Used 2006 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Mostly a good car
Overall it has been a good car. I have about 92000 miles on it now and needs some significant work. A wheel bearing is shot, the head gasket leaks, and a few other minor repairs needed. The real problem is that this engine seems to have a flaw as noted by many others. I began to get a VERY rough idle at about 50000 miles that was repaired under warranty for $5000. The problem is coming back now and can really only get a band-aid repair if I want to avoid paying $5000 on my own (which didn't really last anyway). Other than this, it has been a super reliable car and has had very few problems. It has been probably my favorite car I have ever owned but I am selling it now to avoid major repairs.
Great Car
Don't listen to the editors' ratings, whoever they are. I have owned Jaguars, Mercedes, and a Dodge Ram P/U and this is the coolest car that I have owned.
- Value Edition SedanMSRP: $3,99563 mi away
- 2.5MSRP: $4,995104 mi away
- TDI Diesel SedanMSRP: $4,500117 mi away
Jetta, not living up to long term rep
I had two Jettas. The first 2006 Jetta I had I bought brand new and ended up getting it replaced because I had to replace the driver side door seal three times along with several other electrical problems. The dealer gave me another Jetta after that fiasco and ended up having even more problems. I had so many wiring and mechanical problems. My trunk actually flew up on I35 in the middle of a roadtrip with all of my stuff in the back because of an electrical glitch. Also, the dealer didn't follow through on service like they said, ESPECIALLY with tire car, and I ended up having to replace all 4 tires within only 20,000 miles. One of them was replaced TWICE. I no longer drive a Jetta.
Love my VW
I purchased my VW used in June of 2008 and have not had any problems. I have an hour long commute to work everyday and was looking for a vehicle that was inexpensive, reliable and good on gas. This car has met all of my needs. Other than bringing the car in for regular maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, etc), I have not had to do anything else. Keep in mind that this car requires synthetic oil.
TDI and loving it
Have almost 100k on this car. It's been very reliable, with only a few minor repairs here and there. Just had the timing belt changed (which has to be done at 105k miles). I'm expecting to drive this for at least another 100k!
New to the VW Family and Loving It
After not even remotely considering a Jetta. I took co-workers suggestions and took one for a test drive. I absolutely fell in love with the car. It handles well and the features that come standard are amazing. I looked at a Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry and the Jetta surpassed them all. Not to mention the sales service that I received were excellent. This was by far the best car buying experience that I have had. I am definitely a VW Jetta fan for life. I love my Jet-Jet.
Amazing Car
I have driven performance Audis since 1996 (S6 avant, S4, and a chipped allroad). This car compares favorably to all of them. The fit and finish is right up there with Audi at half the price. The gas mileage is awesome. This car handles well and has great performance once off the line. If you need more power, chip it for $500 and increase the HP to 133. I drove the Prius, it wasn't fun to drive and the mileage was not as good (see Autoweek's comparison). The Jetta TDI is comfortable, refined, fun to drive, looks good, is a bargan at $22,000 and gets 40+ MPG when you drive it normally. This is a great car on its own merits and you can feel good about helping the environment by driving it.
Too pretty for the problems
This is my "first purchased" car (previously owning a 2008 kia sportage) I recently bought this car with 128k miles on it because of its looks, gas mileage, and comfort. I test drove it and fell in love with it, however it was a mistake. The transmission is going out. It only happens whenever I go over 60mph in stop and go traffic, the car gets stuck in 6th gear and the rmps are really high for how little I press on the gas. I really regret purchasing this car, I paid cash for it so unfortunately I can't do anything about it. I refuse to replace the transmission because itll cost as much as I paid for it. Im already saving for a new car and it won't be a vw. I miss my Kia.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
German is not always quality
I bought this car brand new and after 5 years put 60000 miles on it. Service intervals cost an arm and leg. Quality is terrible. Car was cupping tires, the electrical in left door failed, lights burn out randomly, paint peeling of interior buttons and radio. Speakers stopped working. Do not buy VW, this is not the same German car it used to be years back. It is the biggest piece of junk. The dealer always makes excuses when there is a problem and blames it on wear and tear or customer fault. This car was terrible. It only had 57000 when I traded it in to get rid the junk.
I love this car!
We traded our 2003 TDI Jetta for the 2006 model at the end of last year, and we love it even more than our 03'! It's much roomier and very comfortable on a trip. My daughter has much more room in the back than she did before as well. We get great gas mileage, and it's actually quieter than the 2003 was.
Don't miss my BMW
I recently traded in my 2001 BMW 525i for a Jetta GTI. Yes you do give up some drivetrain smoothness with the diesel, however the gas mileage is amazing. The interior of the VW has better ergonomics than the BMW and the quality of materials is surprisingly good. I hope the reliability of the VW will be better than the BMW. It seems that problems begin to develop in BMWs after 40,000 miles.
Excellent all the Way Around
My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a high quality car. The diesel is great. Don't let the horsepower fool you. It has tons of low-end torque. Its steering is tight and it corners great. Plus it has tons of VW goodies.
Fun Car to Drive
My Jetta TDI was purchased to replace my full size 4X4 diesel truck. When fuel prices went up, I had to make a choice. I really miss having a truck, but now I have a sports car with gas mileage at or close to 45 MPG in the city. The VW Jetta is a very comfortable and sporty car. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Jetta has been good to me
My 2nd Jetta and 4th VW. Love the tight feel and handling of this Jetta more than my past '98 Cabrio, '00 Jetta and '85 GTI. Drives awesome and even good in snow. Wish mileage was a little better, but it's not bad. The std options w/ my model are sweet (pwr snrf, AC, leather, pwr evythg). Always felt the build & finish were fine; knobs are sturdy, glove box doesn't break in winter (like my '00 did) and window clips are sturdy. $80 oil changes at dlr are a drag, yes, but skip those when u can at Jiffylube! All in all a great car w/ good looks, features. will cost a bit more at tune-up times ($700+ at 40K) but well worth the fun of driving this daily.
Laughing at the SUVs
I have owned this new body Jetta since October. I traded in my sweet '02 Passat for it. Has more power than the 1.8T Passat and it gets incredible gas mileage! I test drove the E-Class diesel from Mercedes and didn't think it was twice the car (even though it was more than twice the price). The only thing that would meke trade-up is if they come out with the European version Passat TDI.
The Closest Thing to a BMW that I'll Have...
I bought a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI on a whim when I took my 2003 Passat in for regular maintenance. So far, I'm excited to be getting 45 mpg after 2,000 miles, and I get to support the local Midwestern economy by buying a biodiesel fuel blend. This car is "socially responsible." I love the handling; it's so sharp in the curves, but the ride is still very compliant over rough pavement. It turns on a dime. The interior is super comfortable and beautiful, but like others, I wish they would have kept the wood trim and other luxuries with Pkg. #2 (which mine has) from 2005. Its pickup is okay; I can still merge on the freeway just fine. Despite its flaws, I'm thrilled with my new Jetta!
Never Again
I am a previous 99 Jetta owner and bought the 06 Jetta in 07 and have had nothing but problems. The dealership hates me because I'm constantly in there. Cold starts on this thing are horrible car makes a really annoying noise which I was told all of them make after repeated visits to the dealership for this problem. The headliner came undone and had to be replaced about 2 months ago. I just had the catalytic converter replaced this month and now I have this burning smell coming from the rear of the car. I have to say that I'm very disappointed with this vehicle and will probably trade it in soon only because I don't want anything to happen to it when my warranty runs out.
Love my Jetta
This is my second Jetta. Even though Consumer Reports gave the Jetta a poor review in 2005 I went ahead and bought the '06. My previous Jetta was a '98. What a great choice that was. I have had it for over two years now and, 24,000 miles later, it has performed perfectly. I still get a thrill out of driving it. City mileage about 24-25 mpg.
2006 Jetta TDI
I've owned my Jetta TDI now for two months and love it! I'm getting outstanding mileage, 42-46+ mpg, over 600 miles per tank, and the engine still is not 'broken in' yet. I'm 6' tall and this car has plenty of head and leg room for me. It runs smoothly and quietly, is very easy to drive, has a nice tight turning radius, and very quick acceleration when you step on it. The color is the new 2006 green, which is very sharp looking against the chrome. The trunk is enormous, and the fold down seats are wonderful for cargo - maybe too big. I very much like the standard airbags in the front and back. The back seats are a little tight for leg room if the driver has the seat back though.
Love the car!
I absolutely love the car. It gets great gas mileage (I haven't topped 40 yet but I do a lot of city driving) and has a ton of power.
2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
I was told by the dealer not to expect great mileage until I had reached 5,000 miles, to my delight I have been getting anywhere from 40 to 52 mpg. Not bad for a car this size.....
Great Gas Mileage
I got 44 mpg on my first tank and did not drive like a granny. The car has good freeway power. The power from a stop seems sluggish until you learn how to drive it correctly. It's amazing how easy it is to smoke the tires from a roll in first gear.
Very competitive, sporty sedan
Powerful, fuel-efficient engine. This feels like a 6-cylinder, with no turbo lag. Excellent handling and comfortable ride, even with the sport suspension. Comfortable leather seats with good visibility. The interior is roomy with high quality materials (like a entry-level luxury car) and is thoughtfully laid out. 10,000 mile interval between scheduled oil changes (after the first two at 5,000 miles). Initial quality issues include DRLs that were not activated, and a bracket that snapped off the rear cupholder.
Unreliable
Not particularly fun to drive but very powerful and fuel efficient. 2.0T engine works better with GLI. Engine consumes oil about a quart per 5k miles so be careful! Front tires go fast. AC is not sufficient in Texas. In 10k miles we started to have issues with a DSG shifter; after several visits to the dealer they got it fixed. In about 15k miles, lost fuel pup or something, it was repaired under warranty. At 29k miles, in DSG transmission the clutch failed and broke the transmission casing: the car almost cached the fire, 6k USD repair under warranty. In 30k miles, engine lost the coolant and car had to be towed to dealer, again.
Great Gas Mileage
No doubt the 2006 Volkswagen TDI will get over 40 miles per gallon on the highway even at speeds over 75. We have noticed that in town driving you have to be careful. It's so fun to drive you want to push the turbo. The worst mileage we had was 31 in the city but average just city no highway we get 35. I'm tall and this Jetta is so much more comfortable than our 1998 Jetta. If you buy a 2006 model make sure you opt for the rubber mats. We went to Florida and having those were important the the truck has a mat also.
VW - Wow!
It is all there, but the fun, well it's actually a bit of fun, but not like my Miata. Wonderful sedan that can carry a foursome with clubs on a short trip. The ride, handling, fit and finish, everything is tight and first class. No problems and great mileage! Average about 40 mpg with mixed travel and about 50 mpg on a trip with cruise @ 80 mph. Had a SunBug back in the early 70s and this is not anything close. This is tight German craftsmanship at its best and a decent price point. We have two. I drive a manual and my wife drives an automatic. We will buy VW diesel again in about 15-20 years when these have 300K.
The Seats are TERRIBLE
I bought this car for a commuter vehicle and it serves this purpose wonderfully as far as an economical and fun car to drive. However, it is the most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever sat in. I am 6'3", 210 pounds. The seats are designed for someone in the 5'0" 120 pound frame size. I am so displeased with the seat comfort that I am taking the vehicle to a custom seat builder for relief.
Love this car
This car is so much fun to drive. I originally wanted an A3, but found the suspension too stiff. I test drove the Passat and the GLI as well, and this one was just right. I love the interior styling. The car handles super nice in curves and when merging into traffic. I love the pick up. My 6 year old calls it the Silverbullet. I had issues with catalytic convertor, rear armrest and satellite radio. Dealership took care of it promptly. This is the best car I've ever had so far.
Best Bang for the Buck
This is my second Volkswagen Jetta TDI. I dive a ton and the uncompareable fuel mileage is nice on the wallet. I visit the gas station about half of the time as I would be doing if I had a gasoline engine.
I love my VW Jetta diesel
I just bought my Jetta two weeks ago. I am getting awesome gas mileage. I went on the interstate with my cruise set at 80 mph and the gas mileage was 38 mpg. In regular driving around town I get 40 - 45mpg. I love the space in the trunk and the seats. I think they should change the cruise control placement. I am a power freak, and was looking at a car that could fit my lead foot bu still get good gas mileage. I was afraid of the small 100 HP engine, untill I drove it. I was instantly hooked. I could not believe the power it has. the torque is amazing, and the take off is good. I notice some slugishness in second gear, but its easily overcome with a little fuel.
"BIG" Surprise
So I never intended to even look at a VW Jetta but was coaxed into trying it on for size. I'm 6'3 & 300 lbs so you can imagine my skepticism. I sat down totally blown away. Tons of head room, leg room, comfortable seat, & still with all of the above to spare. Next thought? oh it won't be any fun or have any power. 200 HP out of an inline 4 cyl turbo. GREAT pickup & performance, gears changing so smoothly I can't even feel them change. Takes a corner like a pro on rails. Great MPG to boot, well as long as you don't put it in the sport mode & drive normal. All in all I couldn't have picked a better car for what I wanted. Safety, performance, good MPG, 4yr/50k warranty, comfort, & style.
2005.5 Jetta
This is a great car. Never thought a VW would be so fun to drive. It's faster than the earlier version and it has a ton more room in the back seat. The leather is much nicer as is the location of all of the controls. Can't think of a thing about this car that I can complain about and I have 3,000 miles on it.
Great Car for the Money!
I had test driven the Lexus IS 250, BMW 325i, Acura TL, and Infiniti G35 - the Volkswagen Jetta GLI offers everything those cars offer (minus some obvious horspower with certain models) at a great price. I was very impressed with the quality, power and standard features that this car offered - at a fraction of the cost of what the other cars sell for. Even though the cars I test drove are not thought of as in the same category as this car, for the money it can clearly stand beside those other cars - and make you a believer in this car like it did with me. You should at least test drive one, you will not be dissapointed!
Gremlins everywhere!
The new Jetta in impressive with its list of luxury and safety features. However, I have just over 10,000 miles on it now and have had constant minor problems. The radio was replaced due to a recall, the speakers rattled and had to have a repair made (the dealer broke the outside mirror control stick when fixing the speakers), there is a "ticking" noise under the dash which was a heating/AC modulator gone bad, and it still sounds like a tank when you first start it. Maintenance is rather expensive due to special oil and filter. The dealer has been terrible with getting parts in and fixing problems. I'm not sure if it's a dealer problem or if VW parts are hard to find. Take a long test drive before you buy!
This Car is the Best (50+ mpg)
My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is so much fun to drive. It handles like a sports car. The power is great from 60-80 mph, there is no sound just pure power. I am averaging 49.9 miles per gallon combined city/highway with 7,500 miles so far!
Great Car...So Far
I have had my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI for three weeks now and am getting a true 43 mpg on the road. Its fit and finish are phenomenal. It seems to be a very well built car. I have no complaints yet.
I love my Jetta TDI!
Don't believe the sticker when it says 35 mpg city and 41 mpg highway... I have 6,000+ miles on mine (10 fill ups at the pump) and have averaged almost 44 mpg! My previous car was a minivan so maybe it's just a matter of perspective when I talk to friends about the great acceleration. But for me, it's fun to drive, looks good (especially from behind the wheel), and I like the fact that the price of diesel fuel has fallen below the price of regular unleaded again! I had a few problems: the master cylinder was replaced, and the antenna needed servicing to ensure that the XM radio and navigation worked. But my dealer took great care of the car (and me) and this car is a joy to drive
Great Car Minor Problems
I have owned this car since July of 2006. I am truly impressed with the DSG transmission and the 2.0T engine. This is the best engine transmission combination I have ever driven. I get 28 mpg combined. The acceleration is very good especially for passing in DSG Sport Mode. The ride and handling are also very Germanic which to me is good. I have had several problems with the car all of which have been fixed under warranty. The most severe problem was an engine misfire caused by bad ignition coils. The A/C compressor also gave out after 15K miles. I bought this car used with 9,000 miles on it for $19.8K and for that price this car is hands down the best car purchase I have ever made.
Lots of Pep
Very comfortable car that takes off when you need power. The only major problem I had was the transmission had to be rebuilt.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
NEVER again
I had nothing but trouble with this car. I actually feel badly for the person who bought it after I traded it in.We were a VW family but that has come to an end. 64000 miles in 6 years and the motor was blowing black smoke. Always changed the oil, replaced several major parts. VW didnt care at all-called them and no resolve. Do no buy this car! Junk-wagon. Back to being a Ford family.
I love my Jetta!
I have had my Jetta going on 6 years now. Have just over 60k on it. Regular maintenance has always been done (i.e. oil changes, tire rotations). I just replaced the battery a few weeks ago. My gas mileage has always been great with age. Most fuel efficient automobile I've ever owned. I previously drove mostly Fords (Escape, Windstar, F250).
VW means poor quality
After owning 4 Honda vehicles (civic and accord) i bought my son a new 2006 Jetta. I was impressed by the ride and the safety rating for the Jetta. however, now 5 years and 75K , i am stuck with a 1600.00 repair bill for a clutch repair. Apparently, the hydraulic cylinders for the clutch broke apart and soaked the clutch assembly. If the flywheel is damaged add another 600.00 to the repair cost. The care is barely paid for and the car is literally falling apart. I did call customer care at VW and received a nice apology. Dont buy a VW product!!
Almost Perfect (but what really is?)
This is my second Jetta in two months (someone t-boned the first one, and it was just like the commercial). The first was a GLI, which was perfect except for a rough ride-quality due to the sport suspension. My new one is a Package 2 with a much smoother ride. It feels like an Audi A4, but much more affordable. It's almost as fun as the GLI (an 11 on the fun scale), but that point of sacrificed fun is more than made up for in comfort and utility. This is the perfect commuter vehicle for those who still enjoy driving and want something other than a cookie-cutter Japanese sedan.
Awesome Car
I traded in my x-cab pickup for my TDI and was not sure how I would like it. I have already put 850 miles on in the first week and have been impressed that I have only used about 1 1/4 tanks of fuel. The heated seats are very comfortable. I couldn't be happier with my new Jetta. I have had many other diesels and none come close. Volkswagen has won my heart.
VW DID IT AGAIN
This is my 3rd VW Jetta. I owned a 2000 GLS 2.0 and 2004 GLS 1.8T. I never have had any problems with any of them. So far, I have 17000 miles on the 2006 and no issues. This car is quiet, no wind noise, the engine sounds great when you step on it, the transmission/clutch is smooth, excellent stero system sound, great heated leatherette seats, excellent climate control system, and by far EXCELLENT handling. My only complaint is the city driving gas mileage is poor compaired to my old Jettas.
Avaoid if possible
Pros: - superb fuel economy; beats by far any hybrid - pretty powerfull engine for a 1.9 liter - a lot of extras from dual power seats to leather - roomy inside despite apparences Cons: - feels like a cheap car after 1-2 years - plastiky... - tapistry falls apart in less than 1 year - twice ! - real bad mechanics ( 3 automatic transmissions changed in 4 years ) - at about 68 k miles, need to add oil even between oil changes. - engine start loosing power after 3 years; could not diagnostic the issue even after a computer upgrade; Bottom line, a fun car to drive while it works. When the mechanics and the technicians at the dealership knows you by name when you pull in, is bad...
Don't Buy the 2006 Jetta TDI
I bought my Jetta and it has had a rough idle since about 4,000 miles. I have taken it to the dealer four times in over four months. They have not been able to repair it. The last time they said they were not able to repair it at this time. I filed a lemon law complaint with the BBB, and was denied due to the fact that it was not a serious enough problem. So now I am stuck with a lemon and I can't do anything with it. Talk about a waste of $22,000 dollars. Do yourself a favor, and stay away from the 2006 TDI's. Look at TDI club and search for 2006 rough idle and see all the other unhappy owners.
Excellent Car
I love this car. I had a 2002 Jetta, but outgrew it and did not like the cup holders on top of the radio which managed to get everything wet. Also, there was no room in the backseats and in the end the car had engine problems even after I had taken the car in twice to be repaired. I feel that the 2006 is more sophisticated on the outside and inside and roomier. It also has much better cup holders and other features plus more room in the back . It has better handling, a smoother, more solid ride, and a more powerful engine, even in the 2.5 trim. It is just a more "grown-up" car all around.
Avoid at all costs
I was so excited to buy this car. However, I've been nothing but dissapointed with it. First and foremost, the cost is much higher than what one would pay for other cars of this caliber. I thought that the additonal price would be justified by the ride. However, this car has been nothing but trouble.
Coming in Hard
This car is crazy. i take it off roading, racing, off jumps and still have not had one problem. I thought it would be my fun car to rip up but it is now a performance and luxury car. I don't know how VW can sell it so cheap. The turbo that I thought would be so so is a pretty good size for such a small car. If you are trying to choose between a BMW 3-Series, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, an Audi, or this car, go with the VW.