Nuts and Bolts All new for the 2005.5 Jetta is a 20-valve, dual overhead cam, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that puts out 150 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 170 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,750 rpm. TDI models get a turbocharged, eight-valve, single overhead cam, 1.9-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine offering 100 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 177 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,800 rpm.

While the interior content may differ, the same powertrain motivates both the 2005.5 Volkswagen Jetta Value Edition and 2.5L models. All new for the 2005.5 Jetta is a 20-valve, dual overhead cam, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that puts out 150 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 170 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,750 rpm. Aluminum cylinder heads top a heavy, old-school cast-iron block. Drivers manage power through a standard five-speed manual transmission; a six-speed, manually-interactive Tiptronic automatic transmission is optional. The EPA estimates that this engine, regardless of which transmission is chosen, will return 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Buyers in the states of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and California will get their gas-powered Jetta with Partial Zero Emissions (PZEV) to meet state air quality standards.

Offered in TDI models is a turbocharged, eight-valve, single overhead cam, 1.9-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine generating 100 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 177 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at 1,800 rpm. Like the gas-powered 2.5-liter five-cylinder, the diesel engine features an iron block with aluminum heads, and comes with the same standard and optional transmissions. The EPA has yet to release fuel economy data for this model.

Antilock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution are charged with stopping all new Jettas. The diesel-powered, 3,197-lb. TDI model features 288-mm vented front discs and 260-mm solid discs out back; gas models, which all have a base curb weight of 3,230 pounds, wear 312-mm vented discs up front and 286-mm solid discs in the rear. Electronic brake assistance is standard on 2.5L and TDI models, and is optional on the Value Edition.

Though the engines and brake systems vary by model, all 2005.5 Volkswagen Jetta models sit on the same suspension setup. Bearing the bulk of this front-wheel driver are MacPherson struts, coil springs, and a 21-mm stabilizer bar; the rear suspension is a multi-link system, also with coil springs and an 18-mm stabilizer bar.