2022 BMW 3 Series vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 BMW 3 Series lineup included the 330i, 330e, M340i, and M3, with base prices ranging from $41,450 to $73,000, excluding a $995 destination charge. Each version had a distinct powertrain, with the 330i and 330e featuring a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the latter paired with plug-in hybrid technology offering 23 miles of electric range. The M340i boasted a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology and dynamic tuning for enhanced handling, while the high-performance M3 topped the range.

The M340i test vehicle came in Barbera Red special-order paint, a $4,500 upgrade, paired with Cognac-color SensaTec simulated leather upholstery and an optional SensaTec dashboard wrap. It included the Driving Assistance and Driving Assistance Pro packages, the Premium package, the Cooling and High-Performance Tire package, and an Adaptive M Suspension, totaling $67,390 with the destination charge. The M Performance exterior design featured exclusive grille and bumper designs, Shadowline trim, and blue brake calipers, with 19-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Inside, the perforated SensaTec upholstery and Cognac color provided a trendy, upscale look, with quality materials and a technical design focused on driving enjoyment.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, a long-time best-seller for the automaker, accounted for over 61 percent of VW’s 101,167 U.S. sales in the previous year, rising to 70 percent in the first quarter of 2022. Despite overall sales declines due to various global issues, the Jetta remained a strong performer, outselling the rest of VW’s car lineup combined. For 2022, the Jetta received a mild makeover, including an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim, simplifying the lineup to four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL.

The exterior updates were subtle, with changes to the front fascia, bumper, and grille, featuring more chrome and redesigned black grille inserts, lower fascia, and foglights. The rear received standard LED lighting and a less squatty, more square bumper with a full-length chrome feature. New wheel designs and metallic colors, including Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue, were added. The Jetta’s design remained purposeful yet bland, with a slightly more aggressive profile due to the lower front fascia and 17-inch wheel design. Inside, the Jetta received subtle updates, including a new rhombus pattern on standard cloth seats and contrast stitching for a premium look. Leather options included a new two-tone Volcano Brown and black, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel standard on all trims except the entry-level S.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, delivering 382 horsepower between 5,800 rpm and 6,500 rpm and 368 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode, paddle shifters, and launch control, the power flowed to the rear wheels through an M Sport differential. The M340i also included M Sport four-wheel ventilated-disc brakes, variable sport steering, and a standard M Sport suspension, with the test car featuring the optional Adaptive M Suspension. BMW claimed a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, and the car returned 24.9 mpg on the evaluation route, just shy of the EPA rating of 26 mpg combined.

The M340i’s driving dynamics were impressive, with quick, precise steering response and a taut ride. The car felt hard-wired to the driver, reacting presciently to inputs and providing a thrilling driving experience. The transmission behaved flawlessly, and while the paddle shifters were rewarding, the automatic mode was preferred for focusing on driving. The M340i offered a perfect balance of performance and practicality, making it a standout in the sports sedan segment.

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 including a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta’s fuel economy was impressive, with the manual version rated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic models had slightly different ratings, with S and Sport trims at 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, and SE and SEL trims at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

On an 800-mile road 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, with well-cushioned seats and competitive noise levels. However, the powertrain had some drawbacks, including a touchy throttle, turbo lag, and tepid dynamics. The Jetta offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the steering feedback was detached, and acceleration in stop-and-go traffic was jumpy. On the highway, the power delivery was smoother, and the eight-speed automatic performed well.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i offered a blend of driving satisfaction and passenger comfort. The power-adjustable front sport seats provided ample support for various driving conditions, with a perfect driving position and a thick-rimmed steering wheel for comfort and grip. Rear seat passengers had enough legroom for four relatively tall people, though the center rear seat was less likely to be used due to the outboard bolstering. The back seat was comfortable, with good thigh support, but the rigid plastic panels on the front seatbacks could be an issue for taller passengers.

The M340i featured a three-zone automatic climate control system, with the Premium package adding a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Heated rear seats were available, but ventilated front seats were not. Interior storage space was decent, and the 17 cubic-foot trunk offered roomy cargo space with a 40/20/40-split folding design for added utility. However, a sports wagon version would have been even better, though not available in the U.S. market.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the ability to accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seats’ bottom cushion had a slight incline that might not suit shorter passengers. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats easily accessible. Driving-related controls were logically placed next to the shifter, ensuring quick access.

The Jetta provided usable storage space, including door pockets, a center console bin, a slot next to the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin, while not large, was still functional, though the lack of a latch on the compartment cover was unusual. Overall, the Jetta’s interior was practical and well-designed for everyday use.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series came standard with Live Cockpit Professional, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a navigation system. While the digital gauges were not as impressive as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus, the infotainment technology package worked well. BMW iDrive 7.0 was intuitive, with multiple control options, including a center console knob, touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. Gesture control was also available but had mixed success.

Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker HiFi sound system. The Connected Package Pro technology provided BMW Remote Services and the Intelligent Personal Assistant for conversational voice recognition. A head-up display was available, though it could be challenging to read with polarized sunglasses. The Driving Assistance Professional package added a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and autonomous parking capability.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received technology upgrades, with all models featuring the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE trims had an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro with additional widgets. The Jetta SEL also featured 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, App-Connect, Bluetooth, and USB-C ports.

The Jetta SEL’s MIB3 system added HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Car-Net Hotspot subscription, and a Plus Nav package. The test vehicle also had premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system. However, the voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, often requiring manual input for accuracy. The touchscreen was responsive and easy to use.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series included Active Guard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, city-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance package added a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Driving Assistance Professional package further enhanced safety with lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, evasive-steering assist, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, and Emergency Stop Assistant.

The 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with models equipped with optional adaptive LED headlights qualifying for the accolade. It also received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, including for rollover resistance.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning with automatic braking, and pedestrian recognition. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, while Emergency Assist monitored driver attentiveness and could bring the vehicle to a stop if needed.

The full IQ.DRIVE safety list was standard on Jetta SE and SEL trims. The 2022 Jetta had not yet received crash safety ratings from the NHTSA and 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.