Test Drove
reviewed by Sara Lacey

I Can't Commit!

By: Sara Lacey

Test drove: 9/19/2005 to 9/23/2005

At first glance, the 2006 Jetta GLI looks sporty, and it's full of fun and frivolous details like 18-inch alloy rims, brushed metal around the dash gauges and stick shift, and a red stripe on the funky front end.

There is a space for everything with cup holders, a small storage area for a cell phone and chap/lipstick in place of what would otherwise be an ashtray. Well, a place for everything if those things are small. Not as much for me, my diaper bag, my kids (ages 1 and 3) and my in-laws' cat that needs an emergency trip to the vet.

I will say that I feel pretty dang cool though, when a young man comes into the vet's office and asks who has the GLI out front. Waving my hand in the air (maybe a little too enthusiastically) I say, "That's mine!"

I need to emphasize how fun this car is to drive. It's not your old college roommate's Jetta. The Jetta GLI is certainly souped up under the hood, with a 200-horsepower turbocharged engine AND six gears to boot! I don't really have as much opportunity to use that sixth gear as I would like, but for some reason it feels good knowing it's there. I love the speed, the agility, and the excellent braking. I can hit the brakes without lurching and jostling my two sleeping children in the backseat. NICE. I start to feel like I could live with this car (comfy heated seats and all) even if it is kinda small. Really, I tell myself, it's not that small.

But I can't commit to it. While it fits both kids in car seats comfortably, the driver's seat is a little too close to my daughter in back for me to feel completely at ease. Want to put more than two child car seats back there? Fat chance. Rear-facing car seats would be pushing it, if not impossible, with larger drivers and passengers in the front. The only cupholders in the back are in the center console that folds down between the two back seats. Well, it folds down if there aren't two car seats blocking its way.

The GLI has this feature of locking the door once you start driving, but it doesn't unlock whenever you turn off the car or pull the emergency brake. I find myself on more than one occasion hopping out of the car, running to the other side to open the door, yanking on the handle to no avail, running back to the driver's side (praying the whole time that I haven't locked myself out), opening the door, hitting the unlock button, running back to the other side of the car and successfully opening my son's door. Maybe the car is trying to tell me I need some exercise. Tell me something I don't know, Jetta! I'm sure this problem is remedied if you have a manual that will tell you how to fix it (the 2006 is hotter-off-the-press than the manual, apparently). Or you could probably go online and look it up. I had to spend time at the vet instead.

Lastly, my 3-year-old isn't anywhere near being able to see out the window. The door is too high. I rely on the action outside to make a car trip tolerable, and eliminating this view is hard on all of us.

The trunk space is better than I anticipate, fitting my monstrosity of a double stroller and a medium-sized trip to Costco at the same time (no diapers in this trip, but there is a bulk pack of paper towels).

The 2006 VW Jetta GLI comes with front and side airbags, as well as side curtain airbags. I am impressed, and rest easy.

A sunroof, satellite radio and a six-CD in-dash changer, handy trip computer, dry-cleaning hooks, and seatbelt receptors that are easy to use can't convince me. The wonderful safety features and track record aren't enough either. I want the Jetta to work because this car is a blast to drive, but sorry Jetta, you're just too small.

*For more information on the VW Jetta GLI and its safety features visit Cars.com. For questions or comments regarding this review write to .

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