Volkswagen Jetta vs Toyota Camry

The 2025 Toyota Camry underwent a noticeable facelift, especially evident from the front with its more cohesive and business-like appearance. Echoing the new Prius and showing a familial tie to Lexus's spindle grille, although Toyota refers to it as the "hammerhead front face." This model features standard LED headlights and daytime running lights. Despite lacking a trendy slim light bar, it sports a look suggestive of one. The vehicle profile remains similar to its predecessors, with the rear window surround now extending further into the sail panel, accentuating a coupe-like roof. The hood has been extended to meet the grille vertically, giving the Camry a more assertive demeanor. Wheel sizes vary across trims, with 16-inch alloys for the base LE and up to 19-inch for the sporty XSE, which also offers a two-tone paint option including the new Ocean Gem color. On the inside, the Camry boasts a completely redesigned dashboard. The center touchscreen integrates seamlessly across the dash, cleverly concealing the air vents and minimizing the visibility of smudges on the piano black plastic surfaces. However, the light gray quilted Dinamica microfiber in the XLE trim, found extensively within the interior, drew concerns about its practicality regarding cleanliness. In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta presents a more conservative aesthetic that leans towards a bland rather than bold statement. The SEL trim, however, dressed in Platinum Gray Metallic with a Volcano Brown over Titan Black interior, attempts to offer a luxury feel on a budget. This top trim includes ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, a large sunroof, and upgraded digital displays, presenting an upscale look and feel under $30,000. Despite its subdued exterior, the Jetta's interior feels decidedly premium, borrowing from the VW Group's luxury Audi brand aesthetics.

Toyota's 2025 Camry is now exclusively hybrid, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with electric motors, delivering up to 232 horsepower in the all-wheel-drive configuration. This setup promises impressive fuel economy, estimated at 51 mpg for front-wheel drive models and 50 mpg for all-wheel drive. The Camry offers a seamless transition between electric and gas modes, especially under 25 mph, where drivers can engage EV mode for enhanced efficiency. Notably, the hybrid system operates quietly with minimal road and engine noise intrusion, thanks to acoustic laminated glass. The Volkswagen Jetta, meanwhile, is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 158 horsepower. This power is adequate but hampered by a lag in the automatic transmission, which can be frustrating during quick acceleration. This issue is somewhat mitigated in Sport mode, although it comes at the expense of fuel economy. The Jetta handles urban driving with ease, offering a light and nimble feel, enhanced by its responsive steering and compliant suspension.

The 2025 Camry's interior, although exact dimensions are yet unpublished, is expected to remain similar to the previous model, with competitive legroom but slightly less generous trunk space compared to rivals. The model features heated steering, adjustable seats, and optional ventilated seats across various trims, enhancing comfort. It also introduces a panoramic moonroof in hybrid models, a first for the Camry. The Jetta, on the other hand, impressively accommodates four adults comfortably, bridging the gap between compact and midsize sedans. The SEL trim includes ample adjustability for driver comfort and offers a surprisingly spacious trunk of 14.1 cubic feet. Its generous interior storage and straightforward entry and exit further highlight its functional design.

The Camry comes well-equipped with an 8-inch infotainment system, upgradeable to 12.3 inches in higher trims, supporting wireless connectivity and multiple Bluetooth devices. It integrates advanced features like a digital driver display and a head-up display in premium trims, although its voice recognition system received mixed reviews for effectiveness. Volkswagen's Jetta features a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen in the SEL trim, which supports intuitive interaction though it has some user interface quirks. Despite these issues, it includes essential modern connectivity features and an underwhelming Beats Audio system that does not quite meet the mark set by previous Fender systems.

Toyota's Camry is equipped with the comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, promising robust safety backed by a history of strong independent safety ratings. It includes advanced driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, which perform reliably. The Jetta is outfitted with VW's IQ.Drive, offering a suite of safety features including innovative aids like Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. These systems enhance safety significantly, although the Jetta's safety ratings in some crash tests could be better, reflecting room for improvement in frontal impact protection.