This year, the Volkswagen Jetta celebrates its 25th year in the U.S. with a sleek new look that still hews to the sporty profile and attitude that made it a best-seller.

Like its predecessors, the latest Jetta is distinctively German with its solid feel and precise automotive engineering. But the fifth-generation Jetta also offers more space, better protection and a more powerful base engine. Here are a few highlights of the newest model:

* Increased safety. In a severe crash, the Jetta's safety-optimized body structure helps absorb and evenly distribute the energy from the impact to help protect the central structure.

The new Jetta also incorporates some of the most sophisticated safety technology as standard equipment, including front side airbags, front and rear side head protection, active front head restraints and foot pedals that descend upon serious impact.

* Cargo room. The trunk space in the new Jetta approaches or exceeds the space found in some mid-size sedans. The new model also, for the first time, comes with an optional rear-seat folding center armrest, which allows long and wide cargo items, such as snowboards, to pass though the trunk comfortably onto the backseat.

* Power. A major improvement in the new Jetta is its base engine, a 2.5-liter, in-line five-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder. It replaces the previous Jetta's 115-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Statistically, the 2.5-liter engine has 30 percent more power than the previous base model.

Soon the new Jetta will offer a 200-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as well as a fuel-efficient, high-tech diesel engine called TDI.

* Extra touches. Volkswagen offers a long list of standard equipment on the new Jetta, including climate control, electro-mechanical power steering, traction control and antilock brakes.

As the latest generation of Volkswagen's best-selling model, the new Jetta's complete redesign marks a significant evolution in the model's history.