2021 Lexus IS vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Lexus IS made a bold statement about its driver with its athletic proportions and great stance. It was designed to look like it was in motion even when standing still, with an elegant distance between the front axle and dashboard. The fast roofline and the kick-up of the window base at the back of the passenger door added to its sporty and compact appearance. The new spindle grille with diamond mesh and narrow headlights gave the IS an assertive look, while the flawless paint, chrome, and panel gaps were expected from a Lexus. Inside, the dash was tastefully simple, with a retro hi-fi feel to the center stack. The interior matched the exterior with bold, assertive choices, authentic lines, and a modern aesthetic. However, the analog clock felt like an outdated luxury signifier.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its subtle exterior updates, maintained its reputation as a best-seller for Volkswagen. The mild makeover included an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were redone with more chrome, and the rear bumper was less squatty and more square. The Jetta's design changes were subtle, making it blend in like a black suitcase at baggage claim. The new wheel designs and metallic colors added a touch of freshness. Inside, the Jetta received subtle but appealing updates, including a new rhombus pattern on the standard cloth seats and contrast stitching on all interiors. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and the 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster added to the premium feel.

The 2021 Lexus IS brought serious sport to the luxury sports sedan category. It was developed at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama and introduced the "Lexus Driving Signature," which aimed for seamless transitions in all driving situations. The IS 300 RWD featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The IS 300 AWD had a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The IS 350 models, both AWD and RWD, had the same V6 engine, but with tweaks to produce 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. RWD models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while AWD models had a six-speed automatic. The IS had a top speed of 143 mph and 0-60 mph times ranging from 6.9 seconds for the IS 300 RWD to 5.6 seconds for the IS 350 RWD. Fuel efficiency varied, with the IS 300 RWD rated at 21/31/25 mpg, the IS 300 AWD at 19/26/22 mpg, the IS 350 RWD at 20/28/23 mpg, and the IS 350 AWD at 19/26/22 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. It produced 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, with transmission options of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. The Jetta felt quicker with the increased horsepower and impressed with its fuel economy. The EPA rated the manual Jetta at 29/43/34 mpg, while automatic models varied slightly. On a long road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg, requiring only two fill-ups for a 1,000-mile journey. The Jetta offered a comfortable ride, though the cabin wasn't the quietest. The powertrain had some issues with throttle response and turbo lag, and the driving dynamics were tepid. The Jetta had Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but only Sport mode offered a bit of liveliness.

The 2021 Lexus IS excelled in driver-centered form and function. The driver position was easily adjustable, and the seats were comfortable and supportive, with the F Sport trim's bolstered seat standard in IS 350 models. The IS used perforated NuLuxe fabric, which was eco-friendly, lightweight, and easy to clean. Storage space was ample, with an open cubby, twin cupholders, big door pockets, a decent glovebox, and an under-armrest compartment. The second row was comfortable for two but cramped for three, with legroom needing negotiation with front-seat occupants. The trunk offered 10.8 cubic feet of space and was surprisingly deep, with a temporary spare stored beneath the load floor.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided plenty of passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seats' bottom cushion had an inclined edge that might not suit shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for quick access to climate control, audio, and seat controls. There was usable storage space, including door pockets, a center console bin, a slot next to the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin was small but functional, though it lacked a latch, which was unusual.

The 2021 Lexus IS finally included a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touchpad remained but was no longer the default option. Lexus offered various connected services with free trial periods, including Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Service Connect, WiFi, and Remote. The Navigation Package included Dynamic Navigation and Destination Assist for the first three years. The Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 1,800-watt premium surround-sound audio system was a recommended option, providing superb audio quality and even including a CD player.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The Jetta SEL had a 10.25-inch display with three views and widgets for navigation, phone history, and driver-assist systems. The standard infotainment system in S, Sport, and SE trims was a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. The Jetta SEL had the 8-inch MIB3 system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, multi-phone pairing, and enhanced voice recognition. The SEL also included HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L, Car-Net Hotspot, and a Plus Nav package. The premium Beats Audio sound system and remote start were also available. However, the voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive and often misunderstood prompts.

The 2021 Lexus IS had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it was expected to receive good ratings based on the previous generation. The IS came with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, lane-tracing assist, adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Other features included vehicle dynamic integrated management, tire pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera, LED headlamps, taillamps, and running lights, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect with a three-year trial.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, which included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian recognition. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, while Emergency Assist monitored driver attentiveness. The full IQ.DRIVE safety list was standard on SE and SEL trims. The 2022 Jetta had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the 2021 Jetta received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with some shortcomings in headlight tests and LATCH use.