Wrap-Up In developing the 2005.5 Jetta, Volkswagen has created a stylish sedan that offers decent power, a comfortable ride, and a long list of optional features. It surely spells relief for the dated Jetta offered over the past several years, but add on a few options and it suddenly pales next to supreme competition.

In developing the 2005.5 Jetta, Volkswagen has created a stylish sedan that offers decent power, a comfortable ride, and a long list of optional features. It surely spells relief for the dated Jetta offered over the past several years.

With all of the improvements, the question still remains of whether the new Jetta is good enough to beat the competition. At $18,000, the feature-laden and safe Value Edition looks promising, and should be especially attractive to young professionals, one of the Jetta’s primary markets. That all changes when the options get added on and the price jumps northwards of $27,000. Sharing the stage at that level are premium brands like Acura and Volvo, not to mention fully-loaded versions of the Honda Accord, Mazda 6, and Nissan Altima. Judged among this pack, the Jetta is outgunned in terms of power, handling, brand cachet, and value.

Like the kid fresh out of college, the new Jetta’s designers need to understand who’s hiring – you are what you are, and no expensive suit, custom resume, or leather seats will hide that fact.