Jetta is, it seems, Volkswagen’s best-kept secret.

Compared to the smaller Golf and bigger Passat, it has been in the shadows.

For too long it has been derided as just a Golf with a boot, but the Jetta compact saloon has always offered something a little different and a little more upmarket.

So, keen to cash in on this perception, new Jetta has been styled more closely to VW’s larger Passat. This ‘premium by association’ move is echoed not just in the smaller car’s looks but also the cabin ambience and the way it drives.

So far so good. Although the Jetta’s sales performance might be dwarfed by that of the Golf’s – UK forecasts for a full year are around the 3,000 mark – there’s a growing downsizing trend to consider. A strong performer in the company car market, it’s hoped that people looking to move out of large saloons will look favourably at the Jetta when seeking something smaller.

There’s no question that the Jetta looks the part. Granted there’s a big Passat influence here, but that’s not a bad thing considering the popularity of the larger Volkswagen. From its strong yet simple lines and well proportioned ‘three box’ profile, it’s immediately clear that this Jetta has been designed to impress. It’s no Passat clone, however.

It’s also been designed to be a frugal car. Alongside two 1.4-litre petrol motors, two diesel engines take centre stage in the UK line-up, a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre with 105 and 140 horsepower respectively. Volkswagen’s new subset of Bluemotion technology can be added to the former, further improving the car’s environmental credentials. With the likes of engine stop-start and brake energy regeneration, it’s not difficult to improve on already impressive economy figures.

For the record, the lower power diesel is capable of delivering 63mpg on the combined cycle and 67mpg in Bluemotion Technology trim. CO2 is 119g/km and an impressive 109g/km respectively. Move up to the 2.0-litre diesel and its 59mpg and 126g/km CO2.

Save for the small car economy performance, this latest generation Jetta has been designed to offer a big car feel. A little longer than its predecessor, the extended wheelbase has resulted in a welcome improvement in rear legroom. Boot space is another plus, with the Jetta boasting a useful 510 litres. There’s also the option to fold the rear seats forward 60:40-style.

On the road the Jetta proves to be every inch a downsized Passat. With its sophisticated multi-link rear suspension and electro-mechanical steering, Volkswagen’s plan was to introduce and big-car feel to the way the Jetta drove. In reality the car behaves well over a wide variety of roads and surfaces.

Positioned more at the comfort end of the scale, the Jetta delivers a refined and comfortable ride that will please those stepping out of something bigger and more expensive. Along with the multi-link rear suspension, the European Jetta differs from its American cousin in having a wider rear track plus revised spring and damper settings. The changes certainly prove their worth; where the US car will likely spend most of its time on smooth freeways, the European model will have to deal with poorly surfaced urban roads and the patchwork quilt that is the British motorway network.

All in all, the Jetta is a competent and enjoyable car to drive and the diesel engines deliver a consistent performance across a wide variety of driving conditions. The smaller capacity car is, predictably, ideal for undemanding tasks with a bias towards urban motoring while the 2.0-litre variant is better suited to racking up the miles. That’s not to say the 1.6 can’t hold its own on the motorway, as it too is a refined cruiser.

With three trim levels (S, SE, Sport) and a generous helping of standard kit including six airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, a quality audio unit and the option of the popular DSG automatic gearbox, this sixth generation Jetta is no longer a car hiding in shadow of its VW stablemates. It’s a quality offering. A real Jetta-setter!

l The Jetta Sport 2.0-litre TDI DSG has been named the winner of The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2012 awards, on top of its victory over 12 rivals in the under £25,000 class.

The Jetta was not Volkswagen’s only double winner: the Touareg Escape 3.0-litre V6 TDI proved it pulls everything but punches, securing victory in both the over £32,000 class and the all-wheel-drive vehicles over 1800 kg category.

The award was presented at the Royal Automobile Club in London. The vehicles were voted for by a panel of judges, which conducted towing tests at the Millbrook Testing Ground in Bedfordshire. Here, 30 vehicles were put through their paces to assess their towing ability, acceleration, braking, ability to cope with demanding hill starts and an assessment of usability.