Volkswagen Jetta

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?

If you like your business sedan with a little attitude, the R-Line is the right choice. It has a unique exterior style and accents that can't be had with other models, plus a locking electronic differential that makes it more fun to drive. On the other hand, the SE trim offers an enticing package — heated seats and a sunroof are rare at this price.

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: