2023 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan

　　

2023 Volkswagen Jetta Review

byBrian WongSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　The Volkswagen Jetta got a major overhaul last year and is likely to carry over without big changes for 2023, with the only update of note the addition of remote start to SE models. Once a step behind the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte (zzdcar' top-ranked small sedans), the Jetta is a more viable alternative after its recent updates.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta S 4dr Sedan (1.5L 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$110/mo  for Jetta S

　　Jetta S

　　S 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $20,655 MSRPS 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $21,455 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $21,555 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $22,355 MSRPSE 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $24,385 MSRPSEL 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $28,385 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Those changes included new styling, more standard features, improved technology, and a new turbocharged engine that should give the Jetta more pep. The Jetta's 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four makes 158 horsepower, an improvement of 11 hp over the outgoing model and one likely to help it feel less ponderous. But if you want more power, the Jetta GLI (which we cover separately) offers GTI-like performance in a sedan package.

　　Volkswagen's minimalist aesthetic stands in sharp contrast to the angular Elantra and Forte, and the Jetta goes about its business with less seriousness than the Civic. We feared the Jetta might go the route of other Volkswagen models and overdo the touch controls on the center stack and steering wheel for most of the car's functions, but instead it goes for the simpler (and better) solution with dials and buttons for the climate and volume/tuning knobs for its screen. If only the GTI and ID.4 could go back in time a little as well.

　　With an emphasis on style and value, including a long list of standard features and two years/20,000 miles of standard maintenance, the Jetta now sits as the contrarian pick to the mainstream compact sedans, and its roomy back seat makes it a better choice for those who will be carrying more than two people on the regular. See below for more information on the Jetta's trim levels and how it stacks up against competitors.

　　

Which Jetta does zzdcar recommend?

The Jetta is well equipped even as a base model, but we recommend the midlevel SE trim. It includes all of the Jetta's available safety technology as standard, plus modern amenities such as keyless entry, heated seats, simulated leather and rain-sensing wipers for not much more than the base price. The SEL's technology upgrades are tempting (especially wireless connectivity for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), but the price premium is too steep.

　　

Volkswagen Jetta models

Volkswagen offers the 2023 Jetta in four trim levels: S, Sport, SE and SEL. There is also a sporty GLI model that we cover separately. All models are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Taos SUV and added to the Jetta last year. It produces 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and is only available with front-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the S and Sport trims, while all the others come with an eight-speed automatic. Feature highlights for the Jetta include:

　　S

　　The Jetta line kicks off with this basic model featuring this equipment:

　　LED headlights 16-inch alloy wheels 6.5-inch touchscreen Two USB ports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Four-speaker sound system Digital instrument cluster (8-inch display) Volkswagen Car-Net mobile app with remote start, door locking/unlocking, parked location finder and other functionsThe S also comes with standard advanced driver aids that include:

　　Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)Volkswagen offers an affordable IQ.Drive package for the S trim models with the automatic transmission. It adds to the car's standard driver aids with:

　　Active blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot and can add steering assistance to discourage a lane change) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Jetta and the car in front) Emergency assistance (identifies an unresponsive driver and brings the Jetta to a safe stop with the hazard lights flashing) Sport

　　The Sport trim adds some cosmetic and performance upgrades, including:

　　17-inch alloy wheels XDS cross differential lock (improves traction when accelerating out of corners) Gloss-black front grille Black window trim, mirror caps and headliner Front accent lights Sport front seats with contrast stitching Rear-seat center armrest with cupholders 60/40-split folding rear seatSimilar to the Jetta S, the Jetta Sport with the automatic transmission is eligible for the IQ.Drive package of driver assist tech.

　　SE

　　Includes all IQ.Drive driver aids as standard equipment, along with:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Remote engine start Rain-sensing wipers Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Auto-dimming rearview mirror Keyless entry with push-button startSEL

　　The top of the line for the Jetta by way of:

　　Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Sunroof Automatic high beams Heated exterior mirrors Drive mode selector Driver's seat memory settings Upgraded infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen, navigation and voice control Bigger digital instrument cluster (10.25-inch display) Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless smartphone charging pad Three USB-C ports Nine-speaker Beats Audio sound system Leather upholstery Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Heated steering wheel Ambient cabin lighting with 10 colors

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