Volkswagen Jetta 2021 Review

Volkswagen has been selling its Jetta small sedan in the U.S. since 1980. It's been a somewhat bumpy road over the years, at least in regard to the car's overall mission and appeal. The latest Volkswagen Jetta generation, introduced two years ago, generally hits the mark. It has subdued but handsome styling, an eye toward comfort, and upscale features for its price. The Jetta is also practical thanks to a sizable trunk and roomy back seat.

The downside is that it doesn't stand out in a crowded field of competitors in any one category. Many of its rivals are big on personality — something the Jetta struggles to match against the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Still, there's enough good here that you might want to check it out. Read our Expert Rating for more detail and our in-depth evaluation on the 2021 Jetta.

Which Jetta does MatoCar recommend?

Volkswagen offers the 2021 Jetta in five trim levels: S, SE, R-Line, SEL and SEL Premium. All models are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) sending power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the S and R-Line trims, while all the others come with an eight-speed automatic.

S The Jetta line kicks off with this basic model and the following equipment:

• LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights
• Power-adjustable side mirrors
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 6.5-inch color touchscreen
• Two USB ports
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Four-speaker sound system
• Manually adjustable driver's seat
• Cloth front seats
• Volkswagen Car-Net mobile app with remote start, door locking/unlocking, parked location finder and other functions
• Rearview camera

SE The second model in line takes a big step forward in terms of amenities:

• Push-button start
• Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Faux leather seating surfaces
• Leather gearshift knob
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic power-tilting and -sliding sunroof

Standard safety equipment on the SE and up includes:

• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

R-Line An aggressive style trim that introduces these items to the Jetta line:

• Foglights
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

The R-Line is the only Jetta equipped with the following features:

• Black front grille
• Black side mirror caps
• Unique bumper and badging
• Electronic differential to improve traction and handling

SEL A more premium model that comes standard with these items:

• Projector headlights
• MIB3 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen
• VW App-Connect with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Wireless smartphone charging station
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Front sport seats
• Ambient lighting with 10 colors
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Jetta back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Automatic high-beam assist (toggles between high- and low-beam headlights for better nighttime visibility)

SEL Premium This top-level trim takes everything from the SEL and adds:

• Turn signal lights integrated into side mirrors
• Navigation
• Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support
• Leather seats