2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was arguably the most attractive Corolla in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements like sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint with a blue undertone made the Corolla genuinely appealing. However, the design had its quirks, such as the hood shut line that visually truncated the front end and the over-styled rear bumper. The Apex Edition amplified these stranger aspects. For those seeking anonymity, the Corolla L, LE, or XLE were better choices. The Corolla Hybrid offered a more affordable path to 50+ mpg than the Prius.

The Corolla SE and XSE, priced at $22,375 and $25,825 respectively, were the sporty versions with a more powerful engine, different transmissions, a Sport driving mode, and bigger wheels and tires. The Apex Edition, starting at $25,070, offered more performance tuning. The XSE trim featured a well-crafted interior with soft leatherette for the dashboard, densely padded upper door panel trim, and robust switchgear, giving the cabin an impression of substance. The design was clean and minimalist, though practical storage was lacking due to a center console design that emphasized form over function.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite the pandemic and supply chain issues, remained Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle for three decades. In 2021, the Jetta accounted for more than 61 percent of VW’s 101,167 U.S. car sales, and this number increased to 70 percent in the first quarter of 2022. The 2022 Jetta received a mild makeover, including an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The SEL Premium was dropped, simplifying the lineup to four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL.

The exterior updates were subtle, requiring a keen eye to notice. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were redone with more chrome, and the rear bumper was less squatty and more square. New wheel designs and metallic colors like Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue were added. The Jetta’s interior received subtle but appealing updates, including a new rhombus pattern for the standard cloth seats and contrast stitching for all upholstery types. The 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster became standard across the lineup, with the SEL trim receiving the 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine paired with a Dynamic Shift continuously variable transmission (CVT), paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. A six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching was an option for the SE trim, costing an extra $200. The XSE’s CVT used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip, and its ten programmed ratios did an excellent job of hiding typical CVT traits. The Corolla sat on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, engineered for a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics.

The Corolla’s mechanical components included electric steering, vented front and solid disc rear brakes, and a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires. Despite its tame nature compared to sportier models like the Hyundai Elantra N, Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, and Volkswagen Jetta GLI, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling characteristics and was engaging enough for a compact car. The EPA estimated the Corolla XSE’s fuel economy at 34 mpg in combined driving, and it averaged 31.1 mpg on a mountainous route.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. The new engine produced 158 horsepower, an increase of 11 hp, while torque remained at 184 lb-ft. Transmission choices included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta’s fuel economy was impressive, with the stick-shift model estimated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic transmission models had two ratings: 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined for S and Sport trims, and 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined for SE and SEL trims.

On an 800-mile trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg, requiring only two fill-ups for the roughly 1,000-mile journey. The Jetta’s cabin was comfortable for long drives, though not the quietest in its segment. The seats were well-cushioned and supportive, and visibility was good despite the vehicle feeling small among larger traffic. However, the Jetta’s powertrain had its drawbacks, with a touchy throttle, turbo lag, and tepid dynamics. The Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes offered varying levels of responsiveness, but overall, the Jetta’s power delivery was inconsistent in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE offered numerous upgrades over the SE trim, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This feature provided added comfort and a commanding driving position with clear sightlines forward, making the Corolla easier to enter and exit. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but offered good thigh support. The rear seat cushions provided terrific support and sat reasonably high off the floor, though headroom and legroom were tight. The Corolla’s trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some competitors but more than others.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact proportions, offered ample passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seats’ bottom cushion inclined slightly, which might not be appreciated by those with shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats easily accessible. 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 lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Every Corolla also had a free year of Safety Connect services and free access to a Wi-Fi hotspot for three months or 2GB of data use. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE benefiting from Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE also offered a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, while dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist service were exclusive to the XSE trim.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received an upgrade in technology, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The S, Sport, and SE trims had an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The Jetta SEL also featured an 8-inch MIB3 infotainment system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, multi-phone pairing, and enhanced voice recognition. The SE and SEL trims included HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Car-Net Hotspot subscription, and a Plus Nav package. The premium Beats Audio sound system and remote start were also available.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also added standard rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. The Corolla earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA for the 2020 model.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's driver-assistance tech. The Jetta S and Sport 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. The full IQ.DRIVE safety list was standard on SE and SEL trims. The 2021 Jetta received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly “Good” grades from the IIHS, though it had lower scores for headlights and LATCH use.