Volkswagen Jetta vs Kia Optima
Overview | |
Years produced2001-2020 | Years produced1980-Present |
MSRP$22,900 | MSRP$22,995 |
Listings4181 | Listings9916 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews9.0 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.3 out of 10 |
Pros
Cons
| |
Reviews SummaryEven though Americans appear to be trading in cars for good, the midsize family sedan looks better than it’s ever been. Nearly every choice in the segment sports impressive design, engineering, and equipment, and the 2019 Kia Optima shows just how good a typical midsize car can be. From its stylish looks and wide range of engine choices to its roomy interior and sophisticated safety technologies, the 2019 Optima is more than just a great value. It’s a great car. | |
Reviews SummaryAt a base price under $23,500, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta offers plenty of passenger space, a large trunk, and a fuel-efficient engine with plenty of zip. This year, Volkswagen tweaks this compact sedan’s styling, improves the interior, upgrades the handling, and adds more standard technology. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate the affordable Sport trim and the continued existence of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which still offers a manual transmission. This review is based on our experience with the Jetta SEL, which looks and feels more upscale than its price. Verdict: While the changes to the 2025 VW Jetta are appealing, some are missteps, such as the touch-sensing climate control system interface. Also, the Jetta isn’t a leader in its segment regarding safety ratings. Nevertheless, its sensible German design and engineering shine through, giving it a distinctive driving experience unlike other compact cars. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.4L 185 hp I4 | Engine1.5L 158 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower185 hp @ 6000 rpm | Horsepower |
MPG City24 | MPG City29 |
MPG Highway33 | MPG Highway39 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.4L 185 hp I4 | Engine Name1.5L 158 hp I4 |
Torque178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm | Torque |
Horsepower185 hp @ 6000 rpm | Horsepower |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City24 | MPG City29 |
MPG Highway33 | MPG Highway39 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall4 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.9 cu ft | Cargo Space14.1 cu ft |
Curb Weight3230 lbs | Curb Weight3012 lbs |
Height57.7 in | Height57.7 in |
Length191.1 in | Length186.5 in |
Width73.2 in | Width80.2 in |
Wheelbase110.4 in | Wheelbase105.7 in |
Maximum Payload | Maximum Payload893 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
Years produced | 2001-2020 | 1980-Present |
MSRP | $22,900 | $22,995 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 9.0 out of 10Read full review | 7.3 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
Cons
| |
Summary | Even though Americans appear to be trading in cars for good, the midsize family sedan looks better than it’s ever been. Nearly every choice in the segment sports impressive design, engineering, and equipment, and the 2019 Kia Optima shows just how good a typical midsize car can be. From its stylish looks and wide range of engine choices to its roomy interior and sophisticated safety technologies, the 2019 Optima is more than just a great value. It’s a great car. | At a base price under $23,500, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta offers plenty of passenger space, a large trunk, and a fuel-efficient engine with plenty of zip. This year, Volkswagen tweaks this compact sedan’s styling, improves the interior, upgrades the handling, and adds more standard technology. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate the affordable Sport trim and the continued existence of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which still offers a manual transmission. This review is based on our experience with the Jetta SEL, which looks and feels more upscale than its price. Verdict: While the changes to the 2025 VW Jetta are appealing, some are missteps, such as the touch-sensing climate control system interface. Also, the Jetta isn’t a leader in its segment regarding safety ratings. Nevertheless, its sensible German design and engineering shine through, giving it a distinctive driving experience unlike other compact cars. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.4L 185 hp I4 | 1.5L 158 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 185 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
MPG City | 24 | 29 |
MPG Highway | 33 | 39 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.4L 185 hp I4 | 1.5L 158 hp I4 |
Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm | |
Horsepower | 185 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 24 | 29 |
MPG Highway | 33 | 39 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 4 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.9 cu ft | 14.1 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3230 lbs | 3012 lbs |
Height | 57.7 in | 57.7 in |
Length | 191.1 in | 186.5 in |
Width | 73.2 in | 80.2 in |
Wheelbase | 110.4 in | 105.7 in |
Maximum Payload | 893 lbs | |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.