2002 Volkswagen Jetta - How Do You Make a Good Thing Better?
Volkswagen's Jetta is more popular than ever, and for good reason. Few cars come with its level of style, refinement and performance for as little as $21,490 (base MSRP). While VW adds more luxury and convenience features each year, new optional engine upgrades highlight what made this model so popular in the first place - a sporty driving experience.
The entry 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine still produces 115-hp while a 90-hp diesel remains the fuel economy leader - and one of the best choices when opting for an automatic due to its strong torque bias. For 2002 the rev happy 20-valve, 1.8T turbocharged four-cylinder is even more of a blast to drive. Output increases by 20%, from a healthy 150 to an electrifying 180-hp. More importantly torque is up 12.3%, from 155 to 174 lb-ft, and available from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm. Just touch the accelerator pedal and the 1.8T equipped Jetta rockets forward leaving slower moving traffic far behind - 7.7 seconds to 100 km/h. A smooth shifting 5-speed manual is standard while a 4-speed automatic is optional. Later in the year a 5-speed Tiptronic automatic will join a 6-speed manual as the transmission choices for the top-line 2003 VR6 equipped Jetta. This engine will receive some tweaking as well, including 4-valve cylinder heads pushing output to 201-hp, up from the current 174 hp.