2023 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2023 BMW 7 Series marked a significant shift in design for the luxury sedan, introducing a bold new front-end styling with an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. The thin LED accent lights gave the car a focused squint, while the actual headlights were recessed to improve aerodynamics. Although initially jarring, the design grew on observers over time. The 7 Series offered two distinct style themes: the standard M Sport with chrome accents and the M Sport Professional with a more aggressive blacked-out look. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, while the rear end featured distinctive horizontal taillights. Inside, the 7 Series boasted a modern, minimalistic interior with high-quality materials and a futuristic curved glass housing for the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The leather seat upholstery added visual interest, and the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package elevated the rear seat experience to business-class luxury.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more conservative and inoffensive design, typical of Volkswagen's approach to styling. The Jetta's appearance was tidy and clean, though it lacked the symmetry and balance of previous generations. Inside, the Jetta SEL trim channeled a touch of luxury with ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, and a large power sunroof. The interior felt upscale, offering emotional value at a reasonable price. The Jetta's no-nonsense design extended to its interior, where it provided a straightforward and functional layout. The SEL trim featured a larger digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing the overall driving experience. Despite its simplicity, the Jetta delivered a sense of refinement and practicality.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two initial powertrains. The base 740i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 760i xDrive, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivered 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive impressed with its quick and fluid acceleration, while the brake pedal provided smooth stops and confidence during urgent deceleration. The 7 Series offered sportier handling than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with a slightly stiffer ride. Sport mode enhanced cornering and steering responsiveness, appealing to drivers who valued performance alongside comfort.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, while not a sports sedan, provided a nimble and responsive driving experience. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine produced 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, sufficient for the front-wheel-drive car. The Jetta offered a six-speed manual transmission for S and Sport trims, while the SE and SEL featured an eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission exhibited a noticeable delay in acceleration, but the manual transmission likely provided better control. The Jetta SEL achieved an average of 30 mpg in combined driving. Despite its light and soft feel, the Jetta excelled on mountain roads, offering accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling. The all-season tires impressed with their grip and communication.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, though they required standing behind them to open fully. Inside, the front seats offered generous padding and power adjustments, with standard heating and ventilation. The rear seats provided ample space, accommodating tall passengers comfortably. The lounge seating option added a reclining passenger-side rear seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than competitors. Interior storage was adequate, with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and small door pockets.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta straddled the compact and midsize sedan segments, comfortably accommodating four adults. The interior offered generous storage space, with a large bin under the center armrest, a sizable glove compartment, and door panel storage areas. The Jetta SEL featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The trunk provided 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space, nearly matching midsize sedans. The 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items. The Jetta's design ensured ease of entry and exit, with large doors and a supportive seat cushion.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came equipped with iDrive 8, BMW's latest infotainment system. It offered touchscreen, central dial, and voice command operation. While basic functions were easy to use, deeper menu navigation proved complex. Voice controls helped mitigate this, though they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System delivered impressive audio quality. The optional theater screen faced challenges with inconsistent touchscreen inputs, requiring a remote control for easier navigation. Overall, iDrive 8 felt less intuitive compared to previous iterations and rival systems.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrumentation panel and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system included proximity-sensing, knobs for volume and menu functions, and shortcut tiles for main menus. While configuring vehicle settings was straightforward, radio tuning required multiple inputs. The voice recognition system offered basic commands, with more advanced features available through Car-Net connected service upgrades. Car-Net provided a Wi-Fi hotspot, SOS emergency calling, and remote engine starting. The SEL trim included a Beats Audio premium sound system, though it lacked the satisfaction of previous Fender systems.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not undergone crash tests by NHTSA or IIHS, which is common for luxury vehicles. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control impressed with smooth acceleration and braking, while the highway driving assistant reduced driver fatigue on long trips. BMW planned to introduce a level 3 automated driving system in German and Chinese markets, with potential U.S. availability.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SE and SEL came with IQ.Drive, a package of advanced driving assistance systems. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, performing well on challenging roads. The steering wheel recognized grip near the bottom, and Travel Assist accommodated traffic smoothly. Emergency Assist identified unresponsive drivers, braking the Jetta to a safe stop. NHTSA awarded the Jetta a five-star overall safety rating, though it received four stars for frontal-impact protection. IIHS rated the Jetta's safety as Poor in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test.