2008 Volkswagen Jetta Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Volkswagen Jetta:

The new center stack includes repositioned controls that are easier to reach, and the three-spoke sport steering wheel befits the more grown-up Jetta.

-- AutoWeek

The long-awaited independent rear end, with a four-link suspension layout, feels far more involved while cornering. There is less body roll, too, and engineers have dialed out most of the impact harshness that plagued the old car.

-- AutoWeek

Steering feel is excellent, and the Jetta stays neatly on course on straightaways.

-- Cars.com

The rear of the cabin is significantly more spacious than before, the seats nicely contoured and raked for comfort. A six-foot-tall driver still leaves room behind for a similarly sized passenger, and there's enough headroom to accommodate someone much taller.

-- New Car Test Drive

What reviewers liked least about the Volkswagen Jetta:

Like with the old car, the automatic, while quite smooth in its operation, makes the new car feel sluggish under acceleration. (VW estimates the automatic needs 9.1 seconds to reach 60 mph.)

-- AutoWeek

It's spacious up front but a tad restricted in terms of elbowroom; some drivers' knees could hit the wide console.

-- Cars.com

It's definitely an in-your-ear sound [the 2.5 L engine] that will find favor with those who appreciate mechanical sturm und drang, but it might be a little annoying to drivers who'd rather talk on the phone.

-- New Car Test Drive

Volkswagen Jetta Comparisons:

At 10 inches shorter than Honda's Accord and six inches shorter than VW's own Passat, the Jetta remains a relatively compact package, but the extra sheetmetal means VW has closed the size gap to cars like the Corolla and Mazda 3.

-- AutoWeek

And the trunk is positively cavernous, larger than that of the midsize Accord and nearly on par with the Camry's, at 16 cubic feet. That's about three cubic feet more than either of the Jetta's two major competitors, the Civic and Corolla.

-- Cars.com

...above-average roadhandling and edgy styling seem to set it off from the rest of the compact class, which really is mostly about cookie-cutter economy cars intended for the masses.

-- Cars.com

Best one-liner about the Volkswagen Jetta:

It's not that the Jetta is unattractive; it's just not quite the Teutonic evolution we expected.

-- AutoWeek

Jetta focuses on technology that can't be seen but can be appreciated.

-- Cars.com

Even without ticking a single box on the options sheet, the new Jetta arrives with plenty of content...

-- New Car Test Drive