2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2019 Toyota Camry

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design was inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, featuring a wide, angular grille that added a dramatic flair to its appearance. This new look was a departure from the previous generation's simpler design, aiming to bring an upscale aura to the Jetta. Inside, the cabin mirrored the exterior's angular design language, offering a spacious and attractive environment with a premium feel, despite not all surfaces being soft-touch. The seats were notably comfortable, suitable for long drives, and the base S trim came well-equipped with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In contrast, the 2019 Toyota Camry offered a choice between standard and sporty styling, with the XSE trim featuring a daring design that was a significant shift from previous models. However, the styling was not cohesive, with oversized forms that did not appeal to everyone. Inside, the Camry XSE boasted high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces, but some elements like the windshield pillars and switchgear felt out of place. The cabin provided ample storage, though the trunk was smaller than expected for a midsize sedan. The front seats offered 8-way power adjustment and heating, but the lack of ventilated seats was a drawback. Rear-seat passengers found the space snug, with narrow door openings and a low seating position making entry and exit challenging.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having 3 fewer horsepower than the previous model, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Jetta to handle both city and highway driving with ease, offering smooth acceleration and precise steering. The ride quality was refined, with a balance of smoothness and sportiness, and both manual and automatic transmissions delivered impressive fuel efficiency of 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2019 Toyota Camry, on the other hand, offered a standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, with an optional 301-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine for those seeking more power. The V6 provided a thrilling driving experience, with the 8-speed automatic transmission delivering quick and satisfying shifts. The Camry XSE featured a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels, offering responsive handling without sacrificing comfort. However, the steering felt heavy in Sport mode, and the brakes, while effective, had a dissatisfying pedal feel. Fuel economy was lower than expected, with a test loop yielding just 21.9 mpg, compared to the EPA's 26-mpg combined rating.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta's interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring comfortable front seats and adequate rear-seat space. Although legroom and trunk space were slightly reduced, the changes were not noticeable, and the trunk still offered 14.1 cubic feet of space. The cabin layout was functional, with the touchscreen positioned above the climate vents for easy access, and the shifter moved back to create more space in the center tray. The combination of touchscreen functions with real buttons and dials made the Jetta user-friendly and practical.

In comparison, the 2019 Toyota Camry's cabin offered ample storage, with a large center console bin and a hidden compartment under the wireless charging pad. However, the glove box was small, and the door-panel storage pockets were narrow. The trunk measured 15.1 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a grab handle for closing. The front seats provided 8-way power adjustment and heating, but the absence of ventilated seats was a downside. Rear-seat passengers found the space tight, with narrow door openings and a low seating position making access difficult. The climate control system was effective, quickly cooling the cabin even in extreme heat.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. This allowed drivers to use navigation apps without needing the top-tier trim. The SEL and SEL Premium trims included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display that could project navigation information directly onto the screen, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2019 Toyota Camry featured the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, which was intuitive and easy to use, with stylish buttons and large knobs for volume and tuning. Apple CarPlay was available, but Android Auto was not, though it was expected to be added in future models. The test car included a wireless charging pad that securely held the phone, even during spirited driving. The navigation system worked well, but loading traffic data was slow. The JBL premium sound system was powerful but lacked clarity, and the 10-inch head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with a comprehensive set of safety features, including front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. An automatic post-collision braking system was also standard. Driver-assist systems like blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision avoidance were standard on higher trims and optional on the base S. The SEL and SEL Premium trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2019 Toyota Camry excelled in safety, earning 5-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. It came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. However, it lacked the latest version of this suite. A standard subscription to Safety Connect provided additional safety features like automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling.