you were to ask me if you should buy a VW; I would have to tell you that just about anything else out there would be better!!!

Similar Products Used:

I have owned many other cars. . .they are all better than this one as far as being what you think they are when you drive them off the lot. Some get worse mileage, but a 375 hp engine usually doesn't sip gas. . .some are slower, but a big dually with a trailer behind it isn't supposed to have a lot of pep. . .all have been more reliable even the domestics!!!!!!!! (all the import owners are scowling)

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 16, 2001]
Norberto
Model Reviewed: Jetta GLS VR6

Strength:

Good value above all. The quality is very high for what you pay, especially the interior and the engine. Very fast for 20K four door car. Very quite at any speed.

Weakness:

CD player does not continue on track when the car is turned off and then on again. It begins all over on track 1. Front seats should be a bit stiffer. Not as small as some make it out. Audi A4 and BMW 3 series are NOT any bigger.

This is the best four door car in the 20K range. The 2001 GLS VR6 version has: V6 engine with an output of 174hp, ABS brakes, Anti-slip control
Front airbags, Side airbags, Leather interior, Radio/Cas/CD, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Heated Seats, Heated Mirrors, 16" wheels, power windows, power locks, powew mirros, three-way seat adjusment, power moon-roof, keyless entry, valet key, floor mats, full spare tire, cruise control, fold down rear seats, trunk power outlet, stearing wheel adjustment and a few other things. Plus, it does 0-60mph around 7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of over 125mph. Insurance is very reasonable ($100 per moonth). NO OTHER CAR gives you all these features, as much safety and such performance for less than around 30K instead of the Jetta's 20K. And it looks good. The only way you will get a better overall package is to spend over 30K on an Audi 2.8 Quattro, a BMW 330, a Volvo or a Mercedes.

Similar Products Used:

Audi A4 1.8T - not worth the extra price for smaller engine and very, very similar quality. The A4 2.8 is almost an extra 10K more. For that I would just add another 2K and get a BMW 330i.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 14, 2001]
Jeff
Model Reviewed: Jetta

Strength:

I like everything about this car. Sporty Styling, Strong VR6 Engine, High Quality Fit and Finish, Very Quiet Cabin, Loads of fun to drive.

Weakness:

Gear Box is a little notchy.

I picked this car up last week. I look forward to going anywhere in it, I have been looking for excuses to run errands just to take it for a spin....especially at night when the interior comes alive with Indigo Blue and Red!!!! The car is a true performer....it is a true drivers car, when equipped with VR6, 5 spd , Sport Luxury Package. It is a very comfortable car to drive , extemely quiet and smooth compared to my previous Acura Integra. It is also a very attractive looking car in Silver with Black Interior. If you are looking for a sport sedan that will compete with its luxury counter parts then look no farther than this automobile....Gotta run.....I am going to find something that needs taken care of outside walking range!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 561-570 of 793  

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