Wanting a sedan with a manual transmission + a sunroof (my only must have requirements) narrowed the field of possible new cars depressingly quickly. But the Jetta was a compelling offer regardless; providing great value, decent performance and impressive fuel economy in a very handsome design (when equipped with the R-Line package). Though many reviews I had read praised the Jetta's ride, I don't find this to be the case. It is very harsh and even jarring - on two occasions, the glove box/sunglasses holder have popped open when hitting bumps. Passengers have also commented on the "metal on metal" feeling of the ride over even the slightest rough roads. Wind noise at any speed about 60km/h is beyond intrusive. The interior looks and feels much more upscale than many rivals, though there is a lot of hard plastics and glossy finishes that appear to scratch quite easily. The carpets also seem to just trap dirt and already look more worn than those in my 2007 Civic (280,000kms). Frequent cleanings are necessary to preserve the newness. The most impressive part of the Jetta is the fuel consumption - averaging around 6l/100km, and even going below 5 on longer hwy trips; easily getting 800+kms a tank (mixed driving + heavy foot). The engine is adequate - gets the job done, but you won't win any drag races - and the 6 speed manual is silky & very easy to drive smoothly. So far, aside from 2 sets of absolutely garbage factory wiper blades, the car has been problem free (about to hit 25,000kms). I'm quite happy with my purchase - just very disappointed with the ride quality & excessive wind noise - both of which keep me from loving what is otherwise, a very good offering in the compact car segment.

I drove my EL for nearly 200,000kms and thoroughly enjoyed the car. The interior design was nothing special and the cupholders were essentially useless, unless being used as a change holder. The manual transmission was very user friendly and at nearly 300,000kms was on the original clutch. Though reliable for the most part, the things that did go wrong were costly (A/C compressor, window regulator, exhaust manifold). Though compact in size, the interior was surprisingly accomodating and at nearly 300,000 looked nearly new - very little fade, scuffs or damage. The body of the car also held up well - except for rust around the rear wheel wells (common with these cars). When driven gingerly, the fuel consumption was great, but to get the most out of the engine results in significantly higher consumption numbers. It was also neat to have a car not available anywhere else but Canada.

I purchased this car 2nd hand and have had it for 3.5 years and have put on about 65,000km (currently sits at 111,000kms) and have liked the car. The biggest disappointment has been the fuel consumption, which typically sits about about 10L/100km, far off the manufacturer's ratings. The car has only required dealer maintenance, no repairs, but there are a significant amount of rattles from nearly every corner. The interior design is my favouirte part about the car; the two tier dash may not be for everyone, but I find it attractive and much easier to monitor my speed. The 140hp engine is adequate, but can feel strained with passengers and/or the A/C on. While I like the car, I will not be rushing out to buy another Civic - or Honda, for that matter.