Volkswagen Jetta 2.5

I recently found myself in a very difficult position while having a conversation, about a car, with a friend.

He kept on insisting that it was a sports car - because of how fast it was, and how slick it looked - while I told him that it was less of a sports car than a Volkswagen Golf R32, or Honda S2000 (despite costing around 10 times as much); and that it probably would be better off in a rap video, surrounded by other slick-looking 'bling bling' and women overly eager to prove Isaac Newton's theory of gravity, every time they shake their goods up and down.

The point here is that speed and/or good looks alone are not a measure of a sports car, or what makes it sporty. Many different factors have to work well together, for starters: a good chassis; transmission; steering feel; beefy brakes; and a good driving position - amongst others. Of course the engine size counts, and so do the good looks, but these go hand in hand with all the other characteristics mentioned.

Then, irony of ironies, I found myself in a difficult position just two days later - when I was handed the keys to a very bling bling-looking new Jetta. Not that you'd really associate things wearing the VW badge with flash and pizzazz; this was nonetheless an attempt, by Wolfsburg's finest, at creating something they, obviously, hoped would appeal to those of us who wanted a sensible German sedan - with a bit of flare and sporty driving feel.

It seems that after just a few hours of driving the Jetta 2.5 around town, and then onto the highways outside of the city, I quickly realized VW had only achieved half their goals with this car.

The Jetta is full of goodies: I was pleasantly surprised with the Xenon headlamps that flicked on the moment I remotely unlocked the car; and was even more surprised at the supple leather seats, wood trim and the usual well laid-out VW interior. This was a well-designed and good-looking car, both inside and out. This would certainly satisfy many who want a sensible and well put-together everyday car. But was it a sporty package?

Absolutely not. The rims, which looked so good from the outside, did not suit this chassis whatsoever - giving you a large whack and thud every time you went over the slightest imperfection in the road; the steering was way over-assisted and felt completely numb; and the brakes were too spongy. Add to that an engine note that sounds more like a washing machine in full spin mode, and you've got a formula that few sports car fans would be too happy with. So while it looks good, it certainly does not drive any better than a regular spec Jetta with 16in rims.

Besides, VW's got to do something about those brakes, and breathe some life into the steering column. On the highway, things got a little better - with the Jetta feeling much more composed and stable at speed.

So our take on the Jetta 2.5 is this… Either get yourself the base version, which won't be so disappointing - because you'll have spent less money on it, therefore shouldn't expect such a superb handling car - or shell out the extra dosh and get yourself a Passat, which is light years ahead of the Jetta in terms of performance, feel and driver feedback. At least, with the Passat, you've got a car with a more solid feel.

Evo rating:
+Sporty looks and the badge
- Brakes, steering, alloys, engine noise

See also:
Video test drive: VW Touareg