The 2003 Volkswagen Jetta isn’t as powerful as a Dodge Neon, as convenient as a Corolla, or as versatile as a Civic. But, for the price, it’s an excellent blend of all of the above.
Is the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – A very well balanced car with generous safety and entertainment features.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – If you’re in the front row, this is one of the most comfortable cars on the market, and there’s plenty of cargo space thanks to fold-down seats. But the back row is pretty tight.
- Reliability 7/10 – The powertrain and engine will probably reach 250,000 miles. The window buttons, transmission control modules, air conditioners, and wiring might not.
- Safety 8/10 – Sure, it’s dated. But this is about as safe as cars got back in 2003, with excellent IIHS ratings and cutting-edge-for-the-time features.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – The V6 engine averages 21/31 miles to the gallon, city/highway, which is pretty good for a car bordering on muscle territory.
- Value 8/10 – There are better family cars and there are sportier compacts, but if you need a daily driver with a bit more oomph in the gas pedal, this is a hard deal to beat.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
Consumer Reports found the automatic transmission and turbo engine a bit “uneven” in performance, and they noted that the rear seat is a bit tight. But they were overall impressed with the high-end interior and advanced safety equipment, praising the Jetta as feeling much more expensive than it really is.
Kelley Blue Book users found the Jetta fun to drive, fuel-efficient, and endlessly reliable. Unreliable accessories and cramped back seats earned a few jeers.
Edmunds liked the powerful engine options, comfortable ride, and overall premium build quality, inside and out. They were less enthused about the tight backseats and steeper-than-average sticker price.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Have?
Seating is a major issue in the 2003 Jetta, and not just because the back row is a bit tight. There are more than 100 seating complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with many drivers reporting the car’s seats catching fire with the seat heater on.
Additional electrical issues see air conditioners and power windows failing, and fuse boxes melting. In total, issues with electrical features make up more than half of the car’s 460 total NHTSA complaints.
The Jetta’s powertrain comes with a long life expectancy, but there are several reports of the transmission’s control module failing. This can result in jerking, difficulty shifting, and engine stall, with permanent transmission damage taking place if the issue isn’t addressed.
The 2003 Jetta has just 4 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which is pretty good for a twenty year old car. But with so many electrical problems being reported you’ll want to check every switch and dial on the test drive. Most of these accessories are cheap enough to fix, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used to haggle the price down.
How Long Will the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Last?
Volkswagen fans will tell you that a VW can last up to a half million miles. In theory, that may be true. If you buy it brand new and if you never delay an oil change and if you’re an expert driver, maybe. If the previous owner did their job, you might hit 300,000 on the original transmission, but realistically you can bet on 250,000 miles.
According to RepairPal, you should expect to spend around $449 a year maintaining older Jettas, with the most expensive common repair being a new rack and pinion system, at around $1,912.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is pretty good for 2003. The entry level GL comes with a cassette player, CD changer, and eight speakers. Just remember, this was twenty years ago. Don’t hold your breath for Bluetooth connectivity.
Safety technology is dated but generous. While the Jetta predates rearview cameras and lane keep assist as common features, it is available with traction control, full airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stabilization.
Is the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta a Good Value?
The 2003 Jetta is a pretty good value. On release you could make the argument that the car was a tad overpriced, but over the years the sticker price has come down considerably. A mid-range Jetta typically lists at around $3,595, which is about what you’d expect to pay for a twenty year old compact.
While the 2003 Jetta can’t compete with newer vehicles for onboard features, the ride is comfortable and smooth, the interior is high quality, it’s fun to drive, and it’s got that classic VW engineering under the hood. If you can find one in good shape with under 160,000 miles, that’s a pretty good deal at under four grand.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
The 2003 Jetta is available in five trim levels with the GL and GLS both being sold in Wagon models, and the rest being Sedan exclusive.
The entry-level GL features:
- Power windows and door locks
- Cruise control
- Manual air conditioning
- Woven cloth seating
- Comfort bucket seats
- Premium audio system with eight speakers and CD player
Next up is the GLS, adding:
- Velour seat trim
- 15 inch silver aluminum wheels
- Tilting glass sunroof
The mid-range Wolfsburg Edition adds:
- Anti-lock brakes
- Traction control
- 16 inch silver BBS aluminum wheels
The high-end GLI features:
- Leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Finally, the top-of-the-line GLX adds:
- Rain sensing windshield wipers
- Leather seat trim
- Fog lights
- Automatic climatronic air conditioning
What Engines Come In the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2003 Jetta’s entry level engine is a 2.0L inline-four delivering 90 horsepower and 122 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine averages a very impressive 42/49 miles to the gallon, city/highway. It’s paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive. This is available in the GL and GLS models.
- Next up is a 1.8L i4 delivering 180 horsepower and 173 lb.-ft. of torque. 24/31 miles to the gallon, front wheel drive, and paired to a 5-speed automatic. This is available in the GL, GLS, and Wolfsburg,
- In the GLI and GLX you’ll find a powerful 2.8L V6. 200 horsepower, 195 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed manual, and front wheel drive, averaging 21/29 miles to the gallon. This gets us pretty close to muscle car territory.
What Colors Does the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
The 2003 Jetta is fairly comfortable. The front seats are comfortable and the ride is smooth. The back seat is a little tight if you’re packing three adults shoulder to shoulder, but suspension complaints are scarce, so the shocks and struts have held up well over the years.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Have?
The trunk holds 13 cubic feet of cargo. In a sedan, you can fold the seats down and go up to 34 cubic feet. In a wagon, you can get 51.9 cubic feet of space, which almost brings us into compact SUV territory.
For the wagon, that’s enough to haul a few smaller items if you’re moving or buying furniture. Nightstands, small chairs, maybe a coffee table. The sedan is more limited in this regard, but with either model you won’t have to strap room fans and bicycles to the roof.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Jetta was part of the A4 generation, the 4th-Gen version of the car which ran from 1999 to 2004.
1999: Also known as the Volkswagen Bora, the 4th-Gen Jetta was styled after the Passat, with smoother curves becoming a staple of the VW brand moving forward.
2000: 2000 was kind of a placeholder year for the Jetta with no major redesigns after the 1999 relaunch.
2001: The Jetta got some minor equipment upgrades for 2001, but no substantial new features or under-the-hood tweaks.
2002: Volkswagen introduced a turbocharged 180 horsepower i4 for the GLS in 2002.
2003: No major changes for 2003, but the car got some new cupholders and backlit buttons.
2004: The GLX trim was dropped for 2004, and a diesel-powered 1.9L engine was introduced.
How Does the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Compare to the Competition?
The 2003 Jetta’s closest competition is probably that year’s Toyota Corolla, which tends to price about the same at the entry-level and mid-range trims. The Corolla is a little more spacious and versatile, making it the better family car, but it lacks any high-end performance model like the GLI and GLX.
The 2003 Dodge Neon would be a fair comparison, with a potent 215 horsepower SRT-4 trim level. The SRT-4 is legitimately an entry-level muscle car, but it also costs about $1,500 more than the GLI, coming out to around a hundred bucks for every extra horse.
If you’re looking for a family car, the Corolla is the better option. If you’re looking for a muscle car, the Neon is more powerful. But a Jetta GLI does a nice job splitting the difference between efficiency and power.