2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Toyota Crown

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta had been a steadfast performer for Volkswagen, maintaining its position as the automaker’s best-selling vehicle for three decades. Despite overall sales declines due to various global issues, the Jetta held its ground. In 2021, the Jetta and its performance variant, the Jetta GLI, accounted for over 61% of Volkswagen’s 101,167 U.S. car sales, a figure that rose to 70% in the first quarter of 2022. While Volkswagen’s SUV sales were significantly higher, the Jetta still 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 were subtle, with changes to the front fascia, bumper, and grille, which now featured more chrome. The interior also saw updates, including new cloth seat patterns and contrast stitching, with an 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster becoming standard across the lineup.

The 2023 Toyota Crown was a full-size sedan with seating for five, comparable in footprint to the discontinued Toyota Avalon but with a ride height four inches higher. This elevated stance made it stand out on the road, reminiscent of the old Honda Accord Crosstour. The Crown’s styling was more widely accepted, featuring a massive grille, angular wraparound headlights, and large wheels that prevented it from looking awkward. The rear was rounded with a bold taillight strip, and the top Platinum trim offered a two-tone color option.

Inside, the Crown was modern, with a digital instrument panel and a large horizontal touchscreen atop the dash. Physical buttons for climate control with 1980s-era LED displays were just below. The cabin featured a mix of hard but sturdy plastic elements with cushioned touchpoints. While the surface graining and hard plastics could have been improved, the interior still looked and felt like a fancier Toyota. The taller ride height provided a slightly better view of the road, but not the commanding view of an SUV.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. This engine produced 158 horsepower, an 11-hp increase, and 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 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 achieving 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL trims 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 cabin was comfortable for long drives, though not the quietest in its segment. The Jetta’s powertrain had some drawbacks, including a touchy throttle, turbo lag, and tepid dynamics. Drive modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom, with Sport mode offering a slight improvement in responsiveness. Overall, the Jetta’s acceleration was good, but stop-and-go traffic could be annoying due to its jumpy nature.

The 2023 Toyota Crown offered two hybrid powertrains across its XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims. The base powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a hybrid electric motor, producing 236 horsepower. The top Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, which included a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a more powerful rear electric motor, delivering 340 horsepower. The base hybrid used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the Hybrid Max had a traditional six-speed automatic.

Toyota estimated the base hybrid could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, while the Hybrid Max could do it in 5.7 seconds. The Crown’s ride quality was tuned for comfort, with the Platinum trim adding an adaptive suspension and a Sport+ drive mode. The cabin remained quiet on various road surfaces, though some electronic driver aids were intrusive. The Crown’s overall driving experience was enjoyable, but the engine drone and some driver aids could be annoying.

Despite its compact size, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the ability to accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seat cushions had a slight incline that might not suit shorter passengers. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and seat controls conveniently located. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin was usable but lacked a latch, which was unusual.

The 2023 Toyota Crown’s base XLE trim featured fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim, while the Limited and Platinum trims had full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though the firm cushioning could cause discomfort over time. The driver’s view was largely unobstructed, though the rearview was narrow. The taller ride height provided a slightly better view of the road. Storage options included large cupholders, door pockets, and a center console armrest bin with a dual-hinged mechanism. The rear seats offered ample space for adults, with plenty of legroom and adequate headroom. The trunk had a capacity of 15.2 cubic feet, which was smaller than some competitors but still useful.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received an upgrade in technology, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The S, Sport, and SE trims had an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim had a 10.25-inch display 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 included a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. The SEL trim also had premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, featuring sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. The base six-speaker audio system was adequate, but higher trims offered an 11-speaker JBL premium system. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and had a new voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A digital key feature allowed smartphone unlocking, standard on the Platinum trim and optional on the Limited.

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, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Jetta SE and SEL trims had the full IQ.Drive safety list as standard. 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.

The 2023 Toyota Crown had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal and cross-traffic collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and a rear-seat-passenger reminder. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems were well-tuned, but some new features were intrusive and could not be completely disabled in the pre-production model.