There’s nothing like that first feeling of being a grown-up. For most people, that comes when you can legally walk into a bar and order whatever you want, when a credit card company trusts you enough to put thousands of dollars at your disposal, or when your first boss sees you as a valuable asset to the company. You’re in the game now, and as a player you need a new ride that reflects such status.

If ever there was a car prescribed for this stage of life, it would have to be the 2005.5 Volkswagen Jetta. With German engineering, an affordable price tag, cool options, and attractive yet not flamboyant styling, it’s mature fun on a budget. At least that’s what the Jetta was a decade ago. But, as the years have passed, competitors have decoded Volkswagen’s secret sauce and new models have arrived to entice on many of the Volkswagen’s traditional merits, all while the Jetta has largely rested on its laurels. So, it is with a fair amount of anticipation that young, urban professionals look to the totally redesigned 2005.5 Jetta.

After a week of testing, we can say that, overall, we’re pleased with the new Jetta. The smooth exterior design retires the boxy Jetta of the past and is attractive, albeit with a shiny nose and a vaguely econo-car character. Inside are materials and style that impart a luxury feel, common to most Volkswagens. Under the hood is a much-needed power boost.

Those are nice selling points, but they may not be enough to justify the $27,000 price tag of our well-equipped test car. For that kind of money, buyers can enjoy the extra power of the premium Acura TSX, the reliability of a fully loaded Honda Accord V6, the value of the Hyundai Sonata, or the added utility of the Mazda 6 which comes in sedan, hatchback, and wagon flavors.