2027 Volkswagen Jetta

Name: 2027 Volkswagen Jetta
Brand: Volkswagen

Release Date: Fall 2026

Estimated Price: Starting around $25,500

Good

6.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta is an affordable, efficient and spacious small sedan. It even handles surprisingly well. But its dated tech interface and bland, noisy cabin make the Jetta a mediocre choice among similarly priced, better-equipped rivals. Still, the stalwart Jetta makes a stylish and practical pick. Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

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Pros

Smooth and stable ride quality
Ample storage in the cabin and trunk
Customizable digital instrument cluster lends a techy vibe

Cons

Sluggish acceleration
Touchscreen controls aren't the easiest to use
Unlike most other small sedans, a hybrid engine isn't available

Overview

Written by automotive expert Dan Frio

7/31/2026

The Jetta is one of Volkswagen's longest-running nameplates in the U.S., nearing a 50-year run as one of the brand's best success stories. It's the only sedan in VW's lineup of SUVs and hatchbacks (and one charming electric retro van) and also VW's most affordable model. It's been a long time since VW significantly overhauled this compact four-door, but a handful of updates enhance the Jetta's value for 2027. The entry-level S and Sport trims finally get keyless entry and push-button start as standard features. The upgraded infotainment system — which included satellite radio, voice controls and a six-speaker audio system — that was previously reserved for more expensive models is also now included on every Jetta.

Otherwise, the 2027 Jetta has the same strengths as last year's model. Expect an efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine, class-leading rear legroom and a large big trunk. Buyers seeking livelier performance can look to the 228-horsepower Jetta GLI, which we review separately.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

6.6

out of 10

We drove the Volkswagen Jetta on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience

6/10

How does it drive? At our test track, our Jetta SEL test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slowish 8.4 seconds. We think it could be quicker if the transmission was quicker to shift, especially during hard acceleration. The Jetta's sluggish transmission proved a bit frustrating in the real world, too, where it demanded a curious mix of smoothness and aggression to ensure it was in the correct gear. We found putting the transmission into its Sport mode addressed many of our complaints. If you're looking for a quicker Jetta, the GLI is the one to get.

On the upside, the Jetta handles quite well around turns. It stays stable and is genuinely fun to drive on a curvy road. The brakes, too, are impressive and make it easy to come to smooth stops. The ride is OK, but we found the ride quality can be a bit too firm over bumps. Our test car was an SEL with large wheels; a base Jetta with smaller wheels should ride more smoothly thanks to the larger and cushier tire sidewalls.

The Jetta comes with a respectable amount of advanced driver aids for a small sedan. They worked well and were unobtrusive in our testing, though we did notice that the rearview camera has a disappointingly low resolution.

Comfort

6/10

How comfortable is it? The Jetta is generally a comfortable place to while away the hours of your commute. The firm front seats offer above-average support, and the rear seats are shaped well and feel better than you'd expect seats in an economy sedan to. The Jetta is also spacious and accommodating, although rear headroom is somewhat compromised — taller passengers might brush the headliner. That said, there is more rear legroom than in most compact sedans.

On the downside, the Jetta is stuck with a somewhat complicated and not well-thought-out touchscreen interface. Easily visible information, like the trip meter, cannot be easily reset, and other settings are buried in menus where you'd never expect to find them. Thankfully, all of the Jetta's other major controls are easier to use.

Interior noise levels were higher than we expected. The engine is quiet, even under hard acceleration, but road and tire noise, as well as wind noise at freeway speeds, spoils the Jetta's sophisticated look.

If accommodating a car seat is a priority, know that locking in a car seat should be a cinch in the Jetta thanks to clearly marked anchors and accessible top tethers.

In-cabin tech

7.8/10

How’s the tech? Our SEL test car had four USB-C ports plus a wireless charge pad so there's no excuse for anyone's personal device to go without a full charge. Wireless connectivity for smartphones worked well, and we appreciated how easy it was to switch between our phone's system and the Jetta's native functions. We were less impressed by the Jetta's native system, however. The graphics are dated, and the menus don't always contain the options or the settings you expect to find.

Storage & cargo

7/10

How’s storage and cargo? The Jetta's 14.1-cubic-foot trunk is pretty big for the class. The opening is wide, making it easy to load large bags without having to twist or contort them to fit. We only wish the rear seats folded more in line with the trunk floor. They leave a pretty big shelf that makes it tough to push longer objects through.

Inside, there's plenty of storage for front passengers with a cupholder, a deep center console bin, and a tray that can double as a wireless charging pad. The door pockets are also generously sized but are not lined with felt, so smaller objects will rattle around while you drive.

Value

6/10

Is it a good value? Whichever Jetta model you choose, you'll get a spacious interior, a large trunk and solid fuel economy. Both the exterior and interior design looks pretty sophisticated for the class, but the interior of the Jetta is filled with a fair amount of hard plastics, even on common touchpoints. The feature content is fairly strong in the Jetta, but most competitors offer a similar amount of standard and optional equipment, as well as optional all-wheel drive, which the Jetta doesn't offer.

Volkswagen's warranty coverage is average for the compact sedan class. Both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage is for four years/50,000 miles.

MPG

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Jetta gets 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving. During our time with the Jetta, we had no issue getting the EPA's estimates, and on our standardized evaluation route, we saw a credible 38 mpg with lighter-than-usual traffic. The Jetta's just-over-13-gallon fuel tank gives this compact sedan a possible cruising range of around 500 miles.

X factor

7/10

The Jetta has always brought a little European sport sedan flair to the compact sedan segment. While most of that sport is gone (don't worry, there's still a Jetta GLI for enthusiasts), the Jetta offers sophisticated styling with a good amount of available equipment to stay competitive. In day-to-day driving, the Jetta will do little to differentiate itself from its rivals, but if you have a chance to show it a good road, it will remind you why people speak so highly of Jettas from the past.

2027 Volkswagen Jetta trim level differences

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Jetta. We expect the 2027 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Volkswagen Jetta comes in four trim levels: S, Sport, SE and SEL. There is also a sporty GLI model that we cover separately. All trims use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower, 184 lb-ft) joined to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

Which Jetta trim does Edmunds recommend?

Volkswagen hasn't released complete details about the 2027 Jetta as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Jetta, we'd pick the SE. The upgrades from the Sport trim, such as synthetic leather upholstery, wireless charging pad, power driver's seat and sunroof make the Jetta feel more premium in exchange for a minor price bump.

What else is out there?

The Kia K4 is one of our favorite small sedans for its sharp interior and exterior design, roomy interior and generous list of standard features. It's also priced about the same as the Jetta. We also like the Hyundai Elantra; it's mechanically related to the K4 but offers its own unique design and a hybrid version. The Honda Civic is a class leader, available in several configurations from mild to wild, but it's one of the pricier picks.