2023 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Honda Civic

In 2022, Honda rolled out the Civic sedan in familiar trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. The prices started at $21,700 for the base Civic LX and went up to $28,300 for the top-tier Civic Touring, not including a destination charge of $995. Additionally, a new five-door Civic hatchback was announced to join the lineup later in the year, though the two-door coupe had been discontinued.

The evaluation unit we primarily assessed was the Civic Touring, adorned in an extra-cost Morning Mist Blue paint, which added $395 to the price, making its grand total $29,690, including destination charges. Another Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, was briefly sampled and estimated to be priced at just under $25,880.

The redesigned 2022 Civic boasted a more conservative and plain appearance than its predecessor, mirroring the design direction of the larger, longer-wheelbase Accord sedan. This 11th-generation model presented a more tailored, mature look. While fans of the previous Civic's sportier style might find it boring, those who disliked its exuberance would appreciate the refined, grown-up look.

Inside, Honda returned to the simplicity of past Civic models, adopting a minimalistic approach to controls and layout. A span of metal honeycomb mesh ran across the dashboard’s width, artfully concealing the air vents. The interior materials were upgraded, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a level of maturity that the older model lacked.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta presented a different narrative. Though still an affordable option, priced from $20,665 for the base model up to $31,585 for the GLI trim (excluding the $1,095 destination charge), the Jetta faced competition from more utility-focused alternatives like VW’s Taos crossover SUV or style-centric options like the Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback.

For the 2022 Honda Civic sedan, two improved engines were offered: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a more desirable turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the EX and Touring trims, generating 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The latter engine was particularly satisfying, providing a broad torque range from 1,700 rpm to 4,500 rpm.

Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), albeit with different versions for each engine. Honda incorporated Step Shift programming to make the CVT mimic the behavior of a traditional automatic. Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. Structural rigidity improvements, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel made the new Civic fun to drive. Despite the enhancements, a test drive returned fuel economy figures of 30.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate of 34 mpg, indicating a particularly spirited driving style during testing.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, offered a different driving experience. S and Sport trims came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while the SE and SEL trims featured an eight-speed automatic with optional Sport mode and manual shifting mode. The automatic transmission had noticeable delays and uneven power delivery, particularly during acceleration, making manual control more appealing for some drivers. The EPA fuel economy rating for the Jetta SEL was 33 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing returned 30 mpg.

The Jetta SEL’s light and compliant suspension felt nimble, particularly in urban and suburban settings. Accurate steering and faithful brakes made it a dependable companion on mountain roads, where it handled predictably. The factory-equipped P205/55R17 Nexen Nfera AU7 all-season tires provided plenty of communication about the road surface and maintained grip, enhancing the driving experience.

Honda has long prided itself on making the Civic a comfortable compact car. For 2022, it arrived with redesigned front seats offering superior support, particularly in the leather-lined Touring trim, where a power driver’s seat allowed precise adjustments. While the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, it still offered excellent thigh support. However, the Civic sat low to the ground, posing entry and exit challenges for some. Rear-seat passengers benefited from increased legroom, though the backrest angle might have felt too reclined for some.

Rear passenger amenities included two USB ports but lacked air conditioning vents, a noticeable oversight. The Touring trim also did away with heated rear cushions. The redesigned center console traded off storage space and flexibility for improved accessibility and a design that resisted fingerprints. Trunk volume remained generous at 14.8 cubic feet (14.4 cubic feet for the Touring due to sound system components). The split-folding backseat added utility, and a small handle inside the trunk lid assisted with closing.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, often perceived as smaller, demonstrated that it could comfortably meet the needs of a family of four. Straddling the traditional compact and midsize sedan segments, it offered ample interior space, allowing four adults to sit comfortably. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made it easy to find a comfortable driving position.

Front passenger accommodations were less ideal due to the lack of height adjustment for the seat, but the Jetta’s not-too-low stance facilitated easier entry and exit. The back seat was equally accommodating, with significant legroom and heated rear seats, though it, too, lacked rear air conditioning vents. Interior storage was generous, with a large center bin, glove compartment, and spacious door panels.

The Jetta’s trunk offered 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than the Civic but still ample, with a shape and opening size allowing easy loading of full-size suitcases. The 60/40-split folding back seat added versatility for carrying longer items.

The 2022 Honda Civic came well-equipped with digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim upgrading to a 10-inch display. This larger panel offered greater customization and vital driving information, including a Vehicle Activity display, which helped drivers realize when their car’s lights were on, addressing a common issue with modern cars where dashboards are always illuminated.

The base infotainment setup included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. LX trim had just four stereo speakers, while Sport and EX featured eight, though neither impressed. The Touring trim stood out with a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound system, thanks to early involvement from Bose, leading to an optimal speaker arrangement. Additional Touring features included a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and navigation, with excellent performance overall.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta provided advanced technology at the SEL trim level, starting with a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrumentation panel. The infotainment system featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen with a proximity-sensing surface, volume knobs, and shortcut tiles for easy navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, alongside the SiriusXM 360L premium satellite radio service.

However, the system had some operational quirks, like an overly involved tuning process and a less intuitive voice recognition system. Car-Net connected services offered additional benefits, such as a five-year complimentary period for Remote and Safe & Secure feature plans, which included emergency calling, collision notification, teen driver settings, and more. The SEL trim’s Beats Audio premium sound system, though, failed to impress compared to previous partnerships with Fender.

The 2022 Honda Civic excelled in safety, with an upgraded Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Features like Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist were standard, operating with improved smoothness and accuracy thanks to new front camera and ultrasonic sonar sensors. The Civic replaced the old LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system on the EX and Touring trims, addressing a significant flaw in the previous model.

The Civic’s structure was more robust to handle collisions with larger vehicles, and new front airbag designs offered better head protection. Rear side-impact airbags were also introduced. Moreover, a standard rear-seat reminder system ensured drivers checked the back seats before leaving the vehicle.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SE and SEL trims featured IQ.Drive, a package of advanced driving assistance systems. Notable inclusions were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, creating a semi-autonomous driving aid. Emergency Assist could identify an unresponsive driver and safely bring the car to a stop. However, the system had some limitations, such as occasional inaccurate lane-departure warnings and a need for manual intervention in rapidly slowing traffic.

The Jetta earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though it received four stars for frontal-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Jetta poorly in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test and found the headlights wanting.