VW Jetta: Long-term test

The European Car Web is taking the VW Jetta for a long-term test. And the result is pretty clear: "Absolutely, the best Jetta ever".
They also took some very nice pics of the VW Jetta in black which looks really nice.

I'll be the first to admit our car reviews tend, for the most part, to be more glowing than scathing. And why not? Most cars we drive really are that good; any latent shortcomings can usually be quantified by "I don't like the way that dash is laid out," or "I don't like the plastic they used in this area," or "I think those taillights are lame." Fairly subjective stuff.

European vehicles have always carried a price premium over comparable Asian or domestic offerings, but I've long been a firm believer in the maxim "You get what you pay for." And if our reviews are glowing, you'll have to excuse us. After all, we're writing about the very best cars in the world. Take, for instance, our new long-term Jetta 2.0T.

This, however, is the Jetta you're going to want to buy, the one equipped with the 2.0-liter turbocharged motor and six-speed transmission. It costs about five grand more than the bare-bones Value Edition, but the extra money is absolutely worth it. Here's why.

First, the engine. The 2.0T powerplant cranks out a peak of 200 bhp at 5100 rpm, but more importantly, it develops peak torque of 207 lb-ft at just 1800 rpm. This makes the Jetta 2.0T pretty darn quick off the line. Rowing through the first four gears with a healthy dose of throttle will allow you to absolutely fly onto expressways with a confidence no 2.5L would afford. The first couple times you do, you'll find yourself cresting triple digits before you even realize it.

This brings up another reason I love this car: the gearbox. Volkswagen's new manual transmissions are the best they've ever offered. Operation is quite satisfying and very positive; you always know where you are and where you need to go, and the gearing is well suited to the torque-rich output from the turbocharged motor.

Related news: GermanCarBlog, P4MR, VW Jetta

Source: European Car Web

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