Volkswagen Jetta 2023 review

The Volkswagen Jetta enters 2023 with minor modifications after a big update last year that included a new engine. The standard Jetta evaluated here, and the sporty Jetta GLI reviewed separately are both Jettas. The average Jetta is designed to be a comfortable, practical transportation module. Still, the GLI receives more power, handling similar to the Golf GTI, and a sportier appearance. It offers a comfortable ride, a lot of space for a tiny sedan, and a premium feel, but excitement isn’t its strong suit despite the new engine it received last year.

All Jetta models (S, Sport, SE, and SEL) have the exact new engine, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. GLI has a 2.0-liter engine with 228 horsepower instead. The upgrades from the previous year also included several new features and improved style. The forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear traffic warning features of VW’s Digital Cockpit and Car-Net telematics systems are now all standard. Each of the four trims receives more equipment, and those final two no longer cost the additional $500. However, the rivalry is fierce and hasn’t stopped either.

Regarding space, amenities, variety of models, and performance, the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda3 are the leaders in the small car market. Although the Mazda is much more efficient than the Jetta and is closer to each basic model, it falls short of these others at higher trim levels. In contrast, it is also exclusively offered as a non-hybrid sedan. However, the Jetta holds its own against the Kia Forte, Nissan Sentra, and particularly the Toyota Corolla. The Jetta provides more significant space, elegance, and comfort, while the Corolla has a hatchback (and a hybrid).

The basic Jetta’s 158 horsepower and good handling suit it well, even if it won’t be mistaken for the GLI while you’re behind the wheel. With a zero-to-60 speed of around seven seconds, it’s not quick, but it doesn’t seem sluggish. In addition, Volkswagen’s choice to stay with traditional automatic and manual transmissions makes it less slow on the highway than its rivals, which use continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVT) but don’t reduce fuel economy. According to the EPA, the brilliant Jetta achieves up to 35 mpg combined, often much more in actual driving.

Depending on your preference, the relatively sparse interior of the Jetta may seem either luxurious or spartan. Even yet, the construction is first-rate for such a low-cost vehicle, and there is enough space. The Elantra has the most oversized back seat in its class, with 38 inches of rear legroom, while the Jetta has 37.4 inches, comparable to the Civic and much more than the Mazda. Although you can’t have heated front seats or dual-zone temperature control with the six-speed, SE and above grades have the best interiors. They also have improved materials.

However, IQ.DRIVE still costs extra and adds lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, which are standard on Civic and available on the medium-grades of most rivals. Last year’s active safety gear improvements go some way toward closing the gap between the Civic and Elantra in this area. Thankfully, there are fewer capacitive-touch buttons in the Volkswagen infotainment system than in the Golf GTI or ID. The Jetta remains an excellent compact car bargain, especially on the base models. Even yet, it has a smaller audience than some of its competitors.

Performance: Volkswagen Jetta

Last year’s new engine is this year’s familiar one, but it’s still more powerful than what came before. With 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, the 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 11 more hp than the old 1.4 from 2021, and it revs a little higher, with peak power coming at 5,500 rpm instead of 5,000. S and Sport models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission with an eight-speed automatic optional, which is standard on the SE and SEL models.

Zero-to-60 times are reasonably good for an entry-level compact sedan at 7.2 to 7.6 seconds. By comparison, a Civic with its base engine (2.0-liter four, 158 hp, 138 lb-ft) needs 9.2 seconds to make that run. You must move up to the Civic Touring model’s 1.5-liter turbo four with 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque to reach 7.5 seconds. Despite having 169 hp on tap, the Corolla’s base engine needs 10 seconds (its optional mill can do it in 7.3), and the Kia Forte (147 hp) takes about 8.2 to 8.4 seconds.

All Jettas handle pretty well, with a soft ride but responsive and precise steering. SE and SEL models also get Volkswagen’s XDS cross differential system, an electronic approach to a limited-slip differential to improve cornering and handling in the sometimes torque-steer front-drive Jetta. The Mazda and the Honda are in a different league in handling, but the Jetta compares well to the Forte, Elantra, and Sentra regarding how it responds to the driver.

Volkswagen’s decision to stick with conventional manual and automatic gearboxes makes the Jetta a more pleasant highway companion than most of its budget-price rivals, which all use continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs). Honda and Kia make very good CVTs, but conventional messages are almost always more responsive and less droney at highway speeds.

Fuel Economy: Volkswagen Jetta

Low-trim Jettas get the best mileage because they weigh a little less, thanks to lower equipment levels. The Jetta S and Sport automatics earn 35 mpg combined ratings from the EPA (31 city, 41 highway), while manual-transmission versions get 34 mpg combined (29 city, 42 highway). The automatic-only Jetta SE and SEL models are rated at 33 mpg incorporated (29 cities, 40 routes). In practice, the various Jettas usually return a little more mileage than this. In our testing of a Jetta SEL, we produced over 35 mpg in a week of combined driving.

This puts the Jetta about even with the Civic and Forte. The mileage champ of the non-hybrid group is by far the Elantra, at up to 37 mpg combined in base-model form. The Hyundai’s hybrid and the Corolla hybrid offer mileage that none of the other compact sedans can match, and the Elantra Hybrid’s case improved performance, too. Still, among non-hybrids, the Jetta is near the top of the class.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech:

The Jetta gets a slate of “Good” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but no “top safety pick” designation and an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The addition of standard forward collision alerts, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring did help the Jetta. However, this gear still falls short of what you get in the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza.

The Jetta’s rating here would improve if the IQ.SAFETY suite (lane assist, front assist, adaptive cruise control, active blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, emergency assist, and travel assist) was standard. Currently, it’s not even optional on the base S model and is only available on Jetta Sport as an extra-cost option. Notably, you can get it on manual Sport models, which isn’t always the case on other manual-transmission vehicles.

Comfort and Space

The inside of the Jetta radiates a luxurious sense, especially in higher versions. The fit and finish are excellent, even in its basic configuration, and the materials are acceptable. The inside seems more sophisticated than the Forte or Corolla, thanks partly to the now standard digital dashboard and redesigned steering wheel (shared with the Taos).

Although the front seats have enough head and leg space, the rear seat may make or break a compact vehicle. There is plenty of legroom for backseat occupants at 37.4 inches. That equals the Civic sedan and approaches the Elantra’s 38, which is the best in its class. With 34.8 inches in the sedan type and just 29.9 inches in the hatchback form, the Corolla comes in last and prevents some adults from sitting in the back.

Infotainment:Volkswagen Jetta

Fortunately, Volkswagen did not add the contentious interface to the new Golf GTI and Golf R models for 2022 as part of last year’s improvements. We much like the previous system and its primary 8-inch screen after experiencing that fussy system’s many options. Volkswagen’s design is simple to use and has clear, sharp visuals that make it perform better.

The Jetta loses points in this area since several amenities, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and onboard Wi-Fi, are only available as options or on higher trims. Though other rivals (particularly the Sentra) don’t provide much of this stuff, it might be worse.

Storage & Cargo Space:

The Jetta’s 14.1 cubic feet of trunk capacity is much less than the Sentra’s 14.3, the Elantra’s 14.2, and the Forte sedan’s 15.3 cubic feet, the largest in its class. Corolla falls behind at only 13.1. Of course, hatchback bodies with substantially greater storage space are also available in the Civic and Mazda3, with the Civic hatch having a capacity of 24.5 cubic feet. The 2024 Subaru Impreza is only available as a hatchback and has a cargo capacity of 56.0 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, compared to 20.4 cubic feet with them in place.

Design:Volkswagen Jetta

Last year, Jetta’s design received a big update, but it isn’t easy to pinpoint precisely what changed unless you’re a keen-eyed VW file. This is a relatively conservative design, much as the Jettas have been for the previous ten or more years. It contrasts unfavorably with the Civic’s more contemporary, assertive appearance and the more aggressive design language of the current Corolla, Elantra, and Kia Forte. In this class, Mazda’s sinuous curves continue to prevail.

In the cabin, some of the blandness on the outside is made up. Nothing is wrong with the interior’s luxury appearance and feel, suggesting a discounted Audi A3. Even if the Honda’s interior materials aren’t nearly as beautiful as those in the Jetta in terms of style, Hyundai, Honda, and Mazda still provide more fantastic interiors.

The Volkswagen Jetta 2023: Is It Worth It?

A little sedan that is above average is the Volkswagen Jetta. The Civic and the Elantra, which both have fresher, more modern looks and provide more options, features, and power, are still some of its most formidable rivals.

There are four fundamental Jetta models, with the base S having the most basic features and a manual gearbox (base price: $21,750 plus a $1,095 destination cost). The Sport ($22,650 and aimed at the Civic Sport) is a new grade that Volkswagen introduced last year. It includes 17-inch alloy wheels, standard sport seats, an automatic limited-slip differential, a black grille, mirror caps, and window trim. Additionally, it makes the $955 driver assistance package option accessible, which is not an option on the S. The cost of installing an automatic gearbox is $800 for each of these models.

The SE ($25,480) and top-trim SEL ($29,480)

The SE has dual-zone temperature control, heated seats, and all active safety features. Most of VW’s choices are dealer-installed extras, so upgrading to the SEL and investing an additional $4000 will bring you luxuries like a sunroof, GPS, or the Beats Audio system.

The Sport with the additional driver aid package offers the most outstanding value, costing only $23,605 for the manual version and $24,400 for the automatic. The SE makes sense if you want more high-quality inside materials, but there are more potent and even better-equipped alternatives for the same price as the SEL.

How Much Will Insurance for a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta Cost?

The cost of insurance for a Volkswagen Jetta is reasonable. Although this figure covers all 50 states, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record should anticipate an average yearly premium of $2,180. The Honda Civic Sport sedan costs $2,029, the Nissan Sentra SR costs $2,170, the Mazda3 (non-turbo) costs $2,021, and the Hyundai Elantra SEL costs $2,138.

Verdict

The Volkswagen Jetta remains unchanged for 2023 after a significant overhaul last year that included a new engine and improved design. Even the jazzed-up appearance doesn’t do much to change its reputation as a wallflower; it is still a cheap, highly fuel-efficient, and value-packed vehicle. There is a spacious, basic cabin inside that seems expensive. The base Jetta has a conventional manual gearbox, good handling, and a comfortable ride, but its performance is only on par with entry-level compacts. The Jetta GLI, its quicker sibling, is the vehicle to choose if you want more power or personality.