1999 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Never mind the old Volkswagen ``entry level car'' image. This German automaker is going upscale. And that means even its small cars such as the 1999 front-wheel-drive Jetta sedan have been upgraded.

Volkswagen might have more luck with its uptown approach in Europe, where it's a powerhouse, than in the United States. The automaker is strongly associated here with memories of the cheap 1950s-1970s Beetle model, which never got the same acclaim in Europe.

But the popular New Beetle is far more upscale than the old Beetle and has the same chassis as the redone 1999 Volkswagen Golf. Cars such as the new Jetta and Golf might convince many Americans that Volkswagen is a serious contender with upscale models.

Jetta prices range from $16,700 for the base four-cylinder GL sedan to $23,500 for the GLX V-6. I tested the mid-range $19,950 GLS V-6.

Even the base Jetta is fairly well-equipped, with items such as air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, eight-speaker AM/FM/cassette, front side airbags and heated mirrors.

The GLS adds items such as cruise control and power windows and mirrors. And the GLX adds automatic climate control, interior wood decor, leather upholstery and even rain sensor wipers.

The base 115-horsepower Jetta four-cylinder provides decent acceleration, but isn't as smooth and quiet as the compact, 174-horsepower V-6. Neither is the 90-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, although it delivers fairly strong acceleration and exceptional fuel economy.

Volkswagen has been stressing that its cars are fun to drive. So it was surprising to find the new Jetta generally feels softer and isn't as much fun as the old Jetta, which was a Volkswagen Golf hatchback with a larger, coventional trunk.

The new Jetta is more rigidly built than the old model, and higher rigidity generally results in a car with sharper reflexes.

But the Jetta steering felt slightly vague and rubbery, although it was fast enough. The brake pedal felt mushy, although stopping distances were acceptably short.

The supple suspension provided a smooth ride that seemed too soft--although it was well-controlled. Handling was good, but not as good as expected. The 1999 model just doesn't encourage quick driving when the roads begin to curve.

The exceptional V-6 provides very quick acceleration. The engine calls for fairly high revs to deliver the best performance, but it revs quickly and easily.

An acceptable four-speed automatic transmission is offered, but my test car had the base five-speed manual. The shifter has a fairly long throw, which might annoy drivers with shorter arms, and works with a light, long-throw clutch.

The Jetta seats four tall adults, although leg room gets tight in back if front-seat occupants shove their seats back a lot. Narrow rear door openings can cause tall occupants to hit their heads on the roof if not careful when getting in or out.

It's roomy up front in the generally quiet interior, but there is no surplus of elbow space because the Jetta is rather narrow. Visibility is good from the driver's seat, and there's a typically no-nonsense Volkswagen dashboard with easily read gauges and nicely positioned controls.

Front cupholders are mounted conveniently high and feel sturdy enough for large, heavy beverage containers. But Volkswagen should lighten up and get rid of the dark dashboard colors.

Following Jetta tradition, the new model has an amazingly big trunk with a conveniently shaped flat floor. The Jetta resembles a station wagon when the rear seat is flipped entirely forward to enlarge the cargo area, although those who just flip rear seatbacks forward will find they don't fold very flat; it's best to move the entire seat forward, which is easily done.

The new Jetta should appeal to a larger number of car buyers because it looks much slicker and has a more expensive driving feel. But many old-line Volkswagen driving enthusiasts might be disappointed.