2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Kia Forte

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta maintained its position as Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle for over three decades. Despite challenges from the pandemic and other global uncertainties, the Jetta's sales remained steady, accounting for over 61 percent of Volkswagen’s U.S. sales in the previous year and soaring to 70 percent in the first quarter of 2022. Although Volkswagen's SUV sales were significantly higher, the Jetta still outsold the rest of VW’s car lineup combined.

For 2022, the Jetta received a mild makeover that included an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The Jetta Sport replaced the outgoing R-Line model, and the SEL Premium was dropped from the lineup, simplifying choices to four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL, with our focus on the Jetta SEL. The exterior changes were understated, with more chrome added to the front fascia, bumper, and grille. The grille now featured a chrome frame and two horizontal chrome pieces aligning with the LED headlights and daytime running lights. The rear bumper became less squatty and more square, featuring a full-length chrome detail.

The Jetta’s more aggressive profile for 2022 was subtle, highlighted by a redesigned lower front fascia and new 17-inch wheel designs on the SEL trim. Inside, updates included a new rhombus pattern on the standard cloth seats and contrast stitching across all interior upholstery. The leather-wrapped steering wheel became standard on all trims except the base model, and an 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster was added as standard across the lineup.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Forte was available in four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT, with the Forte GT evaluated in this review. It came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, and a handful of accessories, offering almost everything for an MSRP of $26,900. Earlier trims, such as the EX, were discontinued.

For 2022, the Forte received a new grille, headlights, and bumpers across all models, with fresh wheel designs for the LXS and GT-Line. The GT-Line and GT trims featured new fog lights, taillights, and the GT trim boasted brighter LED headlights and sporty red-accent detailing. The Forte GT stood out with larger 18-inch wheels, a gloss black lip spoiler, and a sportier attitude.

The interior of the Forte GT remained similar to the previous year. It featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information display and a revised center console with an electronic parking brake and Auto Hold feature. The GT’s interior had a sporty look, with analog gauges, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and round outer air vents. Kia's updates included a different simulated leather for the GT-Line and GT models.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a new 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. This new engine produced 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, offering a bit more power for a city commuter. Transmission choices were a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta shone in fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined for the manual version. Automatic transmission models had slightly varied ratings based on trims: S and Sport models at 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, and SE and SEL models at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

During an 800-mile road trip, the Jetta averaged an impressive 46.9 highway mpg. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, though it exhibited some lag and surge. Driving modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom, where Normal and Eco felt detached, and Sport mode offered minimal improvement. The Jetta’s ride quality was comfortable, though the power delivery felt jittery at low speeds.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Kia Forte offered a different driving experience. All trims, except the GT, retained a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivering 35 mpg combined for the FE trim and 33 mpg for LXS and GT-Line.

The Forte GT, however, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing a robust 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options included a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT) with paddle shifters. The GT featured Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel accordingly. This trim came with a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch wheels, enhancing its driving dynamics.

The Forte GT provided exhilarating acceleration and enjoyable handling, especially on winding roads, with its sport-tuned suspension maintaining stability. However, the paddle shifters weren’t highly engaging, and the steering lacked precision. The brakes also struggled during demanding drives, and engine noise at highway speeds was noticeable. Despite official fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg combined (manual) and 30 mpg (DCT), real-world tests revealed a slightly lower 25.8 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the possibility of fitting a fifth. The seats were generally comfortable, although the inclined edge of the front seats might not suit everyone. The driver-centric cabin featured buttons for essential controls such as climate and audio, with well-placed buttons for the start/stop system, drive modes, and electronic parking brake.

Storage space in the Jetta included door pockets, a center console bin, a slot beside the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin was functional but lacked a latch for secure closure. The cargo capacity was practical, offering enough space for daily use.

The 2022 Kia Forte excelled in form and function, especially with the GT2 option package, which added features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sunroof. Rear seat room was considerable for a compact car, with the bottom cushion large and angled for support. The Forte’s trunk offered a leading 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, accommodating full-size suitcases or other luggage with ease. The rear seats could fold down to increase cargo capacity when needed, enhancing its practicality.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta saw significant upgrades in technology. All trims featured the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster, with the SEL trim boasting a 10.25-inch display, three views, and advanced widgets for navigation and driver-assist system status. The MIB2 infotainment system was standard on lower trims, while the SEL trim received the 8-inch MIB3 system with added navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless charging, and premium audio.

However, the navigation and voice activation systems were not intuitive, often misinterpreting commands, making manual entry of addresses more reliable. Despite these issues, the touchscreen was responsive and user-friendly.

The Forte’s infotainment system was intuitive, with user-friendly menus and practical controls. However, Kia Connect’s effectiveness was inconsistent, and voice recognition occasionally failed to identify specific commands. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a notable feature, alerting the driver when traffic ahead started moving, enhancing convenience and safety.

Safety features for the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta included the standard IQ.Drive suite, which encompassed blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and pedestrian recognition. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. While the Jetta received a five-star rating from NHTSA and good grades from IIHS in previous years, ratings for 2022 remained pending.

The 2022 Kia Forte also featured advanced safety technologies, with the Drive Wise suite standard across all trims. This included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Safe Exit Warning, and adaptive cruise control.

Kia’s Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system, available in higher trims, exhibited exceptional performance, handling rapid traffic changes smoothly. NHTSA awarded the Forte a four-star overall rating, noting concerns about potential rear passenger injury in side impacts and a three-star rating for frontal protection.