What I also love about the Jetta's interior is that it is home to an amazing 5-speed manual gearbox. This is one aspect of the car that
excelled far beyond my expectations. Although it might seem odd that I am praising something that comes standard in most cars, this particular shifter is fantastic. Not only does it seamlessly transition from gear to gear, up or down, but it also feels sportier than its Japanese or Korean competitors with throws that are tightly spaced.
Adding to its sporty feel is the Jetta's completely revamped, fully-independent suspension system, consisting of front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link setup combined with anti-roll bars front and rear. This new system, and the car's stiffer construction overall, allows for greater high-speed stability than the previous generation Jetta. Furthermore, the P195/65R15 tires aided in cornering grip and therefore, overall handling.
The
Jetta also felt comfortable while cruising around town, an ideal car to run errands in. Why? Because the upgraded suspension didn't need to be as stiff as the old car in order to handle well, so a more compliant setting made it so I couldn't feel every imperfection in the road, and therefore it coasted along the city streets and highways very pleasantly.
Furthermore, its new and improved 2.5L, 16-valve, I-5, DOHC engine, boasting 150-horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm, moves along quite quickly thanks to strong low-end torque. This allowed me to accelerate speedily in situations when I needed to get somewhere fast, like claiming a coveted parking spot in the grocery store parking lot.
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| Not only does the five-speed manual seamlessly transition from gear to gear, up or down, but it also feels sportier than its Japanese or Korean competitors with throws that are tightly spaced. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Adding to its sporty feel is the Jetta's completely revamped, fully-independent suspension system, consisting of front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link setup combined with anti-roll bars front and rear. This new system, and the car's stiffer construction overall, allows for greater high-speed stability than the previous generation Jetta. Furthermore, the P195/65R15 tires aided in cornering grip and therefore, overall handling.
The
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| The new and improved 2.5L, 16-valve, I-5, DOHC engine, boasting 150-horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm, moves along quite quickly thanks to strong low-end torque. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Furthermore, its new and improved 2.5L, 16-valve, I-5, DOHC engine, boasting 150-horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm, moves along quite quickly thanks to strong low-end torque. This allowed me to accelerate speedily in situations when I needed to get somewhere fast, like claiming a coveted parking spot in the grocery store parking lot.