A rather interesting bit of news has cropped up for the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, however. In light of stiff competition, VW has dropped the price of the car considerably without making any dramatic cuts in content. Though the Jetta's higher trim levels are still more expensive than average, the overall drop in price has largely eliminated one of the car's greater drawbacks.

The current Jetta was last redesigned midway through the 2005 model year. It's noticeably larger than the previous version and is about the same size as a Toyota Corolla. It's decently roomy as small sedans go and should impress owners with its attention to detail and meticulous build quality. Many editors on our staff are particularly smitten with the performance-oriented Jetta GLI. The GLI is the most entertaining model of the range and goes a long way toward adding some extra personality to the car.

Overall, the 2007 VW Jetta is a very enticing vehicle. It's true that the car lacks the distinctiveness or "cool factor" that made earlier Jettas popular. Having driven it, our editors typically say it's "nice," which may or may not be a good thing. But there's no denying that the Jetta betters almost all other cars in its segment in terms of cabin design, powertrain performance and feature content. Consumers shopping for a small sedan should give it serious consideration.

The 2007 Volkswagen Jetta is a small sedan offered in four trim levels: base, 2.5, 2.0T and GLI. The base Jetta comes standard with 15-inch wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, power heated mirrors, power windows and locks, a 60/40-split rear seat, keyless entry and a CD/MP3 player with an auxiliary input jack. The Jetta 2.5 is pretty much identical other than having 16-inch wheels, some chrome exterior trim, a rear center armrest and access to more optional features. On the 2.5, VW offers two pricey packages. Package #1 adds alloy wheels, leatherette trim, power recline for the driver seat, additional interior storage and an upgraded audio system with a six-disc CD changer and satellite radio.

Going with Package #2 gets you most of the features from #1 plus leather seating, a power driver seat with memory positioning, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, Homelink, a trip computer, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a 115-volt rear power outlet. As stand-alone options, VW offers 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof and a navigation system with iPod connectivity. The Jetta 2.0T is equipped in a fashion similar to the 2.5 but essentially has Package #1 as standard equipment. The top-shelf GLI has some exclusive features such as bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels or optional 18s, a sport-tuned suspension, color-keyed body cladding, metallic interior trim, sport-oriented front seats and sport fabric upholstery.

Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants, full-length head curtain airbags and a tire-pressure monitor are standard across the line. Stability control is either standard or optional, depending on the model. Seat-mounted side airbags for rear passengers are optional. In NHTSA crash tests, the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta received four out of five stars for protection of front-seat occupants in head-on collisions and five stars for front- and rear-occupant protection in side impacts. The IIHS gave the VW Jetta its "Top Safety Pick" silver award after the sedan earned top ratings in the agency's frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests.

The Volkswagen Jetta's cabin is filled with high-quality materials and assembled with care. Even the base model has an upscale flair with comfortable seating and tasteful trim. A tall roof line gives the front seats a spacious feel. Headroom is a little tight in the rear, but there's ample legroom for adults. Trunk capacity measures an impressive 16 cubic feet.