Introduction

The fourth-generation Volkswagen Jetta was introduced in late 1998 to North-American market. Classy look, stylish interior, good safety records and variety of engine choices contributed to its popularity. Wagon version is also available.
Front-wheel drive, transverse mount engine, front independent suspension with McPherson struts and stabilizer bar, torsion beam rear suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar.
Front driver's and passenger's airbags, front side airbags, four-wheel ABS system, disk brakes on all four wheels are standard - rare to find in compact class. Optional Traction Control and Stability Control systems are available.
IIHS Best Pick for Offset Frontal Crash, five stars for both driver and passenger in NHTSA frontal crash test.

Volkswagen Jetta 2002

Volkswagen Jetta 2002

The engine

Volkswagen Jetta four-cylinder 2.0 engine

You can choose from four available engines:
- Base 4-cylinder SOHC 2.0L engine with 115 horsepowers.
- High-performance DOHC 4-cylinder 1.8L turbo engine with 150 horsepowers (increased to 180 h.p from 2002).
- 1.9L turbo diesel engine with 90 horsepowers (models from 2004 come with more quiet 1.9L Pumpe D¨¹se diesel engine with 100 h.p)
Both diesel engines have very impressive fuel economy.
And the best choice, in my opinion:
- Powerful and smooth DOHC 6-cylinders 2.8L engine with 174 horsepowers (increased to 201 h.p from 2002). All engines except 2.8-liter VR6 have a timing belt that must be replaced regularly.

Strengths

- Stylish look
- Interior comfort
- Good safety records
- Good handling
- Standard 4 wheel ABS system
- Standard 4 wheel disk brakes
- Variety of available engines
- Variety of optional equipment
- High resale value

Weaknesses

- Not the best reliability
- Service and parts are quite expensive
- Price
- Certain models might be costly to insure. Check the insurance quote first.

Overall

Looking for classy-looking compact sedan with sophisticated interior, standard ABS and good safety records? - Jetta is one of the possible choices.
Enjoy being pushed into the seat? - look for 1.8L turbo or 2.8L VR6 model. Want to save on fuel? - there is a TDI diesel model with excellent fuel economy.
However, the reliability is far from being excellent. Expect visiting your Volkswagen dealer once in a while. Parts and service are quite expensive and not all independent garages can perform the repair. I'd definitely recommend buying an extended warranty with good coverage along with your Jetta. If the reliability is your primary concern consider Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic

What to look for buying a used VW Jetta

Definitely check used car history records - there are so many cars out there after accidents, flooded, with rolled back odometers, returns from rental companies, etc. Follow this link: How to check car history records by VIN number
Test carefully all electrical accessories. Test all power windows, locks, alarm, heated seats, wipers, remote operation, even dome lights. Check the glowbox lid, the cupholder, the ashtray and armrest support, some plastic parts may be broken. Check the radio reception in FM and AM. If it's possible, check service records, it's important to verify if the oil changes were done regularly. Noise from the suspension on bumpy road may indicate bad suspension components (e.g stabilizer bushings). Check if the timing belt has been replaced.
Look for the coolant leaks.
Check our general illustrated used car checklist
As a last step prior purchase, have the car properly inspected by a mechanic. If you are buying from an independent dealer or a private owner, bring the car to Volkswagen dealer for an inspection. I'd definitely recommend to get an extended warranty with good coverage.
Buying from Volkswagen dealer under Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen program is definitely a better option despite higher price. Check our step-by-step Used car buying guide

Maintenance tips

- I'd recommend servicing your Jetta at Volkswagen dealer or VW-specialized shop - they are tricky to work on.
- Change the engine oil regularly.
- Check all the fluid levels periodically and top up when needed.
- When changing a timing belt, it's very good idea to replace the water pump as well.
- If you have diesel engine, replace the fuel filter regularly.
- If you service your car at independent garage, bring it to a dealer once in a while to see if any updates/recalls needs to be done.
Check more Car maintenance tips

Volkswagen Jetta short specs. (2003 model)