2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta maintained its status as the automaker’s best-selling vehicle despite various global challenges. It accounted for a significant portion of Volkswagen’s U.S. sales, with a mild makeover that included an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The exterior changes were subtle, with minor updates to the front fascia, bumper, and grille, and new wheel designs and metallic colors. The interior received subtle but appealing updates, including new seat patterns and contrast stitching, with an 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster standard across the lineup.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta continued to offer a traditional four-door sedan option within its price range, competing with alternatives like the VW Taos crossover SUV and the Mazda3 Hatchback. The 2023 Jetta was available in S, Sport, SE, SEL, and GLI trim levels, with prices ranging from $20,665 to $31,585. The Jetta SEL featured a Platinum Gray Metallic paint with a Volcano Brown over Titan Black interior. The 2023 model maintained a conservative design, with a no-nonsense interior that channeled the VW Group’s Audi luxury brand, offering ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, an oversized power sunroof, and larger screens for digital instrumentation and infotainment systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It replaced the previous model year’s 1.4-liter turbo-four, with transmission choices including 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. The Jetta offered a comfortable cockpit for cruising, but its powertrain had some drawbacks, including a touchy throttle and turbo lag.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta also featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The S and Sport trims came with a standard six-speed manual transmission, while the SE and SEL had an eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission had a noticeable delay in acceleration, which could be irritating. The Jetta SEL’s fuel economy was rated at 33 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing averaged 30 mpg. Despite these issues, the Jetta SEL offered a rewarding driving experience with accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling. The all-season tires provided excellent performance, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with comfortable seats and driver-centric ergonomics. The cabin featured buttons for quick access to climate control, audio, and seat controls, with additional storage spaces in the doors, center console, and next to the cupholders. The trunk volume was generous, providing 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space, nearly as much as some midsize sedans. The 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta successfully straddled the compact and midsize sedan segments, accommodating four adults comfortably and a fifth passenger for short trips. The interior storage space was generous, with a large bin under the center armrest, a sizable glove compartment, and storage areas in the door panels. The Jetta SEL featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The trunk volume was also 14.1 cubic feet, with a shape and size that made it easy to load luggage and other items.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received an upgrade in the technology department, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The Jetta SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro version, with three views and various widgets for navigation, phone history, and driver-assist systems. The standard infotainment system in S, Sport, and SE trims was a 6.5-inch Volkswagen MIB2 system, while the Jetta SEL had an 8-inch MIB3 system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, and enhanced voice recognition. The SEL also included premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrumentation panel and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with proximity-sensing surface, knobs for stereo volume, and shortcut tiles for main system menus. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L premium satellite radio, and Car-Net connected services. Car-Net provided access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, SOS emergency calling, automatic collision notification, and other remote-access services. The Jetta SEL also had a Beats Audio premium sound system, though it was not particularly satisfying compared to previous Fender systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's suite of driver-assistance tech. 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 from the NHTSA and IIHS, but the 2021 model received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly “Good” grades from the IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SE and SEL also came with IQ.Drive, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, providing a semi-autonomous driving aid. Emergency Assist could identify an unresponsive driver and bring the Jetta to a safe stop. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but earned four-star ratings for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS rated the Jetta’s safety as Poor in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test and was not impressed with the car’s headlights.