2008 Volkswagen Jetta Road Test Ratings

The Jetta is a solid family sedan that doesn't look like everything else on the road. But those who expect precise German handling and a sporty feel will not find it here -- the Jetta is pretty mainstream in its driving behavior.

Steering and handling are composed and safe, but there is nothing special here. Steering isn't as precise as we'd like, probably due to the soft tire choice. The 2.5-liter engine makes decent torque around town and runs fairly smoothly, but the five-cylinder produces a discordant hum when accelerating.

The Jetta's ride is acceptable for the class on most surfaces. The front seats are quite supportive and comfortable. When the engine isn't making itself heard, the general noise level in the cabin is average.

Like the Golf, the Jetta has lots of glass area and an upright seating position for good visibility. Trunk space is good. The interior control layout is logical, functional and easy to figure out, including the audio and climate controls. Volkswagen has one of the best sunroof controls going: a simple overhead twist knob with several detents. But there are no steering-mounted controls and the dedicated iPod port is ruined by terrible iPod control via the radio head unit. A simple "aux" jack would be better, but it isn't present.

The Jetta generally looks good, with tight panel fits and a pleasing shape. The interior design is rather bland, but the one-piece dash feels solid and consists of soft-touch materials. The knobs and buttons are thankfully free of plastic-chrome. But some of the switchgear feels too "clicky" and the main center stack trim panel has noticeable sink marks from the part molding process that look cheap.