2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Honda Accord

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta maintained its status as Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle despite the automaker’s overall sales decline due to various global issues. In 2021, the Jetta and its performance version, the Jetta GLI, accounted for over 61% of Volkswagen’s U.S. car sales, a figure that rose to 70% in the first quarter of 2022. Although Volkswagen’s SUV sales were significantly higher, the Jetta outsold the rest of the VW 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. The Jetta Sport replaced the outgoing R-Line model, and the SEL Premium was dropped from the lineup, simplifying the choices to four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL.

The exterior updates to the Jetta were subtle, requiring a keen eye to notice. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were redone with more chrome, and the grille featured a chrome frame and two horizontal chrome pieces aligning with the standard LED headlights. The rear bumper was redesigned to be less squatty and more square, with a full-length chrome feature. New wheel designs and metallic colors were added to the paint palette. The interior received equally subtle updates, including a new rhombus pattern on the standard cloth seats and contrast stitching on all upholstery types. The Jetta SEL featured a 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system, while the base model included an 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and a 6.5-inch touchscreen display.

Honda reconfigured the 2023 Accord, making the hybrid powertrain standard on most trim levels, with only the base LX and step-up EX variants retaining a gas-only engine. The 2023 Accord LX had a base price of $27,295, while the EX cost $29,060, with a destination charge of $1,095. The EX test car included an affordable option package adding blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system, bringing the total price to $30,705. The 2023 Accord featured a more technical and conservative look, with less chrome and a modern appearance. The EX trim had a pewter wheel finish, contrasting with the LX model’s sparkly silver wheels and the popular black wheels.

Inside, the Accord EX had durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and stylish metal mesh dashboard trim. The digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system, and the switchgear reflected attention to detail and refinement. The Accord EX was nicely outfitted for its price and class, offering a comfortable and functional interior.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. The new engine produced 158 horsepower, an increase of 11 hp, and maintained 184 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta’s fuel economy was impressive, with the stick-shift model estimated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic transmission models had slightly different ratings, with S and Sport models at 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL models were rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

During 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 offered a comfortable cockpit for cruising, with well-cushioned and supportive seats. 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 the overall acceleration was jumpy in stop-and-go traffic. On the highway, the power delivery was smoother, and the eight-speed automatic performed well.

The 2023 Honda Accord LX and EX were equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) powered the front wheels, and the Accord EX had P225/50R17 Michelin Energy tires. The Accord’s suspension system managed the car’s weight distribution well, and the dual-pinion, variable-ratio steering system offered good response and road feel. The Accord EX also featured ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes.

The EPA estimated the Accord LX and EX to return 32 mpg in combined driving, but the test car returned 28.7 mpg due to triple-digit heat and continuous air conditioning use. The Accord was easy to drive in urban and suburban environments, with excellent outward visibility and a robust structure. The ride quality was communicative but quiet, and the car felt nimble and responsive. The powertrain was adequate, but the CVT drone was noticeable during hard acceleration. The Accord’s ride and handling were impressive, with precise steering and a well-tuned suspension. The brakes performed well, even during extreme heat, but the tires squealed and felt squishy when rounding curves.

Despite its compact proportions, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was not cramped, offering ample passenger space for four adults and accommodating five if necessary. The seats were comfortable, though the front seats’ bottom cushion inclined slightly, which might not be appreciated by those with shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats easily accessible. There was usable storage space up front, including door pockets, a center console bin, a slot next to the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin was functional, though it lacked a latch.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX added several features compared to the LX trim, including a darker wheel finish, heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The EX also included a power sunroof, though it lacked a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The driver’s seat needed more seat-track travel for taller individuals, and the hard plastic lining the center console sides was uncomfortable. The rear seat was comfortable, with excellent leg support and easy entry and exit. The Accord also had a large 16.7 cubic-foot trunk, making loading and unloading easy.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received an upgrade in technology, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The Jetta SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro with three views and various widgets, while the base model had an 8-inch display. The Jetta SEL also had an 8-inch MIB3 infotainment system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, multi-phone pairing, and enhanced voice recognition. The standard infotainment system in S, Sport, and SE trims was a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, App-Connect, Bluetooth, two USB-C ports, and an SD card multimedia interface. The Jetta SEL also included premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system.

The 2023 Honda Accord LX and EX came with a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text-messaging support, and HondaLink connected services with Wi-Fi access and an SOS emergency call button. The EX trim had an eight-speaker audio system, but it lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The voice recognition system provided access to Siri and worked well with Apple’s digital assistant. The physical controls for the stereo and main function buttons were user-friendly, though the function control knob was confusing.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's suite of driver-assistance technologies. The Jetta S and Sport 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. 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.

Every 2023 Accord came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Accord also had a reversing camera with three views, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and a driver monitoring system. The EX trim offered an affordable option package adding blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Accord’s ADAS performed with accuracy and refinement, and the car earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2023 calendar year.