2004
Volkswagen Jetta

Starts at:
$20,940
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn GL Manual
    Starts at
    $17,430
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GL Auto
    Starts at
    $18,305
    24 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GL Manual
    Starts at
    $18,430
    24 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GL TDI Manual
    Starts at
    $18,670
    38 City / 46 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GL Turbo Manual
    Starts at
    $18,910
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GL Auto
    Starts at
    $19,305
    23 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS Manual
    Starts at
    $19,460
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GL TDI Manual
    Starts at
    $19,670
    36 City / 47 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GL TDI Auto
    Starts at
    $19,745
    33 City / 44 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GL Turbo Auto
    Starts at
    $19,985
    22 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS Auto
    Starts at
    $20,335
    24 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS Manual
    Starts at
    $20,460
    24 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS TDI Manual
    Starts at
    $20,480
    38 City / 46 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GL TDI Auto w/Tiptronic
    Starts at
    $20,745
    33 City / 44 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS Turbo Manual
    Starts at
    $20,940
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS Auto
    Starts at
    $21,335
    23 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS TDI Manual
    Starts at
    $21,480
    36 City / 47 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS TDI Auto
    Starts at
    $21,555
    33 City / 44 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS Turbo Manual
    Starts at
    $21,940
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLS Turbo Auto
    Starts at
    $22,015
    22 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS TDI Auto w/Tiptronic
    Starts at
    $22,555
    33 City / 44 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Diesel I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GLS Turbo Auto w/Tiptronic
    Starts at
    $23,015
    22 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLI VR6 Manual
    Starts at
    $23,210
    21 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLI Turbo Manual
    Starts at
    $23,800
    21 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 2004 Volkswagen Jetta

Notable features

Sedan and wagon body styles
Gasoline and diesel engines
Manual or automatic
FWD layout

The good & the bad

The good

Performance with turbo
Euro-style handling
Fuel economy
Refinement
Frontal crash-test rating

The bad

Seat adjustment
Price

Expert 2004 Volkswagen Jetta review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Larry Printz
Full article
our expert's take

Jetta diesel has come a long way
No longer loud or smoky, hatchback is powerful, affordable.

With the end of $30 a barrel oil comes renewed interest in fuel economy.

Along with a growing number of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, diesel engine automobiles are seen as another solution, one that smacks of a ’70s era revival in the United States.

While diesel engines have long been used in trucks and buses in the United States and abroad, diesel engine cars never lost popularity in Europe, where gasoline has always been expensive. So, it’s no surprise that German automakers are pushing the diesel as one solution to the high price of fuel in the United States.

Diesel cars offer significantly better mileage than their gasoline counterparts. Although diesel fuel isn’t available at every station, the diesel engine fuel economy rivals that of a hybrid gas-electric, enough to entice many buyers.

This week, I’ll review the Volkswagen Jetta, an affordable diesel car. Next week, we’ll look at the new diesel car from Mercedes-Benz, the E320 CDI.

The Jetta GLS TDI is pretty much your standard-issue German-engineered car, albeit one powered by a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine. Rated at 100 horsepower, the diesel mill will move the Jetta as capably as any 100-horsepower motor, which is to say sufficiently fast.

Its speed is about the same as most 4-cylinder economy cars. Initial throttle response is anemic until the turbo kicks in, then the car has the power to navigate modern highways without the tortoise-like response once associated with diesels.

While acceleration has been improved, so has the diesel engine’s characteristics. It’s smoother and quieter than diesel vehicles of 30 years ago, with little of the noisy clatter and just a trace of smoke.

The turbo diesel is available in GL and upscale GLS trim. The test vehicle was the GLS.

Supportive black velour seats and high-quality black plastic trim gave the dark blue test car a gloomy appearance.

Overall fit and finish seem very upscale.

The front seat leg room is generous, while the rear seat leg room seems cramped.

Controls are simple and easy to use. The switchgear has a feel that seems to justify its higher price.

Handling is as surprising as the fuel economy. The ride is firm and well-controlled over rutted roads and pothole-filled streets. Ride motion is well-controlled, but there is a surprising amount of body lean, and it comes on very quickly.

Best of all is the mileage, coming in at a wallet-friendly 41.7 mpg. With diesel fuel prices running at or below the price of petrol, that would seem to make it well worth it.

Still, the Jetta’s pricetag of more than $23,000 as tested makes the car significantly more expensive to purchase than your run-of-the-mill small car. This is true of Volkswagens in general, as their prices tend to be higher than comparably-sized cars. So the difference in mileage will hardly make up the difference between the price of a Jetta TDI and its competition.

Say your typical small car will get 32 mpg, versus the 42 mpg that the Jetta will return. Over 100,000 miles, the Jetta will consume 2,381 gallons of diesel versus the small car’s 3,125 gallons of gasoline. That’s a difference of 744 gallons of gasoline. Sounds like a lot right?

But assuming that gasoline is priced a quarter per gallon higher than diesel, that’s a difference of $2,083. But the initial purchase price of the Jetta test vehicle is significantly higher than similarly sized vehicles, between $4,000 and $8,000. So you won’t make up for the higher cost through greater fuel efficiency.

However, you will save money when comparing the Jetta TDI to its gas-powered sibling, with a price that starts almost $400 more than a deisel Jetta.

Of course, with a deisel engin your overall range is a lot farther. So if you regularly drive long distances, there are fewer stops to make. If time is money in your world, this means savings beyond mere fuel economy.

So depending on your economic perspective, this car may or may not make sense. Still, the car itself is pure Jetta.

Couple that with good fuel economy and you get an affordable German-powered diesel that’s unique in its market segment. For some drivers, that’s ideal.

For other buyers, more luxury and performance is a must. For that customer, Mercedes-Benz makes the E320 CDI. We’ll look at that car next week.

Jetta GLS TDI Wagon
Engine: 1.9-liter Turbo Direct Injection four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic
Tires: P195/65R15
Wheelbase: 99 inches
Length: 173.6 inches
Width: 68.3 inches
Weight: 3,212 pounds
Cargo volume: 34 cubic ft. (seats up), 51.9 cubic ft. (seats folded)
Base price: $21,480
As tested: $23,280
EPA rating: 32 city, 43 highway
Test mileage: 41.7 mpg
Fuel type: Diesel
Built in: Wolfsburg, Germany

2004 Volkswagen Jetta review: Our expert's take
By Larry Printz

Jetta diesel has come a long way
No longer loud or smoky, hatchback is powerful, affordable.

With the end of $30 a barrel oil comes renewed interest in fuel economy.

Along with a growing number of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, diesel engine automobiles are seen as another solution, one that smacks of a ’70s era revival in the United States.

While diesel engines have long been used in trucks and buses in the United States and abroad, diesel engine cars never lost popularity in Europe, where gasoline has always been expensive. So, it’s no surprise that German automakers are pushing the diesel as one solution to the high price of fuel in the United States.

Diesel cars offer significantly better mileage than their gasoline counterparts. Although diesel fuel isn’t available at every station, the diesel engine fuel economy rivals that of a hybrid gas-electric, enough to entice many buyers.

This week, I’ll review the Volkswagen Jetta, an affordable diesel car. Next week, we’ll look at the new diesel car from Mercedes-Benz, the E320 CDI.

The Jetta GLS TDI is pretty much your standard-issue German-engineered car, albeit one powered by a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine. Rated at 100 horsepower, the diesel mill will move the Jetta as capably as any 100-horsepower motor, which is to say sufficiently fast.

Its speed is about the same as most 4-cylinder economy cars. Initial throttle response is anemic until the turbo kicks in, then the car has the power to navigate modern highways without the tortoise-like response once associated with diesels.

While acceleration has been improved, so has the diesel engine’s characteristics. It’s smoother and quieter than diesel vehicles of 30 years ago, with little of the noisy clatter and just a trace of smoke.

The turbo diesel is available in GL and upscale GLS trim. The test vehicle was the GLS.

Supportive black velour seats and high-quality black plastic trim gave the dark blue test car a gloomy appearance.

Overall fit and finish seem very upscale.

The front seat leg room is generous, while the rear seat leg room seems cramped.

Controls are simple and easy to use. The switchgear has a feel that seems to justify its higher price.

Handling is as surprising as the fuel economy. The ride is firm and well-controlled over rutted roads and pothole-filled streets. Ride motion is well-controlled, but there is a surprising amount of body lean, and it comes on very quickly.

Best of all is the mileage, coming in at a wallet-friendly 41.7 mpg. With diesel fuel prices running at or below the price of petrol, that would seem to make it well worth it.

Still, the Jetta’s pricetag of more than $23,000 as tested makes the car significantly more expensive to purchase than your run-of-the-mill small car. This is true of Volkswagens in general, as their prices tend to be higher than comparably-sized cars. So the difference in mileage will hardly make up the difference between the price of a Jetta TDI and its competition.

Say your typical small car will get 32 mpg, versus the 42 mpg that the Jetta will return. Over 100,000 miles, the Jetta will consume 2,381 gallons of diesel versus the small car’s 3,125 gallons of gasoline. That’s a difference of 744 gallons of gasoline. Sounds like a lot right?

But assuming that gasoline is priced a quarter per gallon higher than diesel, that’s a difference of $2,083. But the initial purchase price of the Jetta test vehicle is significantly higher than similarly sized vehicles, between $4,000 and $8,000. So you won’t make up for the higher cost through greater fuel efficiency.

However, you will save money when comparing the Jetta TDI to its gas-powered sibling, with a price that starts almost $400 more than a deisel Jetta.

Of course, with a deisel engin your overall range is a lot farther. So if you regularly drive long distances, there are fewer stops to make. If time is money in your world, this means savings beyond mere fuel economy.

So depending on your economic perspective, this car may or may not make sense. Still, the car itself is pure Jetta.

Couple that with good fuel economy and you get an affordable German-powered diesel that’s unique in its market segment. For some drivers, that’s ideal.

For other buyers, more luxury and performance is a must. For that customer, Mercedes-Benz makes the E320 CDI. We’ll look at that car next week.

Jetta GLS TDI Wagon
Engine: 1.9-liter Turbo Direct Injection four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic
Tires: P195/65R15
Wheelbase: 99 inches
Length: 173.6 inches
Width: 68.3 inches
Weight: 3,212 pounds
Cargo volume: 34 cubic ft. (seats up), 51.9 cubic ft. (seats folded)
Base price: $21,480
As tested: $23,280
EPA rating: 32 city, 43 highway
Test mileage: 41.7 mpg
Fuel type: Diesel
Built in: Wolfsburg, Germany

Available cars near you

Safety review

Based on the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
4/5
Side rear passenger
4/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years / 50,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
MY 2016-MY 2017 vehicles / 75,000 miles; MY 2018- MY 2019 vehicles / 72,000 miles; MY 2020 and newer vehicles / 75,000 miles
Basic
Vehicles purchased on or after 1 / 5 / 21: MY 2017 & older, 2 yrs / 24,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty; MY 2018-19, 1 yr / 12,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty; MY 2020 & newer, 2 years / 24,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty
Dealer certification
100-plus point inspection

Compare similar vehicles

Select cars to compare for more detailed info.
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  • 2003
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    $17,100
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  • 2016
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Consumer reviews

4.0 / 5
Based on 48 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 3.9
Interior 4.0
Performance 4.1
Value 3.8
Exterior 4.3
Reliability 3.9

Most recent

Bought it for a 60 year old Grandmother

This an immaculate, well cared for car with only 48K miles. It was and is perfect for my purposes. I purchased it for a family member who recently had a bad experience with an unscrupulous used car dealer, and was left with no car and no money.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
13 people out of 17 found this review helpful. Did you?
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MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I'VE OWNED

now i see why people was ditching this car..2many issues 👎,,.there should have been a recall on da transmission on these 04-07 jetta,to replace da valve body..since it da brain of da trans..🤔
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
Comfort 1.0
Interior 3.0
Performance 1.0
Value 2.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 1.0
3 people out of 14 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta is available in 3 trim levels:

  • GL (10 styles)
  • GLI (2 styles)
  • GLS (12 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta offers up to 24 MPG in city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta?

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta has an average reliability rating of 3.9 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2004 Volkswagen Jetta owners.

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. 75.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.0 / 5
Based on 48 reviews
  • Comfort: 3.9
  • Interior: 4.0
  • Performance: 4.1
  • Value: 3.8
  • Exterior: 4.3
  • Reliability: 3.9

Volkswagen Jetta history

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