2018 Volkswagen Jetta Road Test and Review

2018 VW Jetta front three quarter hero ・ Photo by Volkswagen

Volkswagen's smallest sedan, the 2018 Jetta, is also the German automaker’s least expensive vehicle. With a starting price below $19,000, the popular Jetta is a favorite with young urbanites and first-time buyers looking for a stylish, fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient four-door. 

For 2018, VW has given the Jetta a slight makeover with lightly revised styling, new trim levels, and a longer warranty — and the changes improve an already desirable package. The revamp will keep the Jetta competitive in the crowded compact sedan segment, which also includes the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte.

Six Trim Levels to Choose From

Most carmakers offer their compact in multiple body styles. Volkswagen splits the segment into multiple models instead: the Jetta sedan, the Golf hatchback and station wagon, and the retro Beetle. All Jettas are front-wheel drive, and there are no hybrid or electric models, unlike the all-electric e-Golf hatchback. The 2018 Jetta is available in six trim levels, with prices starting at $19,495 including an $850 fee for destination. That price buys a Jetta S with a smooth 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 150 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission, which are also standard in the new Wolfsburg Edition and SE trim levels. The available six-speed automatic is worth the additional $1,000. 

SE Sport and SEL trim levels get a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder backed by the automatic transmission. With no extra-cost options, our test vehicle, a Wolfsburg Edition with the automatic transmission, is a strong value with a sticker price of $22,095.

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Enthusiast drivers want the GLI.

Long before small-car performance was on the radar of most Americans, Volkswagen practically invented the genre with the original Rabbit GTI hatchback in the 1970s. So it's no surprise that the Jetta also has a performance version. The enthusiast-oriented Jetta GLI shares some components with today's GTI and tops the sedan’s range with a sticker price just over $30,000 (including destination). The GLI gets a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels and tires, and the largest engine available in a Jetta: a turbocharged 2.0-liter making 210 horsepower backed by a dual-clutch automatic transmission. For 2018 there isn’t a manual transmission available.

The smooth engine makes great power just off idle, so the GLI is quick off the line. From a dead stop it can accelerate to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. It competes with the Nissan Sentra Nismo, which has a smaller and less powerful engine, as well as the 252-hp Ford Focus ST hatchback and the 205-hp Honda Civic Si sedan.

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Impressive Fuel Economy

Even with its powerful turbocharged engines, the 2018 VW Jetta delivers excellent fuel economy. With 1.4-liter engine and the five-speed manual transmission, the Jetta has a rating of 28 mpg city and an awesome 40 mpg on the highway. With the available automatic transmission, the Jetta’s highway rating drops to 38 mpg, but we averaged an impressive 32 mpg during our week of mixed driving around Los Angeles. These are strong fuel efficiency numbers for the compact class, though a couple of competitors do even better. Also, the Chevy Cruze's available diesel engine blows it away with a 48 mpg highway rating; Volkswagen no longer offers a diesel Jetta.

With the larger 1.8-liter engine, Jetta SE Sport and SEL models are rated for 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The surprise is the efficiency of the top GLI trim level: Even with its 210-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, it’s rated the same at 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

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Fun to Drive

With impressive refinement and strong performance, the new Wolfsburg Edition — named for the automaker's German hometown — is an enjoyable drive. With 150 hp, the Jetta isn’t going to embarrass any Mustangs or BMW M3s, but it’s quick enough for most buyers. The automatic transmission is a good match for the smooth turbocharged engine, which packs strong torque at low rpm so there’s satisfying charge off the line. Gear changes are smooth and there’s a Sport mode which increases the response. Unfortunately, only the GLI gets paddle shifters.

Overall, the Jetta’s driving experience is one of the best in the class, with communicative steering that’s quick and not overly weighted in an erroneous attempt to feel sporty. The fully independent suspension is compliant and provides a very comfortable ride and precise handling. The brakes are strong, but the soft brake pedal does take a little getting used to.

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Comfortable, Sophisticated Interior

The heated power-adjustable front seats in our 2018 Jetta test vehicle were extremely comfortable, and visibility is excellent. We’ve come to expect high build quality from Volkswagen’s interiors and the Jetta’s cabin doesn’t disappoint. The design is sophisticated and sporty with materials that feel expensive. Ergonomics are simple with three large dials that control the heat and air conditioning, large white-on-black analog gauges and a standard 5-inch touchscreen, which gets larger if you spring for the upper trim levels. Bluetooth, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, are standard, although onboard Wi-Fi is not available.

There’s room for five in a pinch, but the Jetta seats four comfortably. The rear seat isn’t as large as some others in the class, however, including the Honda Civic. If backseat space is a high priority, we suggest checking out VW's mid-size Passat sedan. Its rear seat is massive and its base price of $23,845 is about the same as a Jetta SE Sport.

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Generous Cargo Space

Storage inside the Jetta’s interior is generous and well thought out. The center console bin is large and felt-lined, and the sizable door pockets have slots for water bottles. The Jetta’s two front cupholders are large and well-placed so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the switchgear, and they accommodate cups with handles. The two rear cupholders are part of a center armrest.

To expand the Jetta’s trunk space, there’s a pass-through into the back seat for long items like skis, and the seatback folds flat in a 60-40 split. The Jetta’s 15.7 cubic feet of trunk space is large for the class, more than you get in a Mazda3 or a Toyota Corolla and on par with a Honda Civic. For even more cargo room from a Volkswagen, consider the Golf hatchback or Sportwagen.

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Family-Friendly Features

VW also offers a long list of valuable active safety systems on the Jetta, although many are only available on the upper trim levels. Our Wolfsburg Edition test vehicle was equipped with a rearview camera and an Intelligent Crash Response system, which automatically unlocks all doors, shuts off the fuel pump and turns on the hazard lights after a collision. The SE trim and up provide a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, the GLI gets front and rear parking sensors, and the SEL has a forward-collision warning with emergency automatic braking.

The Jetta was rated a 2017 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, although it has lost that rating for 2018 as the scoring parameters pertaining to headlights have changed. The 2018 Jetta retains a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Younger families will appreciate the easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors.

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Handsome, Understated Design

The first Jetta launched with huge success in 1979 with sexy hard-edged style by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Over its six generations, the Jetta has continued that legacy of clean, attractive design, and the 2018 model gets a few exterior upgrades that should keep it competitive against the more radically shaped Honda Civic and Mazda3. The Jetta S and SEL get a new chrome grille, while the Wolfsburg Edition wears a sportier front bumper with foglights and the SE Sport model gets a more aggressive black grille. There are also new wheel designs.

The 2018 Jetta remains handsome and understated with sophistication above others in the class. The changes also increase the family resemblance between the Jetta and the larger Passat.

Photo by Volkswagen

Final Thoughts

Although the new Wolfsburg Edition is a strong value, stepping up to the Jetta SE for just $1,000 more is a better bet. That model gets keyless entry, push-button start, a sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a larger 6.3-inch touchscreen with improved connectivity and blind-spot monitoring. And another $1,000 gets you the SE Sport with the more powerful 1.8-liter engine.

Overall, the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta is still one of our favorites in the compact sedan class. It’s comfortable, attractive and fun-to-drive, with a well-laid out and well-appointed interior and turbocharged engines that offer strong performance without sacrificing fuel economy.

Photo by Volkswagen