"The New Jetta, all Grown Up. Sort of." is Volkswagen's marketing tag line for the completely redesigned 2006 Jetta. The Jetta, VW's highest volume seller in North America, is going up market. With sales lagging and an aging product line, the new Jetta represents the beginning of a new era, it is the first of nine new models that will be introducing over the next 18 months.

The outgoing Jetta has been very successful with drivers of a more enthusiast nature - people who like to drive something different, who are looking for more than appliance to get from point A to point B. This fifth-generation Jetta marks the 25th anniversary of the model and VW has high expectations - not just with the 2.2 million people who have bought Jetta's over the years, but with hopes of attracting new buyers to the VW family. The new Jetta has gotten larger, more refined, and more luxurious, inching toward the entry level luxury segment.

Launched in March 2005, the redesigned Jetta is a considerable evolution of the model. To accommodate the advances made with the Jetta, the manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico underwent a $800 million renovation. The investment has resulted in better fit-and-finish, body strength, crash protection and handling compared to the outgoing model.

Initially the Jetta will be sold in two trim levels; the Value Edition which is the most basic version available and comes with the new 150hp 2.5 liter five-cylinder engine, a 5-speed manual transmission and a starting price of $17,900. Only a few options are available on the Value Edition, most notably ESP traction control and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The other trim level is the "2.5" model, which features the same engine, ESP standard, more standard equipment and a long list of available options. The 1.9 liter, 100 hp TDI diesel engine will be available shortly after the initial launch with a trim level similar to the 2.5 model. Starting prices for the 2.5 and TDI are $20,390 and $21,385, respectfully. Destination charge on all models is $615.

The new body is the most notable, and controversial, element of the new Jetta. Gone is the boxy shape that has been the Jetta for the past 25 years. In its place is a larger, softer design somewhat reminiscent of its upscale brother, the Phaeton. The front end takes the shape of the new corporate face, the first VW production model to do so. With a large chrome strip as its most striking feature, it gives the Jetta more luxurious look. The chrome grille is sure to make clear-bra manufactures very happy; review models already were already starting to show signs of pitting.

While the exterior has made great progress in fit-and-finish, and the attention to detail is outstanding, the overall design has lost its distinct shape and has become rather conservative. It doesn't take to much of an imagination to see the new Jetta being mistaken for a Corolla or other Japanese makes by less educated observers.

Inside, the new Jetta is in a class of its own. VW continues to be the leader in interior design, with only the finest materials and excellent build quality. Hard plastics are kept to a minimum and everything looks and feels more like a vehicle costing considerably more. Standard features include power windows, power heated mirrors, cruise control, an adjustable front center armrest, remote keyless entry, front, side and head airbags. Value Edition models get a AM/FM radio with a single disc CD player with MP3 capabilities; upper trim levels get a 6-disc CD player (also with MP3 playback) with satellite radio capabilities (XM or Sirius). Upper trim levels also get a multi-function trip computer, rain sensitive wipers and a auto dimming rearview mirror as standard equipment. Air conditioning is standard on all models, with the Value Edition getting manual climate control, while the 2.5 and TDI models will be standard with automatic, dual-zone controls

Depending on the trim level, the seats are available in cloth, leatherette, or leather. They offer good support and are reasonably comfortable on long drives. The Value Edition gets fully manual seats seats, while the higher trim levels get leatherette manual seats with a power reclining feature; leather, full power seats with memory are available as an option. The rear seats offer more legroom compared to the previous generation, but still are a little cramped, which is typical for vehicle in this segment.

Cargo capacity has grown considerably, offering more space than some mid-side sedans. An automatically opening trunk lid is a nice touch for this model, it will completely open when unlocked either from the remote or from the interior release button. The trunk features a folding package hook from the roof, and a removable storage divider. Rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split to offer more cargo space and an optional fold down center armrest comes equipped with a pass through for longer items such as a snowboard.

Completely new for this fifth-generation Jetta is the 2.5-liter engine, specifically developed for the North American market. At launch it is being mated to the optional 6-speed tiptronic transmission, with the standard equipment 5-speed manual arriving a short time later. The 2.5 offers decent acceleration and passing capabilities on the highway, easily getting to triple digit speeds when the opportunity presents itself. The engine is relatively quite at speed, however a small amount of clatter was noticed on cold starts which had us thinking it was a diesel model at first. While the 2.5 gets the job done nicely, more enthusiastic drivers may want to wait for the 200 hp turbo-charged 2.0 FSI engine to arrive in the Jetta GLI this summer.

A new 6-speed automatic tiptronic transmission is optional. Like all of VWs tiptronic transmissions, the Manual setting is more of a novelty, since it will frustratingly up-shift automatically when approaching red-line, generally a fraction of a second before one would shift manually. Keeping the tiptronic transmission in Sport mode offers the greatest performance out of the engine/transmission combo, and was the preferred mode even for city driving. A manual transmission was not available for testing.

For the first time, the Jetta gets a rear independent suspension. Along with a revised front suspension and the increased rigidity of the chassis, the Jetta exhibits a more dynamic and sophisticated ride with less body roll than its predecessor. Also new for the Jetta, is a electro-mechanical rack-and-pinion steering system, normally found in higher-end vehicles. Overall, the new Jetta's handling is precise and comfortable, but not exactly sporty.

One area that doesn't seem to have been improved, is the brake system. The brake pedal on the models tested had a spongy feel to them, and stopping distanced seemed adequate at best. In fact when pressing firmly on the pedal at a complete stop, it would slowly sink towards the floor. This is a sharp contrast to the firm pedal feel that has been experienced, and expected, from past VWs. This rather disappointing for a vehicle that claims to be engineered for the left lane of the autobahn.

This up-market Jetta has the potential to attract a new audience to the VW family. Its conservative styling may appeal to a broader customer base that may have traditionally bought a Toyota or Honda. It still represents a great value for the buyer, but with all the options checked, it's possible to see the price-tag approach $30k. Traditional VW enthusiast may be a little turned off by the initial offerings and will probably wait for the GLI model to appear, which promises greater performance.