This smooth, compact powerplant has a relatively large 2.8-liter displacement for plenty of torquey flexibility. A week spent in a Jetta GLX showed it to be a car with a wonderful combination of performance and practicality. Like its sibling, the Jetta is a study in rounded boxiness, with thick door frames and a steeply-raked windshield. The Jetta rear deck is high, giving the car a rakish wedge shape when viewed from the side and plenty of trunk space. The chromed Volkswagen logo in its center is the only brightwork on the car.
Bumpers are body-colored and mirrors, window gaskets, and wipers are black.
The GLX can be distinguished from other Jetta models by the prominent spoiler atop the rear deck, black lower side cladding, and 6-spoke BBS alloy wheels. The Jetta's exterior boxiness pays dividends inside. Few cars have such efficient space utilization. This is a small sedan that will hold four large adults quite comfortably. It has plenty of convenience features, even optional leather upholstery.