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2023 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
MSRP Starting at
$20,655

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Jetta, so we've included reviews for other years of the Jetta since its last redesign.

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5 out of 5 stars

Excellent value for the price

Thomas P, 05/27/2022
2022 Volkswagen Jetta Sport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
65 of 66 people found this review helpful

I owned a 2017 Jetta S manual and recently purchased a 2022 Jetta Sport manual. The upgrades are significant in the '22. The seats are more comfortable and much more attractive. The 1.5L turbo has more punch, and the six speed manual is among the smoothest I've ever driven (and I have owned numerous standard transmission cars over 30 years of driving). The optional Driver Assistance package is an awesome addition for the price. The autonomous cruise works well, leather steering wheel/shifter add some fit and finish, and knowing the car is equipped with emergency braking technology offers peace of mind. The best accident is the one you avoid. I've filled the tank twice in this car. My first tank was a mix of city/highway, and I managed 37.9 mpg. The second tank of mostly highway driving surpassed 41 mpgs. My 17 Jetta would manage nearly 50 mpgs on long highway trips, and I have no doubt this new drivetrain will manage the same once broken in. Outstanding efficiency. There are some basic plastics inside, and the car has an underwhelming radio. It doesn't have satellite radio unless you buy the top trim, and I think that's a meaningful omission and marketing mistake. That should be standard equipment, or at a minimum optional on any trim other than the base model. It's my only complaint. All in all, it's a far-improved car over the past five model years. Noticeable improvement in the interior with digital instrumentation, seats, standard technology. The car has grown a few inches to really ride the line between a compact and midsize, which I really appreciate at the compact price. Massive trunk. While nobody will confuse the car with an Audi, it definitely is a handsome vehicle for the pedestrian price point. I definitely recommend the Sport model over the S for the small price increase. It meaningfully changes the presence of the automobile, both inside and out. Is this a swanky car? Of course not. This is a bargain purchase. But VWs are safe, extremely efficient, feel well-built inside and out, and my 17 caused me zero mechanical or reliability issues in the five years I owned it. Nothing broke on the car at all, nothing required unexpected service. It's what brought me back for another quality commuter vehicle. We have a much more expensive family SUV which shares our garage with the Jetta. The Jetta is the better value for the purchase price, as long as you have reasonable expectations for what you're purchasing. I would definitely recommend the brand and the vehicle far and away above any other competitive product other than the Honda Civic. That's a great car, too, and a comparable product. Between the two, I would argue it comes down to aesthetic preferences, but this car deserves far more accolades than it seems to be receiving.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic with impressive highway mpg of 40

Rick, 05/22/2022
2022 Volkswagen Jetta SEL 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
53 of 54 people found this review helpful

I don’t understand why somebody would buy a non turbo Mazda 3 (the comparable car) rather than this. The Jetta has great low end torque for around town driving that makes it very peppy. Easily handles passing on the highway at 80mph+. Fairly quiet and smooth ride. Interior is well designed but not fancy. The infotainment system with wireless CarPlay is a underrated feature - its quick and I’ve never had an issue. Adaptive cruise control is basic but works well. Passengers have plenty of space (two large car seats now). I get 40-42mph on highways despite having AC blasting ice, CarPlay on, and going 80mph.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
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Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Get the SEL Premium if you can!

Micky from SoCal, 07/13/2021
2021 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
44 of 45 people found this review helpful

This vehicle drives well above its class. Despite the small engine and low HP, it is peppy and smooth, and is eager to go. It’s very refined in its handling, reminding me of the mercedes S my Dad had when I was younger and I did my learners permit training on. No, it isn’t a V8 like that, but driving it feels very similar, which means VW had come a long way. No rattles or squeaks so far. The heated and cooled leather seats are comfortable, the driving position is great for a 6-3 person like me, the rear seats are easy to get kids into car seats (unlike last gen Jetta). The AC system cools well, the new stereo is cool (though I think it is due for a firmware update to fix a few bugs), and the digital cockpit is an awesome feature. Edmunds claims they only got 30mpg combined. What were they doing? I live in a very hilly area and get 30mpg city on those trips. That’s a 600 ft elevation climb to drop kids at school, waiting in car lines, stopping starting and parking. And I turn the auto stop/start off. But I use the adaptive cruise control religiously, and I think that really helps with gas mileage. On a highway run, I got 46 mpg. YMMV, but this is during the hot summer with AC running. Considering what the average new car goes for, getting this car for under $29000 seems like a steal.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Nice Car for the Money

Redblock, 07/02/2021
2021 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
23 of 23 people found this review helpful

Lots of features, great gas mileage, good Auto transmission unlike some of the competition which offer CVT Transmissions.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
Performance
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Interior
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Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
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5 out of 5 stars

Best compact car I owed

Dan, 07/17/2021
2021 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful

The Jetta SEL Premium is an outstanding compact car. The exterior design is very attractive. The interior is quieter and more luxurious than its competitors. The gas mileage is astounding. I get over 51 miles/gl on the highway and for the first 1,800 miles of mixed city/highway traffic the average is 37.6 miles/gl. The car fully deserves the 'baby-Audi' nickname. VW has a winner here!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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