Volkswagen Jetta Turbo FSI 2006 Review

After a little delay, the DSG punches the front wheels into action and the Jetta squeals away, stability control fighting the turbo FSI motor and the super-slick double-clutch auto.

Torque steer is minimal, thanks to VW's driveshaft setup that is aimed at counteracting the differences between the left and right wheels' driveshafts.

There's still a little tug at the steering wheel – to be expected – but it doesn't detract from the experience, and the electronics don't completely kill the speed off in a straight line. Turning corners under full power can prompt some wheel spin but the electronics temper it. The six-speeder is a great automatic, with the shift-direction being the wrong way the only issue – one day uniformity will be found, or car makers will allow drivers to choose which way they want to shift.

It's a dual-clutch automatic, although VW likes to call it a "manual gearbox in which the gearshifts are controlled electronically".

Either way, the DSG is quick and smooth, with two separate gear sets operated by two wet multi-plate clutches, one gear and clutch driving the vehicle with the second lot waiting to kick in on the gear change, which is completed in four one-hundredths of a second, according to the manufacturer. Hill starts can catch the driver out as it will roll back a little on takeoff, but it's only a small complaint about an otherwise effective and enjoyable substitute for a manual.

Combined with the smooth, well-spread and considerable torque of the two-litre Golf GTI engine, it's an attractive package – particularly given its relatively low thirst.

Volkswagen says its combined average Australian Standard figure is 8 litres/100km which, according to VW's figures, makes the sports model more frugal than the naturally aspirated petrol base model.

The trip computer showed 10.9 litres/100km at the end of our time in the car, with most of that time spent on metropolitan roads – and the rural road trips often included some more enthusiastic stints.

The two-litre turbocharged 16-valve four-cylinder produces 147kW and the peak torque of 280Nm is available between 1800rpm and 5000rpm. It is an entertaining engine, with some of the sporty throatiness carried over from the GTI donor car, but it's that near-flat torque curve that provides the Jetta with quick, yet efficient cross-country abilities.

The Jetta flagship has plenty of in-gear acceleration on the back of that torque, which allows sixth-gear cruising on the open road, when trying to drive frugally, as well as the ability to maintain speed in top gear on the hills as well.

Jetta has grown significantly when compared with the Bora it replaces, with better rear leg room the most noticeable in-cabin improvement. The cabin space is good, allowing four adults to travel in comfort, although three in the rear seat might struggle in terms of width. There's also no shortage of in-cabin safety gear, with dual front and side airbags as well as front and rear side-curtain airbags.

The occupants are well looked after, with a decent 10-speaker sound system and dual-zone climate control, as well as a sports suspension system that doesn't tighten up ride quality beyond the realms of comfort.

Some of Adelaide's nastier bits of bitumen aren't ideally suited to the Jetta's sports-tuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear end, set 15mm lower than the rest of the Jetta range, but it's a small price to pay for the cornering capabilities that see the sedan easily hustled through a set of corners with nice balance and decent cornering behaviour.

The front buckets are comfortable but supportive enough to keep the driver well located behind the reach-and-rake, adjustable leather-wrapped, three-spoke sports wheel, which has audio and trip computer controls. The boot has a claimed capacity of 527 litres and is cavernous. Falcon and Commodore offer 504 and 465 litres respectively. The Jetta receives plenty of kudos for clever packaging given it's 300mm shorter in overall length with a wheelbase that's 200mm shorter than the full-size family offerings from Broadmeadows and Elizabeth. The tallish rear end makes the standard rear parking radar worthwhile to prevent parking mishaps.

As VW makes a concerted effort to price sharply and grow its volumes, those in the market for a medium-sized sedan should have the Jetta near the top of their shopping list.

SMALL TORQUE

VW Jetta 2.0 Turbo FSI

Price: $39,990
Engine: Two-litre DOHC 16-valve in-line turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 147kW
Torque: 280Nm between 1800rpm and 5000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed DSG only, front-wheel drive
Fuel consumption: 8 litres/100km combined. Test 10.9 litres/100km
Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts with lower A-arms, anti-roll bar, sports-tuned (front); independent, four-link with coil springs, anti-roll bar, sports-tuned (rear)
Dimensions (in mm): Length 4554, width 1781, height 1459
Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated, with anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-pressure distribution and brake assist