So you’ve noticed those fancy European sports wagons and think you 
might like one. And then you’ve seen the price tags, which can run up 
to the $40,000 neighborhood for a compact model. But that’s not the 
end of the story. The Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is an alternative that 
delivers most of the content and a great driving experience for thousands
less, and you still have the bragging rights to a sporty European vehicle.

And while there are a lot of reasons to salute the Jetta Wagon, price is 
the best place to start. At exactly $26,000 the wagon is a real buy, and
is amazingly fun to drive and has loads of room in back with the seats
folded down. To step up to a comparable compact wagon from Audi or 
BMW, be prepared to pay a lot more, say ten grand or so.

Our Jetta wagon was well equipped. Standard equipment in the GLX 
model includes the spunky V-6 engine along with traction control and 
Volkswagen’s version of yaw control. All of the standard power features 
are in the package including power seats. Add the real wood trim accents 
and a leather interior, a fully adjustable steering column, and electronic 
climate control featuring a sophisticated pollen, dust and odor filter and 
you get quite a car. Our test model had only one option, the highly 
recommended sports package that features a firmer suspension with 
aggressive 17-inch wheels and Michelin tires.

The combination of the V-6 engine, the sports suspension and wide, sticky 
tires adds up to a wagon that goes way beyond utility. It’s a ball to drive, 
whether hustling around the urban environment, taking advantage of the 
slick five-speed manual transmission, or testing the car’s adhesion on twisting 
country roads. The Jetta Wagon never fails to deliver. And while I’m handing 
out compliments, the five-speed manual transmission works very well. The 
Jetta shifts with just the right amount off effort and there is no noticeably 
sloppiness in the gearbox. 

The VW wagon features responsive steering and a suspension that keeps 
the car glued to the road, while delivering a ride that is reasonably compliant.
My only reservation in the handling department is that I would like a little more
steering effort—in other words, the steering response is too effortless. 
Additional resistance would deliver more road feel, I believe. But this is not 
an uncommon problem, even in such highly regarded cars as the BMW 
3-Series, the gold standard for responsive handling for compact cars and 
wagons. 

The Jetta Wagon is also quiet and comfortable. We loaded it up with passengers 
for a night on the town and it pleased a finicky group that usually rides in BMWs
and Jaguars. Everyone commented favorably on its comfort and even 
mentioned the generous legroom in the rear.

Volkswagen offers a wide range of engine options in the Jetta, both sedan 
and wagon. The base unit is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces
115 horsepower. If you want more power without having to write a big check,
there’s a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 150 horsepower. 
Currently at the top of the line is the 174-horsepower six. Later this year, the 
company will introduce a 200-horspower version of this engine, which will be
interesting to say the least because the current six is a real thriller for the price.
But if you really want something different, there’s a high-torque four-cylinder 
diesel engine that produces 90 horsepower and gets great gasoline mileage,
like up to nearly 50 miles per gallon for highway driving. 

The overall fit and finish of the Jetta is quite good, considering its price. Even
though I wouldn’t call it a terribly attractive automobile, it still elicited many favorable 
comments. It seems that spunky utilitarianism is in this year.

The Jetta has one flaw that it shares with many other European automobiles. 
The center console needs work in terms of the placement of the controls. To tune
the climate control and music systems requires the driver to gaze way down to 
the bottom of the console, while you fumble for the controls and try to operate
the rather small control knobs.

Vehicle: Volkswagen Jetta GLX Wagon
 

Price as tested: $26,000
Engine:
 Type: 2.8-liter V-6
 Horsepower: 174 hp @ 5,800 rpm
 Torque: 181-ft. lbs. @ 3,200 rpm
Fuel economy, manual transmission 
 City - 19 mpg
 Highway - 28 mpg
Curb Weight: 3,280 lbs.