2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Review
Price Estimate: $3,709 - $5,476





+68
Oops, we can’t seem to locate you.
Please enter U.S. ZIP code to see vehicles for sale
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid model years
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy
- quick acceleration for a hybrid
- spacious interior
- smooth and quiet ride quality.
Cons
- High price
- unknown reliability.
What’s new
The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is an all-new model.
Edmunds says
If you just want a really nice Jetta that's completely normal to drive and happens to get about 45 mpg, you won't blink at the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid's hefty price tag.
For sale nearby
19 listings
- 108,485 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use
- 42 City / 48 Hwy MPG
- Sunshine Auto Sales (461 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Multi-Zone Climate C...
- Auto Climate Control
Close
Located in Menasha, WI
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
45 Combined MPG (42 City/48 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VW637AJ0DM276101
Stock: 276101
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-06-2025- $8,995fair price$588 above market
- 68,812 miles
- 2 accidents, 4 owners, personal use only
- 42 City / 48 Hwy MPG
- Ayala Auto Sales (546 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Aurora, IL
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
45 Combined MPG (42 City/48 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3VW637AJ6DM215738
Stock: 215738
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-20-2025
Vehicle overview
When you first heard of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, it's OK if your reaction was to wonder why VW is even offering a hybrid. After all, the company has plenty of long-running success at achieving high fuel economy with diesel engines. But Volkswagen is on a quest to become the world's largest automaker, and helping it along the way will be its new Jetta Hybrid.
Designed specifically for hybrid sedan shoppers who wouldn't otherwise consider a diesel, the Jetta Hybrid utilizes a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to generate 170 horsepower -- equal to the output from the standard Jetta's larger five-cylinder. More importantly, this results in 45 mpg combined, a figure that, while shy of the Toyota Prius' 50 mpg and the Ford Fusion Hybrid's 47 mpg combined, is competitive with that of nearly every other rival. The Hybrid also drives a lot like a regular Jetta, with a comfortable ride quality and a familiar shift feel from the seven-speed automated manual transmission (DSG).
Besides the powertrain, some badging and a generous helping of standard features, the Jetta Hybrid isn't much different from its gasoline and diesel counterparts. The hybrid features the same roomy cabin, with a spacious rear seat offering more legroom than a Honda Civic. Overall interior quality is a bit underwhelming, but the Jetta Hybrid's trunk is respectably sized, even with the capacity reduction caused by the rear-mounted battery pack.
We like that the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid offers plenty of space, comfortable driving dynamics and great fuel economy. But it also has an eyebrow-raising sticker price, starting several thousand dollars higher than a Honda Civic Hybrid or Prius when new. A fully loaded Jetta Hybrid approaches the price of larger midsize hybrids like the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid or Toyota Camry Hybrid. As such, looking at these other hybrids (not to mention the cheaper yet still frugal diesel Jetta TDI) is still a wise idea. Still, with its midsize dimensions, compact attitude and miserly fuel use, the Hybrid makes a worthy addition to the VW Jetta lineup.
Performance & mpg
The 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid comes with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder and a 20kW electric motor, a combination good for 170 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. Power is fed to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
The electric motor alone can power the Jetta Hybrid for almost a mile at speeds up to 37 mph. VW says the Jetta Hybrid can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 8.6 seconds. If true, it'd be one of the quicker times out there for a hybrid.
According to the EPA, the Jetta Hybrid will return 42 mpg city/48 mpg highway and 45 mpg combined using required premium fuel.
Safety
The 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.
Driving
From the driver seat of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, you'd hardly know you were piloting a fuel sipper. The turbocharged engine is smooth, quiet and rarely feels labored -- a pleasant change from the buzzing dramatics we expect from similarly small engines. The seven-speed automated transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. We're also fond of the brakes. as the pedal has a nice feel to it; this is especially impressive when you consider the awkward regenerative braking systems found in most hybrids.
And while the Jetta Hybrid is not billed as a sport sedan, it offers the same independent rear suspension as the Jetta GLI (for battery packaging reasons) and feels planted and balanced when run through long sweeping bends. It's also by far the quietest model in the Jetta family.
Interior
Although the current-generation Volkswagen Jetta has been criticized for obvious cost-cutting measures in the cabin, the 2013 Jetta Hybrid shows signs of improvement, as VW has added a soft-touch dash and upgraded the trip computer. It's still not as upscale as previous Jettas, but the hybrid's interior is competitive relative to the cabins seen in other small and midsize sedans, and build quality is tight, too. In addition, the spacious cabin provides a backseat large enough for adults to sit comfortably.
This roominess carries over to the Jetta Hybrid model as well, although the battery layout consumes more trunk space -- about 4 additional cubic feet -- compared to the standard sedan's expansive cargo hold. The hybrid still offers a useful 11.3 cubic feet, more than the hybrid variants of the Honda Civic or larger Hyundai Sonata.
We also like the touchscreen stereo interface (standard in all SE and SEL models) and its redundant dial knob, which is ideal for controlling a portable music player. The associated navigation system, however, is a bit of a letdown due to the small screen and limited amount of display information.
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid models
The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is a midsize hybrid sedan available in Base, SE, SEL and SEL Premium trim levels.
Available by special order only, the base Jetta Hybrid comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, heated mirrors, cruise control, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, premium vinyl upholstery, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, a trunk pass-through, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with CD player and an auxiliary jack.
The SE adds LED taillights, keyless entry/ignition, power-reclining front seats and an upgraded sound system with a touchscreen interface, satellite radio and an iPod interface. The SEL builds on the SE offerings with 16-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, heated front seats, a six-way power driver seat and a navigation system.
The SEL Premium gets 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, foglamps, a rearview camera and an eight-speaker Fender premium sound system.

Edmunds Tested: Electric Car Range and Consumption

VW ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9 vs. Volvo EX90: The All-Electric Three-Rows Have Arrived

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan First Drive: VW Nailed It

2025 Volkswagen Golf R First Drive: Maxed-Out Hot Hatch
Compare 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$111/mo for Jetta Hybrid Base
Jetta Hybrid Base
vs
$164/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Jetta Hybrid Works For Me
5 out of 5 starsjpa010, 03/26/2013
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
Despite the elevated cost of the SEL Premium version, I needed a commuter car with excellent mpg specs, and being a VW fan, was drawn to the Jetta Hybrid.
Previously I'd owned a 2011 GTi, but didn't care for the 28mpg part of ownership (but a blast to drive, for sure).
Having driven several Prius vehicles, I learned to dislike the golf-cart like CVT, so the 7 speed DSG of the Jetta … Hybrid was a huge plus.
I love this car so far, and 46 mpg is my mileage after two tanks of (premium) fuel.
Build quality a notch above a base Jetta, almost A3 like. The Fender audio is as good as anything a manufacturer has ever put into a car, IMHO. Thank you VW for an alternative to TDI!
UPDATE March 2016: three years on, and I still love this car. It drives great, build quality is top-notch, and I've yet to hear a OEM audio system as good as this one. Still getting about 44-45 MPG, unless I drive it really hard, when it drops to ~40
UPDATE Mach 2017: Now into the fourth year of ownership, I STILL love this car. No issues with the car whatsoever, still averaging ~45mpg in mixed driving. Such a shame VW elected to stop making these, but obviously not a huge selling vehicle for them. No cheating required to get my excellent mileage.
Disappointed
2 out of 5 starsKate, 07/07/2016
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
I bought the car in 2013. I love VW's. Thought the hybrid would be great economical car but turns out to be nothing but trouble. Year 2 it needed a new engine and year 3 a transmission. Got the extended warranty thank goodness. However a rental is not covered. First time I got a loaner and this time needed to get a rental. I'm curious if any other owners had the same issues or is … mine a fluke?
Worst car ever
1 out of 5 starsPhil Green , 04/04/2019
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
My jetta hybrid has been nothing but a money pit. VW dealers have no idea how to fix this car. I have been through 4 transmissions, a radiator-how that goes bad I dont know, fuel injectors, a heater core, and 2 headlight assemblies. Everytime I bring it, something else goes wrong within a month. I finally had to cut my loss. What a waste. It drives great, but the check engine light … wont go off. I've been turned away by 2 VW dealerships because they are afraid inwomg keep paying for endless repairs. Have 3 claims with VW USA and there is nothing they will do. I'm thinking class action. What a lemon.
Never buy Volkswagen
1 out of 5 starsAndrea, 12/12/2018
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SE 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 7AM)
Transmission went out at 67k, $7395 to fix, no help from Volkswagen, other vehicles have been recalled because of stalling out but the say my vin # doesn’t fall under the recall even though it is obvious it’s having the same kind of problems.
2013 Jetta Hybrid Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $24,995 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Hybrid |
Combined MPG | 45 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $111/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 11.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Jetta Hybrid include:
- Back-up camera
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover12.1%
Related Used 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Ram Promaster Window Van 2021 Review
- BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 2021 Review
- Mercedes Benz S Class 2020 Review
- Porsche 718 Cayman 2020 Review
- Mercedes Benz GLS Class 2021 Review
Shop used vehicles in your area
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- New Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2024 Ford Ranger
- 2025 Lexus RX
- 2025 Toyota Tundra
- New Jeep Compass
- 2025 Subaru Forester
- Kia Sportage 2026
- New BMW M3
- Kia Carnival Hybrid 2025
- 2025 Land Rover Range Rover
Research other models of Volkswagen
- 2024 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2024 Volkswagen R32
- New Volkswagen Golf GTI
- 2024 Volkswagen GLI
- 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volkswagen ID.4 2025
- Volkswagen Atlas 2025
- 2025 Volkswagen Golf R
- New Volkswagen Tiguan