 Our 2000 Ford Focus bit the dust and my wife and I were looking to replace it.  We were between this, the Altima, Fusion, Accord, Sonata and Elantra Touring.  This car offers a lot of options on the base model and good acceleration for its class.  While not quite a "pocket rocket" as I would have liked, it definitely is a fun car to drive.  The Mazda 3 was sportier but this just feels like a nicer car.  This is a very comfortable car and is just big enough for my wife and I.  I felt the midsize cars were just too large for city driving.  The Jetta is an excellent city cruiser.  It performs quite well in the snow.  The Jetta has a lot of character. I just hope it holds up as well as my Focus.