Staff Writer

I’ve gotten a kick out of the Volkswagen television ad campaigns over the past couple of years.
The “Drivers Wanted” ads were followed by the white-clad, German techno-ravers espousing “V-Dub” as the auto of choice for those who want to be oh, so Euro-chic like them.
As surprisingly self-depricating as those commercials were, here’s the thing about the 2008 Jetta 2.5 SE — it truly is something to brag about for “V-Dub.”
Starting at under $20,000, the Jetta is an upscale economy car, getting 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The entry price is affordable and the gas mileage is certainly an eyebrow-raiser given current petrol prices.
A few changes for the 2008 model year include the exclusion of the 2.0T engine, which has been paired only with the GLI. The Jetta’s trim levels are now known as the S, SE and SEL, and more noticeably, the 2.5-liter standard five-cylinder engine is up to 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque.
The Jetta is unique as far as its manners go. Few if any “economy” cars are as refined from top to bottom, inside and out, as the Jetta. In that respect, it is a car well beyond its price tag.

2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.5 SE
BASE PRICE: $19,760
AS TESTED: $21,674
BODY STYLES: Sedan
FUEL ECONOMY: 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway
IN THE MARKET: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Chevy Cobalt

AESTHETICS/ERGONOMICS
The SE model adds to a comfortable base package a sunroof, heated front seats and an upgrade to a 10-speaker stereo system with satellite radio, all of which sit on 16-inch alloy wheels.
The Jetta is the Young Republican of economy cars. It’s dressed for success, but very conservatively so — classic styling like a Brooks Brothers necktie, low on the bling-factor. That’s not necessarily a good thing for a company hungry to connect with younger buyers — and one that legitimately has something to offer those buyers.
None of the 20-somethings out there want to be thought of as buying their grandmother’s sedan, but the tradeoff for the hottie factor is the refinement inside and out. The ride is quiet and smooth.
From the driver’s standpoint, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and wrapped gear stick help matters as does pseudo-leather upholstery (hey, you can’t get everything for 20 grand).
If you’re hung up on the exterior, a couple of VW-made kits are available to give the Jetta a little shot of Botox. An iPod adapter is another option for those who can’t remember what CDs were, much less cassette tapes. This was included on the tested model for an extra $199.

PERFORMANCE
This is where the Jetta earns its bones. The 2.5 inline five-cylinder is a solid performer at 170 horses. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a flawless six-speed tiptronic sequential shift transmission was a $1,075 option on the tested Jetta SE. The top-of-the-line SEL package offers only the automatic transmission.
Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard on the SE and SEL.
With the tested automatic, the Jetta is never in want of power with flawless acceleration and a rather agile handling package. It is typically German in its quiet ride and solid feel on an aggressive stance.
While 29 mpg on the highway sounds pretty good, it is actually a little below average for the economy class (as is the 21 mpg the Jetta is rated in the city), but there are trade-offs everywhere.
Honda Civic has more engine choices, the Ford Focus has better mileage, but the Jetta has those intangibles with ride and comfort.

FINAL THOUGHTS
People who aren’t considering the Volkswagen Jetta probably should. VW often doesn’t enter that discussion with the economy buyer. The Jetta could change that.