The Volkswagen Jetta gets a substantial refresh for the 2022 model year, including a more powerful engine and VW’s impressive Digital Cockpit setup even for the base model. But the changes come with a price increase that pushes the least expensive Jetta out of the dwindling collection of new cars Americans can still buy for under $20,000.
VW simplifies trim choices for 2022. The base Jetta will come in four trim levels for 2022 – the top-of-the-line SEL trim from the current model year has been cut from the lineup, and the R-Line sorta-sporty model has been renamed the “Sport.” VW now asks $20,195 for the entry-level Jetta SE.
VW really simplifies trim choices for the high-performance 2022 Jetta GLI. There’s now just one. The comes-with-everything Autobahn edition carries a starting price of $30,995.
All Jettas require a $995 destination fee – one of the last 3-figure shipping fees on the market.
Sharper Exterior, Richer Interior
It’s not time for a major update of the Jetta’s looks, but VW has added some refinements, anyway. New front and rear bumpers are the most obvious changes. Most trim levels get new LED running lights set low. The GLI gets air intakes rimmed in red at the same spot.
Inside, every trim level Jetta benefits from VW’s Digital Cockpit 8-inch instrument cluster. There is also a 6.5-inch touchscreen (or 8 inches in the SEL and GLI models). VW Car-Net, which adds Wi-Fi and lets owners control features like remote start with their phones, also comes standard. Remote access is free, but other Car-Net features involve a monthly charge.
Contrast stitching makes its way to every trim level, lending a more upscale feel to the cabin. GLI models come with perforated leather seating with red coloring inside the perforations.
More Power for Non-GLI Models
Non-GLI models get a power bump, courtesy of the VW Taos SUV. VW gives the 2022 Jetta a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine developed for its SUV cousin. That brings power to 158 horsepower. It’s a bump of just 11 horses, but it helps to address our test driver’s sense that the outgoing Jetta was just a touch underpowered.
Buyers can choose from a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission.
The GLI keeps its 228-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder and the option of a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Buyers Lose Another Sub-$20,000 Option
It’s easy to justify the Jetta’s price increase, given the upgrades. But the move pushes it out of a shrinking club – new cars Americans can buy for less than $20,000.
In a recent report, Automotive News examined the decline of the inexpensive car, noting, “Honda has phased out the Fit, Toyota yanked the Yaris, Ford finished off the Fiesta and Focus, and Chevrolet sacked the Sonic.” The global microchip shortage takes much of the blame, as automakers use the limited number of chips they can find to build high-margin trucks and SUVs.
The average new car now sells for over $45,000.
Buyers are also paying more for the cheap cars they can still find on dealership lots. Discounts are a thing of the past. Ayman Moussa, CEO of Carnamic auto group in Northern California, told AN, “we’re selling Mitsubishi Mirages at MSRP” right now.
America’s least-expensive car, the Chevrolet Spark, carries an entry price of just $14,595 – but buyers paid more than $17,000 on average for the Spark in September.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
