Go with the Jetta. I got the Passat and it is not the same level of appointment as the 2005 Passat, so why pay the extra money? I can't justify the extra $$$.
All the gadgets are an overhead. The NAV maps cost you to update about $200 every year. The bluetooth phone with the handsfree mic sucks on my car. You cannot hear the person but you can hear every concrete panel divider "thunk" "thunking" over them.
As to MPG that is a sore subject. Look at my Fuely. There are those that blame my driving habits for the "lower" than them numbers, but it is what it is. That higher MPG is not a guarantee. The DSG is disappointing in several ways so stick with the M6.
The new Passat is a downgrade. The DEF (Urea) maintenance is extra with the Passat. Sure it is bigger. The dynamica "leather" seats are a joke. The plastic is cheaper in the Passat than in the past.
Oh and the NOISE. This Passat is so much more noisy than the 05's. Same for seat comfort and ride handling and comfort. Once you have known better this Passat disappoints.
Sure I may be the lone sheep here, but I am being honest with my experience with 4 other Volkswagens and the Passat disappointed me after a year.
You can justify extra price since it's bigger car, more trunk space, very comfortable for big family (4 people), while drives like mid-size car (i think Passat is full size car). You got great deal for Jetta, but in the end Jetta Prem with Nav and Passat SE (well equipped) is just about 4 grand or 80 bucks a month. I would better get slightly used Passat SE then Jetta. And it will have higher resale value.
Passat has option for manual tranny but at lower SE trim. But I like DSG, it's good tranny, and doesn't suffer MPG.
DEF is saving our planet or does at least little more cleaner, even I'm not liberal or "green party member". It cost nothing, save one lunch and it will compensate for the urea bottle.
Seats with dynamica are amazing, no sliding around over the corner, so sweating or freezing on summer and winter times respectably.
Well, I came from BMW 550 (last my car), I tell you it's not BMW in the term of quietness, but I installed the weather strip on rear back seats, and it got better. On hwy is quiet as it can be as I said before it's not BMW. I had 03' Passat 1.8T back 6/7 years ago, it was more noisy then this model it's sure.
I had Jetta's, GTi's, Passat's, Audi's, and I can tell you this model is way better from VW AG than all previous generation. I happy so far, but I'm not big fan of Jetta's, if I was on market for that size car from VW I would buy Golf model, but it could be part of European man is talking. I think Jetta is more American style, that never liked even I owed one for 2.5 years as lease car.