I've already waxed poetic about how great our 2009 TDI is under the skin, but how about the styling? Though the current one has grown on me, I'd have to say that compared to all the generations of Jettas, it's second or maybe third place in the looks department.
My favorite? That would be the previous generation, the 1999.5 to 2005. Clean, distinctly European lines, not a Corolla-like profile as with today's car. You know, like our recently departed 2005 long-termer. I also think the 1993-1999 generation is rather handsome (see pic above).
What's your fave?
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor
audisport says:
11:45 AM, 06/26/09
New version for sure. Yeah it looks Corolla-like and all but the interior is damn good for the price range and you can reprogram the ecu for even more torque and hp and even throw on some improved suspension bits so that it doesn't feel like your driving a Caravan.
t4rboarder says:
11:50 AM, 06/26/09
Hands down the 93-99 (Mk3)...I could stare at that picture above all day long.
texases says:
12:00 PM, 06/26/09
Mk4, it's the benchmark for good compact car styling to me, next is the Mk1 (in it's day, does look dated now). Others aren't distinctive to me. I saw a current one next to a Corolla, both in silver, amazed/disappointed at how similar they looked.
dougtheeng says:
12:05 PM, 06/26/09
1999-2005 was a great looking car. The looks of the current Jetta are a huge step backwards, imo.
fuhteng says:
12:24 PM, 06/26/09
The one that runs and has no electrical problems.
richc3 says:
12:36 PM, 06/26/09
If I could still sit comfortably in the firm leather seats of my old 2003 Jetta TDI ... and KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT (ck the rear seat legroom), I'd pick the A4 bodystyle. For now I'll look blindly forward and opt for the grown up 'Corolla-ish' A5 body and the 2009 2.0L 'clean diesel' ... so as long as I can have a 6 speed manual and a little Rocketchip tuning.
santiagofdz says:
12:53 PM, 06/26/09
Mk2, but for purely sentimental reasons.
A good friend's highschool and college ride was a blue Diesel Mk2 Jetta, brings back some nice memories.
For aesthetic reasons, the Mk4 car is still my fave. 10 years later it still looks fresh and smart looking IMO.
shaddai says:
12:56 PM, 06/26/09
My first car was a 1985 Jetta II. I loved that car. My wife bought a 1996 Jetta III a few years later. That was a fun car, except it was plagued with electrical problems.
bc1960 says:
01:03 PM, 06/26/09
Mk4 closely followed by the Mk1. The others are horrid. The current one does look OK as a SportWagen except from the front, where it looks better as Golf Variant--when the 2010s arrive in the US, that may be fixed.
billgti says:
02:45 PM, 06/26/09
i do like the mk4 and mk3 but the mk3 had some of the ugliest rear doors ever made. the rear door is the same as the golf/gti!
petrolhead85 says:
04:28 PM, 06/26/09
Definitely the Mk4. It's still sold here in Canada as the City Jetta, with a slightly redesigned front fascia and rear end. I like it far better than the new one which, from the side, is way to generic.
cruiserhead1 says:
06:11 PM, 06/26/09
MK4 and MK3, in that order.
The new Corolla inspired Jetta is great for those buyers wanting a German sedan experience but love the milktoast Japanese econobox look.
cwc1 says:
06:24 PM, 06/26/09
The MkIV styling is what got me interested in a Jetta, and made me consider a VW product (which I did end up buying). So, it's definitely the best, where the MkV (Corolla) doesn't look quite right to me - it looks better as a Golf.
But more power is nearly always better, and I would like to have the MkV's engine in the MkIV body style - except the fuel mileage of the older engine is superior.
vacagrande says:
09:13 AM, 06/27/09
Mk4 has the best looks but they were built so poorly that I would never own one or allow anyone I know to own another (past the few that have already make that mistake). It's the boring-looking Mk5 for me, although I'd much rather have a GTI.