| Back during the late 1970s, Volkswagen began to | | | | has made certain that the Jetta is competitively priced |
| realize that they had a bit of a problem on their hands: | | | | to compete with similar models from Hyundai, Nissan, |
| the VW Rabbit/Golf was a fine vehicle, but it lacked | | | | and Toyota. With a starting price of about $16,500 the |
| an important body part which many American drivers | | | | Jetta comes with such nice to have features as: |
| desired: a trunk. Yes, the hatchback craze never did | | | | power side mirrors with blinkers; an independent rear |
| quite well in the US market as motorists couldn't get | | | | suspension; a gas powered five cylinder engine; 8 way |
| used to having all of their personal stuff covered over | | | | programmable seats; and upscale styling. Indeed, the |
| by what resembled a tarp. Instead, sales of competing | | | | current Jetta has an optional rain sensing wiper |
| sedans kept Rabbit sales down until VW decided to | | | | system; available 16 inch alloy wheels; power sunroof; |
| develop a second model, the Jetta, to fill the gap. What | | | | dual zone climate control; and much more. Even as a |
| was originally a model based on the Rabbit has now | | | | better equipped $20,000 model the Jetta competes |
| been transformed into an amazing mid-sized sedan in | | | | effectively with the highly popular Toyota Camry, |
| its own right. Read on and we'll take a look at how the | | | | giving consumers reason to consider the Jetta all the |
| Volkswagen Jetta transformed the middle of VW's | | | | more so. |
| line up. | | | | What has helped Jetta sales immensely in the past |
| At first glance, if you viewed the original Jetta you | | | | year is its diesel model. Sporting a 1.9L turbo diesel |
| would have insisted it was nothing more than a Rabbit | | | | engine, the Jetta TDI has come in very handy for |
| with a trunk slapped on the back of the car. In reality, it | | | | motorists shocked at paying more than $3.00 per |
| was. Not until 1985 when the second generation Jetta | | | | gallon for gasoline recently. Yes, with a diesel aspirated |
| came out, did Volkswagen attempt to separate the | | | | engine powering the Jetta, motorists can expect to get |
| two models to create distinct model lines. Although | | | | more than 40 miles to the gallon when taking interstate |
| some base engine offerings remained the same, the | | | | trips. Although fuel prices have dropped considerably |
| new Jetta was longer and wider than the | | | | since, the Jetta TDI remains popular as its new pump |
| predecessor, enabling it to be categorized as a | | | | injector system puts out more horsepower and torque |
| mid-size car. Indeed, the Jetta was so popular in the | | | | than ever before. |
| North American market that it easily outsold the Rabbit | | | | Truly, the Volkswagen Jetta has matured and evolved |
| for many years. Today, the Jetta shares some | | | | keeping pace with changing customer tastes, budgets, |
| components with the larger Passat instead of the | | | | and high fuel prices. No wonder that the Jetta is easily |
| smaller Volkswagen EOS. | | | | the best selling Volkswagen in the U.S. market far |
| The amazing thing about the current Jetta is its price. | | | | outselling even the budget priced Rabbit. |
| Most mid-sized cars start closer to $20,000 while VW | | | | |