Overall Rating: ![]()
Three engines, five trims, and one very forgettable face: the Volkswagen Jetta is a study in ho-hum competence. But in a boisterous class filled with more exciting, better-selling, and more striking compact sedans—a long list that runs from the Honda Civic to the Toyota Corolla—it still deserves consideration. Despite an exterior that looks nearly unchanged since the launch of the current generation in 2011, the Jetta benefits from the capable German engineering, composed ride and handling, and excellent turbocharged powertrains that we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen.
What’s New for 2017?
Volkswagen shuffled the Jetta lineup and upgraded its infotainment system but left the car otherwise unchanged for 2017. The nine trim levels that existed in 2016 have been consolidated to five, but the feature-heavy SEL and the sport-minded GLI remain. Volkswagen’s new MIB II infotainment system is available in all but the base trim and adds improved touchscreen functionality.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
Drivers who want a GTI but prefer a sedan versus a hatchback should consider the Jetta GLI, the most expensive and sportiest model in the Jetta’s lineup. We’ll accept no substitutes for a GTI, however, and would opt for a Jetta Sport instead. The Sport has a 170-hp turbocharged 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine, a sport suspension, and a ducktail rear spoiler but forgoes most luxuries. Standard features on the Jetta Sport include:
• Heated front seats
• 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation
• Leatherette front and rear seating surfaces
The Jetta Sport Lighting package ($995) is the only factory option; it adds adaptive headlights with LED daytime running lights. The base price for a Jetta Sport is $22,995.