2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

　　

2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　Volkswagen has been selling its Jetta small sedan in the U.S. since 1980. It's been a somewhat bumpy road over the years, at least in regard to the car's overall mission and appeal. The latest Volkswagen Jetta generation, introduced two years ago, generally hits the mark. It has subdued but handsome styling, an eye toward comfort, and upscale features for its price. The Jetta is also practical thanks to a sizable trunk and roomy back seat.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta S SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$109/mo  for Jetta S SULEV

　　Jetta S SULEV

　　S SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $18,995 MSRPS SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $19,795 MSRPR-Line SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $22,795 MSRPR-Line SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $23,595 MSRPSE SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $22,895 MSRPSEL SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $25,745 MSRPSEL Premium SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $28,045 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The downside is that it doesn't stand out in a crowded field of competitors in any one category. Many of its rivals are big on personality — something the Jetta struggles to match against the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Still, there's enough good here that you might want to check it out. Read our Expert Rating for more detail and our in-depth evaluation on the 2021 Jetta.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Jetta drive? The Jetta feels quick around town thanks to the solid torque output from the turbocharged engine at low rpm. But the engine runs out of juice if you really try winding it out. In our testing, our Jetta test car posted a mediocre 0-60 mph time of 8.4 seconds.

　　A panic stop from 60 mph yielded results typical for the segment, but we're not huge fans of the brakes. The pedal is soft, and response seems out of sync as you increase pressure. At low speeds, the brakes can feel quite grabby and make it hard to stop smoothly. Unlike in other small Volkswagen cars, the steering is light and rubbery.

　　There are some bright spots, such as the well-controlled body roll that lends the Jetta some sporty characteristics. We also like the smooth-shifting transmission, though it shifts too frequently.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Jetta? The Jetta's ride is quite good. It takes the edge off square bumps and ably absorbs larger impacts. It can feel a little bouncy over large bumps, but overall the ride quality feels premium for the class. The seats are soft, with nice cushioning and good side bolstering. However, the seat bottom is too flat, and there's little lower back support. Even worse, you won't get adjustable lumbar unless you upgrade to the highest trim.

　　Overall noise levels are impressively low around town, and wind noise only really manifests on the highway. The climate controls are a bit small and close together, but the system is relatively straightforward and easy to use. The Jetta is one of the only small sedans to offer ventilated front seats, which go a long way to keep the cabin cool on a hot day.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? This score suffers primarily because of some needlessly complex controls. In particular, the steering wheel controls are harder to figure out than others. Otherwise, the Jetta's cabin is a nice place to spend time, especially if you're in the driver's seat. It offers a considerable amount of height adjustment, and the steering wheel likewise has ample telescoping and tilt range.

　　The rear legroom is good, but headroom is merely average. Seating for a third person in back isn't the best because of the wide center console and rear hump in the center of the floor.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? While you get some nice standard features such as smartphone integration, it's really in the higher trim levels that the Jetta's tech shines. The upgraded Beats Audio unit, for instance, is one of the best in the class. SEL and SEL Premium models feature the Digital Cockpit, a configurable digital instrument panel that looks clean and crisp.

　　The difference between the haves and have nots manifests again with respect to voice controls. Lower trims don't have native voice controls at all, while the system on upper trims is finicky and requires a structured syntax.

　　Unlike rivals, you have to pay extra for driving aids in the Jetta. Fortunately, the systems offered all work reasonably well.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Jetta has plenty of room for your stuff. Small-item storage is copious, with large door pockets all around, a tray in front of the shifter, and sizable cupholders. At 14.1 cubic feet, the trunk isn't the largest in the segment, but the space is well realized and usable. There's also a large opening behind the rear seats should you need to drop them for extra storage.

　　The large back seat, combined with easily accessible car-seat anchors and tethers, means that child safety seats should fit without much trouble.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimate of 34 mpg combined (30 city/40 highway) is on the high end of the segment, but in real-world driving we had trouble matching that estimate. Our test Jetta averaged less than 30 mpg in mixed driving.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Jetta a good value? The Jetta offers an average value. Sure, higher trims have lots of equipment, but they're also priced at the top of the class and don't come with an upgraded engine. Lower trims have advantages over the base trims of competitors, but they also lack some equipment that's standard elsewhere. We're also not impressed by the underperforming real-world fuel economy.

　　VW's warranty is also average. Bumper-to-bumper coverage for four years/50,000 miles is longer than most, but identical coverage for the powertrain is shorter than what the majority of rivals offer. Volkswagen, though, is one of the few manufacturers that offer free maintenance, good for two years/24,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　The Jetta is a good-looking car inside and out, and on that front it stands out in the class. But beauty is only skin-deep because underneath the Jetta feels competent but generic. There's nothing about this car that creates an identity for Volkswagen.

　　

Which Jetta does zzdcar recommend?

If you like your business sedan with a little attitude, the R-Line is the right choice. It has a unique exterior style and accents that can't be had with other models, plus a locking electronic differential that makes it more fun to drive. On the other hand, the SE trim offers an enticing package — heated seats and a sunroof are rare at this price.

　　

2021 Volkswagen Jetta models

Volkswagen offers the 2021 Jetta in five trim levels: S, SE, R-Line, SEL and SEL Premium. All models are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) sending power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the S and R-Line trims, while all the others come with an eight-speed automatic.

　　S

　　The Jetta line kicks off with this basic model and the following equipment:

　　LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights Power-adjustable side mirrors 16-inch alloy wheels 6.5-inch color touchscreen Two USB ports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Bluetooth connectivity Four-speaker sound system Manually adjustable driver's seat Cloth front seats Volkswagen Car-Net mobile app with remote start, door locking/unlocking, parked location finder and other functions Rearview cameraSE

　　The second model in line takes a big step forward in terms of amenities:

　　Push-button start Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Faux leather seating surfaces Leather gearshift knob Dual-zone automatic climate control Panoramic power-tilting and -sliding sunroofStandard safety equipment on the SE and up includes:

　　Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)R-Line

　　An aggressive style trim that introduces these items to the Jetta line:

　　Foglights Leather-wrapped steering wheelThe R-Line is the only Jetta equipped with the following features:

　　Black front grille Black side mirror caps Unique bumper and badging Electronic differential to improve traction and handlingSEL

　　A more premium model that comes standard with these items:

　　Projector headlights MIB3 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen VW App-Connect with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Wireless smartphone charging station Eight-speaker sound system Front sport seats Ambient lighting with 10 colors Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the Jetta back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Automatic high-beam assist (toggles between high- and low-beam headlights for better nighttime visibility)SEL Premium

　　This top-level trim takes everything from the SEL and adds:

　　Turn signal lights integrated into side mirrors Navigation Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support Leather seats

　　

2021 Jetta Highlights

Trim: S SULEVR-Line SULEVSE SULEVSEL SULEVSEL Premium SULEVS SULEV

　　

Base MSRP	$18,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	34 MPG
Cost to Drive	$109/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles