A790
04-14-2006, 05:02 PM
This is a dual review. Vegabond and I have decided to joint-review select vehicles for Beyond's pleasure! Since different people have different driving styles we felt it gave beyonders as better representation of what the vehicle is like.
That said, enjoy the review!
******
I’ve always loved VW’s. I have always liked the Jetta, and absolutely fell in love with the last generation. It’s curves, it’s lines, it’s chemistry was all there. This one… well, I have mixed feelings to say the least.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
I don’t like how this Jetta looks. It looks cheap, and it seems as if they compromised on several of the areas that I used to really love. The rounded shape has given way to this oval…. thing. Whatever it is, I don’t like it.
The taillights and headlights have gone euro-style. That could be good or bad, depending on your taste. In my preference, it’s bad. Very bad, in fact. However, I am giving VW the benefit of the doubt. I loved last years 1.8T, and I’m hoping that the driving dynamics that were in that car found their way into the new, more powerful, 2.0T.
INSIDE THE CAR
The interior is roomy and very comfortable. The new centre console is a big plus, and the information display is clear and easy to operate. Take note BMW. Quality materials are strewn about, and I got the honest feeling that I was driving an upscale sedan. That’s good, given that it’s the segment VW’s shooting for.
One thing about this car is that there are little nooks and crannies everywhere for stuff. Lot’s of storage. As well, everything is one touch: from the sunroof, to the windows, to the trunk. I love it.
The doors open and close smoothly, and you are given a nice satisfying “thunk” when they shut. That’s a plus, as they don’t feel like aluminum cans. The centre console lets you know when a door is open, and which door it is. That’s a neat feature, for sure. The sunroof is one touch, and it’s my favorite design. Just turn the knob and it opens to the desired position.
The stock radio is pretty decent and should suit the average person or family no problem. Visibility is good, as is the seat comfort and ride position. I’m starting to lose my bias; I’m not going to lie… I might even like this car.
DRIVING THE CAR
I start the car and off I go. Literally, the turbo on this thing is so small it’s like having insta-spool. That’s a good or bad, depending on your tastes. For this type of car I think it’s good. The performance junkie would have to switch the turbo out for a bigger unit though.
The car get’s up and goes, definitely. 0-60 in 6 seconds I’m told. It certainly feels good, and I found myself mashing the throttle quite a bit. Torque steer comes in hard, however. The 200HP FWD motor definitely reminds you that you are not driving a touge-mobile. Engine response is right on, exactly where it should be, and it pulls nicely. Remember that you need to be in the right gear with a turbo however.
The suspension is good, but as usual, too soft. It needs to be a bit stiffer for my taste, which means that it’s exactly what the majority of the market wants. This car suits its segment of the market perfectly.
The car feels very solid when you are driving it, and is definitely confidence inspiring. That could be a bad thing, but it’s fine so long as you remember what car you are driving. This car tends to lean into the corners a bit, which might shake you a bit if you don’t know how to react to it. It almost seems as if this car would bite you hard if you had to make an emergency swerve.
The ride is pretty quiet, with the whistle of the turbo barely audible. Nothing that an intake can’t fix.
CONCLUSION
A good, solid entry from VW. This pays the Jetta homage with it’s driving style and personality. I just can’t seem to get past the looks, however. The last generation was so clean, whereas this car seems to have gone the way of the euro. That may appeal to some, just not me.
SCORING
Exterior: 2.5/5
Interior: 4.5/5
Roominess: 4/5
Drivability: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Overall in segment: 4/5
That said, enjoy the review!
******
I’ve always loved VW’s. I have always liked the Jetta, and absolutely fell in love with the last generation. It’s curves, it’s lines, it’s chemistry was all there. This one… well, I have mixed feelings to say the least.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
I don’t like how this Jetta looks. It looks cheap, and it seems as if they compromised on several of the areas that I used to really love. The rounded shape has given way to this oval…. thing. Whatever it is, I don’t like it.
The taillights and headlights have gone euro-style. That could be good or bad, depending on your taste. In my preference, it’s bad. Very bad, in fact. However, I am giving VW the benefit of the doubt. I loved last years 1.8T, and I’m hoping that the driving dynamics that were in that car found their way into the new, more powerful, 2.0T.
INSIDE THE CAR
The interior is roomy and very comfortable. The new centre console is a big plus, and the information display is clear and easy to operate. Take note BMW. Quality materials are strewn about, and I got the honest feeling that I was driving an upscale sedan. That’s good, given that it’s the segment VW’s shooting for.
One thing about this car is that there are little nooks and crannies everywhere for stuff. Lot’s of storage. As well, everything is one touch: from the sunroof, to the windows, to the trunk. I love it.
The doors open and close smoothly, and you are given a nice satisfying “thunk” when they shut. That’s a plus, as they don’t feel like aluminum cans. The centre console lets you know when a door is open, and which door it is. That’s a neat feature, for sure. The sunroof is one touch, and it’s my favorite design. Just turn the knob and it opens to the desired position.
The stock radio is pretty decent and should suit the average person or family no problem. Visibility is good, as is the seat comfort and ride position. I’m starting to lose my bias; I’m not going to lie… I might even like this car.
DRIVING THE CAR
I start the car and off I go. Literally, the turbo on this thing is so small it’s like having insta-spool. That’s a good or bad, depending on your tastes. For this type of car I think it’s good. The performance junkie would have to switch the turbo out for a bigger unit though.
The car get’s up and goes, definitely. 0-60 in 6 seconds I’m told. It certainly feels good, and I found myself mashing the throttle quite a bit. Torque steer comes in hard, however. The 200HP FWD motor definitely reminds you that you are not driving a touge-mobile. Engine response is right on, exactly where it should be, and it pulls nicely. Remember that you need to be in the right gear with a turbo however.
The suspension is good, but as usual, too soft. It needs to be a bit stiffer for my taste, which means that it’s exactly what the majority of the market wants. This car suits its segment of the market perfectly.
The car feels very solid when you are driving it, and is definitely confidence inspiring. That could be a bad thing, but it’s fine so long as you remember what car you are driving. This car tends to lean into the corners a bit, which might shake you a bit if you don’t know how to react to it. It almost seems as if this car would bite you hard if you had to make an emergency swerve.
The ride is pretty quiet, with the whistle of the turbo barely audible. Nothing that an intake can’t fix.
CONCLUSION
A good, solid entry from VW. This pays the Jetta homage with it’s driving style and personality. I just can’t seem to get past the looks, however. The last generation was so clean, whereas this car seems to have gone the way of the euro. That may appeal to some, just not me.
SCORING
Exterior: 2.5/5
Interior: 4.5/5
Roominess: 4/5
Drivability: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Overall in segment: 4/5