2024 Volkswagen Jetta

There’s still a place for small sedans in today’s motoring world. They’re relatively affordable to buy and run, most are quite roomy, they tend to be at least a little enjoyable to drive, there’s the security of a lockable trunk, and parking is usually easy. That’s certainly the case with the Jetta.

Historically, Americans have tended to prefer sedans over hatchbacks. So even though the VW Golf has been and continues to be a superb car, Volkswagen also offers the Jetta. It’s just that the Jetta is gaining quite a bit of history itself. Most of this class is newer, especially the Honda Civic, which is a favorite of ours.

We get it, though. Volkswagens have a Germanic vibe that’s a cool trait in a car, especially when an Audi is out of the price range. Investigate the Jetta, absolutely. But take a good look at the rest of the competition as well.

The Volkswagen Jetta gets more standard features for 2024 to keep it competitive in the compact sedan segment. The IQ.Drive safety tech array is now standard on every Jetta with an automatic transmission. Additional new standard features include a faux leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, self-dimming mirror, and rain-sensing wipers. Also, the popular Sport trim now has standard heated front seats and a lightweight spare tire.

A new 40th Anniversary GLI edition is a limited run of 1,984 units, commemorating to the year the Jetta arrived. It’s exclusive to North America.

Rivals like the Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra — both updated for 2024 — and the Kia Forte are priced similarly to the Jetta. The Toyota Corolla and (new for 2024) Subaru Impreza are not far above, while the Honda Civic and Mazda3 are in the $24K ballpark. The VW Golf GTI starts in the low 30s.

Before buying a new Jetta compact sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Sadly, the Jetta languishes at the bottom of our resale value table for this class. The venerable Civic is at the top. Recouping more money when you sell or trade your vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next vehicle.

Most versions of the Volkswagen Jetta employ a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower. That’s the same amount of muscle as the base engine in the Honda Civic, although the Toyota Corolla has 169 horsepower and the Mazda3 starts out with a wonderful 191 horsepower. The Civic and Corolla both have an automatic transmission as standard; the cheapest Jetta comes with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Independent testing shows the Jetta and these other contenders accelerating from standstill to 60 mph in around seven seconds. Not especially rapid, but enough not to feel intimidated by the surrounding traffic.

The 228-horsepower GLI is like a Golf GTI in sedan form (although the GTI now has 241 horses). It deploys its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine to hit 60 mph in six seconds or so, which is noticeably more fun. It also has stronger brakes than its regular stablemate, plus an adaptive suspension.

Chances are you’re just looking for a nice, comfy, economical, easy-to-park car for driving around town and the occasional trip further afield. In which case, we think the Jetta could work. It rides smoothly yet tidily.

However, if the idea of a driver’s car holds some real appeal, we’d suggest using the Mazda3 as a benchmark. Which is not to suggest that the Mazda3 can’t also be smooth and easy — it just has more talent.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of compact cars, including the VW Jetta.

Fuel Economy

The best Jetta fuel economy figures are achieved with the automatic transmission: 35 combined mpg (31 city, 41 highway). To compare, the Civic and Corolla also attain 35 combined mpg, while the Mazda3’s best is 31.

The GLI manages 30 combined mpg, regardless of transmission. Both Jetta engines are fine with regular gasoline.

Not so long ago, Volkswagen led the way among mainstream manufacturers regarding the quality of its soft-touch plastics. Even when the cabins were dark and somber, they still felt classy. Since then, companies like Mazda and Hyundai have caught up and often surpassed VW. Which leaves the Jetta’s interior looking somewhat dated — as well as dark and somber.

Ignoring the looks and concentrating on functionality, though, we’ve found that the Jetta still has plenty to offer. We like the comfortable and well-shaped front seats. A digital driver information display is standard throughout, while the infotainment touchscreen and main controls are angled slightly toward the driver.

We’re also impressed with the rear legroom of 37.4 inches, exactly the same as the Honda Civic, both of which are impressive for the class. Trunk space is 14.1 cubic feet. That’s OK in this compact sedan context, and not too far off the Kia Forte’s 15.1-cubic-foot caboose.

The tail end of the 2024 Jetta has a kind of Audi-ish look to it, which is no bad thing. The front end has the usual contemporary stuff like LED headlights and lines are kept quite clean. The GLI livens things up with its own design of alloy wheels, plus a few red accents here and there. But it all seems a bit staid these days. Even the Toyota Corolla comes across as more adventurous. At 15.5 feet, the Jetta is one of the longest compact sedans. That does translate into generous interior space, though.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Phone integration is standard in every new Jetta.

Digital Cockpit
A non-configurable 8-inch instrument cluster comes in the lower four trims, while a customizable 10.25-inch setup goes into the SEL and GLI variants. They both look cool and sharp, though.

IQ.Drive
This array is only available with the automatic transmission, but most buyers choose that anyway. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, emergency stop assistance, and adaptive cruise control.

Blind-spot monitoring
We’re happy to see this as standard equipment across the range, warning drivers of nearby vehicles in adjacent lanes.

Automatic transmission
Many drivers will see the usual two pedals and the PRND lever positions, and not think too much about what goes on behind the scenes. The standard Jetta uses a smooth 8-speed automatic, while the GLI brings a sporty 7-speed dual-clutch unit that can activate gear changes in milliseconds. We’ve found both enjoyable for the task at hand.

Sport trim
This one-up-from-base version has snug front seats and an electronic locking differential, enhancing cornering ability and adding to the enjoyment of those occasional back-road jaunts.

The main engine in the 2024 Jetta range is a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder unit making 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, with an 8-speed automatic transmission available as an option — or standard in the higher trims.

The Jetta GLI has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The GLI also brings a 6-speed manual transmission or offers an optional 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic.

Front-wheel drive is the sole configuration.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Volkswagen’s new-car warranty and powertrain warranty both last four years or 50,000 miles. Compare that with Honda and Toyota’s 3-year/36,000 new-vehicle warranties and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage. Hyundai and Kia offer the segment’s best terms. VW includes roadside assistance for three years or 36,000 miles, plus free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 20,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

In crash testing carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), this generation of Jetta took top scores of Good in the main categories, expect for an updated side impact test where the car earned an Acceptable rating. It was also awarded the maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).