Volkswagen Jetta - Diesel Road Test

How about a bit of bling?
It's here aplenty. Follow the Jetta in traffic and you'd think Christmas had come early, thanks to the neon-style LED 'fast response' brake lights. Overtake, and the show is equally entertaining. As you'll witness on the new Passat, VW is introducing a new corporate 'face' to its cars and the Jetta is the second model to wear it. So, although the front is transplanted from the standard Golf, the Jetta has an additional 'shield-like' grille. Compared to the ultra-conservative Golf, the Jetta has more metal on its face than a Big Brother housemate.

So it does have youth appeal?
Some neat dimensional tricks add purpose. Parked by a Golf, it sits a few millimetres lower. Given the longer boot section (the loading capacity against the previous version now being 72 litres greater) the car has stance and stature, though there's a shade less headroom in the back that in a Golf.

Let's go for a spin then...
Like the Golf, the Jetta's a joy to drive, with high-quality switchgear, a ride that plants itself securely into demanding corners and confidence-inspiring steering. An electronic stability programme, to ensure any slide or skid is prevented and controlled, comes as standard, with anti-lock brakes. If you want a diesel daisycutter, you'd best wait until next year, when a beefed up version of the 2.0 TDI (driven here) is promised, but this model and the cheaper 1.9-litre option are both credible performers. Best current choice, however, is the 2.0 - particularly with the £1,300 super-slick DSG automatic option. It changes faster than a manual can, even if you're Schumacher.

Where do I sign?
You're right to be impressed, but check the practical implications first. That boot looks immense but has a seven-inch lip to hump heavy items over, while the rear seats, albeit forward-folding, don't fold dead flat and the pinched aperture between the boot and the cabin spells a no-no for anything larger than long-haul baggage. One dealer option, however, lets you enjoy all the Jetta's appeal and swap the slippers for a mountain bike: the good old Golf.

Tiscali rating: 6/10 Grandparents of today, eh?