2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid continued Toyota’s legacy of producing reliable and stylish family sedans. With a history dating back to 1983, the Camry had evolved through eight generations, with the hybrid variant introduced in 2007. The 2022 model, a carryover from the 2021 refresh, featured a futuristic and expressive exterior design, highlighted by a sneering front end and muscular features. The base model came with 16-inch steel wheels, while higher trims boasted 17-inch, 18-inch, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Camry Hybrid offered a wild dashboard design with a sweeping curve, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a spacious second row, ensuring comfort for all passengers. Toyota’s high level of fit and finish was evident in the quality materials and smooth, glossy paint and trim.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, a staple in VW’s lineup for over three decades, received a mild makeover for the year. The updates included subtle exterior styling tweaks, an engine upgrade, and improved infotainment features. The Jetta’s design changes were minimal, with a slightly more aggressive profile and new wheel designs. The interior updates were equally subtle but appealing, with new rhombus-patterned cloth seats and contrast stitching. The Jetta’s cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and seat controls conveniently located. The 2022 Jetta offered a comfortable and spacious interior, with ample storage options and a user-friendly layout.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was designed for fuel efficiency rather than track performance. The entry-level LE model achieved an impressive EPA-rated fuel economy of 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway, and 52 mpg combined, while other trims managed 44 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 46 mpg combined. The hybrid system combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models. The Camry Hybrid offered good handling, thanks to its low center of gravity, but maintaining EV mode was challenging, and occasional drivetrain droning was noted.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous year’s 1.4-liter turbo-four. The new engine produced 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, with transmission options including a six-speed manual or an 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 varied slightly, with S and Sport trims achieving 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL trims managed 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Jetta’s powertrain, however, had a touchy throttle and turbo lag, making city driving less smooth. The vehicle offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the overall driving experience was described as tepid.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and ease of use. The driving position was comfortable and adjustable, with ample headroom for various driving styles. Storage options were plentiful, with a spacious glove compartment, center armrest storage, and multiple nooks throughout the dash. The second row was roomy and easy to access, with generous bottle holders and map pockets. The Camry Hybrid’s trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down rear seats for larger cargo. Toyota’s warranty covered the Camry Hybrid for three years/36,000 miles, with additional coverage for the powertrain, hybrid battery, and specific hybrid components.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided ample passenger space for four adults, with the option to accommodate five. The seats were comfortable, though the front seat cushions had a slightly inclined edge that might not suit shorter passengers. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for essential controls conveniently located. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a slot next to the cupholders. The center storage bin, while not large, was usable, though it lacked a latch. The Jetta’s interior was practical and user-friendly, with a focus on ergonomics.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was equipped with advanced technology features, including a premium JBL audio system with nine speakers, available on XLE and XSE models. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE featured a 9-inch touchscreen. All models came with Toyota’s smart key system, push-button start, and a projected-path rearview camera. Additional options included a 10-inch head-up display, bird’s-eye view camera, and intelligent clearance sonar with rear cross-traffic braking.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade, with all models featuring the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The S, Sport, and SE trims had an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim boasted a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. Standard infotainment included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with capacitive-touch sensors, App-Connect for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration, Bluetooth, and USB-C ports. The SEL trim added an 8-inch MIB3 system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, and enhanced voice recognition. The Jetta SEL also featured premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system, though the voice activation and navigation commands were not always intuitive.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also featured Toyota’s Star safety system, 10 airbags, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, and LATCH lower anchors for child safety seats. Additional safety features included a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, rear seat reminder, automatic engine shut-off, and hill start assist control. The 2022 Camry Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

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