2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had become synonymous with the model since its second-generation debut in 2004. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to embrace its unique styling, which many found unappealing. The interior was equally unconventional, featuring a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. Gloss-black trim, while trendy, attracted dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's peculiar aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a subtle exterior makeover, including a new engine, improved infotainment, and additional features. The design changes were minimal, requiring a keen eye to notice. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were updated with more chrome, and the rear bumper was redesigned to appear less squatty. The Jetta's overall design remained bland yet purposeful, akin to a suitcase. Inside, the Jetta featured new cloth seat patterns and contrast stitching, with a two-tone leather option for higher trims. The cabin updates were subtle but added a premium feel.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-drive models managed 52 mpg, while AWD-e versions achieved 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition, however, averaged 47.5 mpg during testing. The car's powertrain included a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. While not powerful, the near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor provided a lively feel off the line. The Prius excelled in urban and low-speed driving, thanks to its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which offered a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel. However, hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options included a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the manual version achieving 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic models varied slightly, with S and Sport trims rated at 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL trims achieved 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. During a road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg. The car's powertrain, however, had a touchy throttle and turbo lag, making stop-and-go traffic challenging. The Jetta offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the steering feedback was detached, and the overall dynamics were tepid.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather could be sticky. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided ample passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five. The front seats had a slightly inclined edge for thigh support, which might not suit shorter individuals. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and seat controls conveniently located. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota’s Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. However, the sound quality was poor, and the digital instrumentation displays were dated.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE models had an 8-inch display, while the SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The Jetta SEL also had an 8-inch MIB3 infotainment system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, and enhanced voice recognition. Standard infotainment for lower trims included a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, Bluetooth, USB-C ports, and an SD card interface. The SEL trim added premium Beats Audio and a remote start system. However, the voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, often requiring manual input for accuracy.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard for three years. The Prius had not been rated by the NHTSA for 2021 but received favorable marks from the IIHS.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's suite of driver-assistance technologies. Standard on S and Sport trims were blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning with automatic braking. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. SE and SEL trims included the full IQ.Drive suite. The 2022 Jetta had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the 2021 model received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with some shortcomings in headlight tests and LATCH use.