2019 Honda Civic vs 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta presented a slightly longer and wider profile compared to its predecessor, giving it a more upscale presence. It featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, which added a dramatic flair to its design. Inside, the cabin mirrored this angular design language, creating a cohesive and upscale feel. The interior was spacious and functional, with comfortable seats suitable for long drives. The base S trim came well-equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED head- and taillights, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SE, R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium added features such as V-Tex leatherette seating, a panoramic moonroof, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

In contrast, the 2019 Honda Civic brought its own brand of upscale style with a new gloss-black upper grille, revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, and the Touring trim featured chrome door handles and LED headlights. The Civic Hatchback and Coupe models offered unique designs and paint options, making the Civic stand out in traffic. Inside, the Civic maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, minimal buttons, and clean lines. The interior felt high quality, with tight panel gaps and durable switchgear. Rear-seat space was surprisingly roomy, and cargo space was significant, especially in the hatchback model.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having 3 fewer horsepower than the previous model, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta handled both city and highway driving well, with smooth and sporty steering and minimal body roll. The ride was soft over rough roads, providing a refined driving experience. Both the manual and automatic transmissions offered impressive fuel efficiency, with 30 miles per gallon city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines, starting with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims like the EX and Touring featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The hatchback model offered the turbo engine across all trims, with the Sport trim producing 180 horsepower. The Si and Type R models delivered even more power, with the Si producing 205 horsepower and the Type R a staggering 306 horsepower. The Civic's steering was superb and direct, and the suspension managed to soak up bumps while keeping body roll in check. The CVT was impressive, simulating gear ratios and not straining the engine at high revs.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta's front seats were comfortable for long trips, and both front and rear-seat legroom were adequate despite a slight reduction. Trunk space was 14.1 cubic feet, down from the previous generation but still average for the class. The cabin layout was practical, with the touchscreen moved above the front climate vents and the shifter repositioned to allow for a larger center tray. The blend of touchscreen functions with real buttons and dials made the Jetta user-friendly.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, making it easier to use than previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display in the instrument panel, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered ample head- and legroom, and the trunk space was significant, with 15.1 cubic feet in the sedan and up to 46.2 cubic feet in the hatchback with the rear seats folded. The center console provided versatile storage options, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. Higher trims like the SEL and SEL Premium included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a full-color digital display that could be personalized to show various information, including navigation.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while good in 2016, felt dated compared to newer Honda models. However, it redeemed itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Touring trim featured a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo and Honda's LaneWatch, a camera system that displayed a live feed of the blind spot on the touchscreen.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came with a full array of front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Driver-assist systems like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision avoidance were standard on higher trims and optional on the base S. The SEL and SEL Premium trims also included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2019 Honda Civic featured Honda Sensing as standard on all trims except the Si and Type R. This suite included forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash rating, which received four stars.