2008 Volkswagen Jetta

2008 Volkswagen Jetta Overview

The 2008 Volkswagen Jetta is a small car that gets good reviews for its sporty and fun performance, roomy interior and top-of-the-line safety features. Last redesigned in 2005, the Jetta has been largely unchanged since then. Still reviewers say it effectively competes with even the new models in the class. Others especially highlight the Jetta's good number of safety features.

The 2008 Volkswagen Jetta is available in a variety of trims, and also comes as a wagon. The Volkswagen GLI is a more performance-oriented variant of the Jetta. If you're in the market for an affordable small car, consider the Honda Civic, or one of the newest small cars, the fuel-efficient Honda Fit.

• "The Jetta is a great--if often overlooked--small car." -- AutoWeek
• "For years, the Jetta was essentially a Volkswagen Golf hatchback with a conventional trunk, but the current-generation model debuted as a redesigned mid-2005 model. The new Jetta had much more of a contemporary look and was larger, roomier and heavier, with a bigger, more powerful base engine." -- Chicago Sun-Times
• "The comfortable and relatively spacious Jetta boasts a handsome interior and inoffensive exterior styling. The base five-cylinder is economical and competent, but pledges little excitement." -- Car and Driver
• "It's hard to come up with a direct competitor for the Jetta -- few cars offer the same combination of family-friendly cabin, fun-to-drive manner, and brand-name chic. The Nissan Sentra offers generous accommodations and legendary reliability, though it's not as interesting to drive. Mazda approaches the VW's driver appeal, but only in a slightly smaller (Mazda3) or slightly larger (Mazda6) size. The Saab 9-3 shares a lot of the Jetta's appeal; too bad it's priced ten grand higher." -- About.com
• "More luxurious and larger than the four prior generations, the new Volkswagen Jetta packs enough upscale features to appeal to upwardly mobile Golf and Jetta owners, while drawing new buyers into the fold." -- Automobile Magazine