The redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is just around the corner. Weeks away from VW showrooms, the sixth-generation model makes a considerable break from the previous year’s offering, flaunting more mature exterior styling along with several updates in on-board electronics.

Jetta’s current iteration has lingered since 2005, but this wasn’t the only reason for the 2011 overhaul. VW’s hatchbacks, like the Golf, may be hugely popular in Europe. However, on this side of the Atlantic, the Jetta is by far the best selling Volkswagen, having grown to represent more than 40 percent of all VWs sold in the United States. The Jetta also faces increased competition from Japanese automakers that have come to dominate America’s small-car market.

With that in mind, Volkswagen has finally blessed the new, slightly larger Jetta with the kind of sex appeal the model has longed for since 1979. Cute lines and nonthreatening curves have been replaced with a sweeping, low-drag stance, featuring a narrow front grille and angular, razor-like headlight bays. The Jetta loses some of this attitude inside the cabin, where a simplified dash layout, borrowed from the European VW Polo, greets the driver, while clunky, low-quality plastics surround all occupants.

The Jetta is not stingy on tech, though, offering a functional touch-screen head unit with an improved navigation system and a decent sound box with auxiliary input, Bluetooth phone integration, and SD card support – all standard in the upper SEL trim.

While by no means impotent, the 2011 Jetta does not back up its external bravado with adequate road action. The Jetta SEL leads the class with 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. However, most 2011 Jetta drivers will find that the car generally doesn’t live up to these figures in real world driving.

That’s because under the hood of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL lies a straight carryover from the last year’s model – a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine mated to the same five-speed manual gearbox. Owners of the Jetta from years past know that this inline-five is road-tested, but also recognize that an extra gear ratio would probably get more out of this oddball engine. Its EPA fuel economy stats are also subpar for the class, yielding only 23/33 mpg. The available automatic transmission will likely post even more disappointing numbers.

The base Jetta is dragged by an even less potent 2.0-liter, 115-hp four-cylinder engine. And while this promises to be the most affordable Jetta yet, most compact sedan buyers will regard it as substandard for lack of power and class-worthy refinements.

Performance- and economy-minded compact buyers eyeing the Jetta might therefore be best served by waiting for the soon-to-follow GLI and diesel variants. Roughly a year away, the GLI will return the Jetta to its German roots with a sporty six-speed dual-clutch transmission, fully independent suspension, and a 2.0-liter, 200-hp Volkswagen GTI transplant under the hood. The concurrent diesel-sipping TDI release will be less powerful, but place combined mileage figures in the upper 30s.

For 2011, Volkswagen has positioned the Jetta as a reasonably priced performance alternative to the less-exciting Japanese compacts. For what it’s worth, the new Jetta costs less than its predecessor and packs more ponies than the competition. Still, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta’s true measure of success will be determined by what’s waiting in the wings – the GLI and TDI models due out in the later part of the year.