The fifth-generation Jetta is the next-fastest vehicle. This model was in production from 2005 to 2010, and the pick of the bunch is the GLI 2.0T. This trim used a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which produced 200 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque. If you paired this engine with Volkswagen’s optional dual-clutch transmission, it sent the GLI 2.0T to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds, though its top speed was governed to 127 mph.
The A5 Jetta was heavier than any model that’d come before, with a curb weight of 3,334 pounds. It also had a rounder, more bulbous shape that matched the Mk5 Golf, and it was the first model since 1992 that didn’t offer a pairing with the VR6 engine. Needless to say, the fifth-generation Jetta underwhelmed audiences when it launched, although it came with a host of technical upgrades, including active head restraints, six airbags, and emergency brake assist.
The GLI 2.0T was the fastest fifth-generation Jetta, but it wasn’t the coolest, as that award goes to the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Edition. The TDI Cup Edition took a sluggish 8.8 seconds to hit 60 mph, but its 18-inch aluminum wheels, 236 lb-ft of torque, and stickier tires meant it was a hoot to drive. Its single-make-series TDI Cup body kit and plaid seats made it far more visually appealing than the mild-mannered GLI 2.0T.
