Are you looking for a decent sedan that will make your Car Guy friends nod in appreciation without costing an arm and a leg?  Look no farther than the Volkswagen Jetta.

The Jetta may not have grabbed your eye lately, because the design hasn’t changed much for a while.  But that doesn’t mean it’s out of fashion by a long shot.  Volkswagen’s compact sedan stands out from the crowd with exceptional build quality and long list of standard equipment.  For 2003, the Jetta gains additional standard and optional features for the lowest-priced GL model, a few interior tweaks and some new colors.

The Jetta combines traditional sedan design with a hint of the distinct arched shape of the New Beetle for an overall look that’s weathered well in the years that have passed since its last complete redesign.  The wheels are large and pushed out to the corners, and 17″ wheels with painted accents fill the car out nicely.  Bold “VW” badges front and rear and the high, short trunk are Jetta hallmarks.  We’re always impressed by Volkswagen’s precise, even panel lines, which give the car a well-built look.

It feels just as solid as it looks, too.  Our Jetta GLI test car was equipped with the 200-hp VR6 six-cylinder, and Volkswagen’s torquey V6 is always a pleasure to drive around town.  Hooked up to a light, smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission, the VR6 revs almost silently.  We frequently forgot to shift into sixth gear, even when the engine was turning 4000 rpm on the highway; it’s just that quiet.  We noticed an odd flat spot in the VR6′ power delivery, but didn’t find it too annoying.  A five-speed automatic transmission is also available.  Jettas can be had with a 180-horsepower 1.8 liter turbo engine for slightly better gas mileage with minimal sacrifice in acceleration thrills, and a 115-horse 2.0-liter for much better mileage.  Want to go all-out in fuel economy?  A 90-horsepower, 1.9 liter direct-injection turbodiesel gets 49 mpg on the highway.

The Jetta stays connected to the road through an independent front, torsion-beam rear suspension.  The car is as tight as a drum through hard turns, and it’s hard to imagine that VW intends this only as a sedan that’s fun to drive and not as an all-out sports sedan, because it’s better composed than many of them.  Steering response is enthusiastic without being sports-car twitchy.  Anti-lock brakes are standard.  The GLI and GLX models feature VW’s Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) stability control as standard equipment.  It’s optional on lower-priced models.  The Jetta does not shy away when driven with urgency.

The comfortable driving position is also welcome.  The seats could be easier to adjust, but once in place, the shifter, radio and air conditioning controls all fall right to hand, and VW’s signature blue gauges are easy to read.  If there’s anything the Jetta could use, it’s a little bit more storage space inside; the door pockets and tiny armrest/console don’t offer much.  Never mind that, though; this is an interior that invites you to get in and just go somewhere, anywhere.  You can take three friends with you, too.  Side-curtain airbags are standard, protecting front and rear occupants.  Volkswagen is generous with standard equipment, too.  The least expensive Jetta you can buy will go out the door with intermittent wipers, air conditioning, cruise control and a factory alarm.  Considering that the least expensive Jetta you can buy retails for just a whisker over $17,000, that’s nice news indeed.

Basically, what you’ve got here is an incredibly friendly yet sensible sedan, and that’s quite a good thing indeed.  The Jetta is available in four flavors:  GL, GLS, GLI and GLX, in order of ascending base price.  Our test vehicle was a Jetta GLI, with the standard-issue V6 engine and six-speed transmission.  The leather interior, Monsoon sound system and rear spoiler were optional equipment and pushed the sticker price from its $22,950 starting point to $26,044.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which we tested.
Length:         172.3 in.
Width:            68.3 in.
Height:            56.7 in.
Wheelbase:        98.9 in.
Curb weight:        3179 lb.
Cargo space:        13 cu.ft.
Base price:        $22,950
Price as tested:        $26,044
Engine:         2.0 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain:         six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:         200 @ 6200
Torque:         195 @ 3200
Fuel capacity:        14.5 gal.
Est. mileage:        21/29