2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, which added a dramatic flair to its appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional, with a premium feel due to the soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seating. The Jetta offered three trim levels: Comfortline, Highline, and Execline, each with varying features, from heated seats and mirrors in the base trim to a digital instrument cluster and leather upholstery in the top-tier Execline.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture the remaining market share for hatchbacks, with its production in North America being a notable point. The Civic hatchback shared its front design with the sedan but differed from the rear, maintaining a distinct hatchback style. The interior featured sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which added a modern touch. The Civic hatchback offered three trims: LX, Sport, and Sport Touring, with the latter providing a more comprehensive set of features, including a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Despite some minor complaints about seating adjustments and rear air conditioning, the Civic hatchback was praised for its practicality and comfort.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta offered a smooth and sporty steering experience, with precise turn-in and minimal body roll, making it enjoyable to drive both in the city and on the highway. Fuel efficiency was impressive, with the manual transmission achieving 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and the automatic at 7.1 L/100 km.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The latter was available in the Sport and Sport Touring trims, providing a more energetic driving experience. The Civic hatchback featured a CVT and a 6-speed manual transmission, with the CVT offering a smooth operation and paddle shifters for a more engaging drive. The Civic's suspension and steering were well-tuned for a comfortable and enjoyable ride, though the brakes were noted to fade under repeated hard use. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the CVT achieving 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and the manual at 7.5 L/100 km.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats suitable for long trips, with adequate rear-seat legroom and headroom. The trunk space was 399 litres, which was average for its class. The interior layout was practical, with a user-friendly touchscreen and a blend of real buttons and dials for controls, making it one of the more function-forward vehicles in its segment.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, with a generous trunk space of 693 litres and a two-piece cargo shade for convenience. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. The Civic's seating was comfortable, with the Sport Touring trim offering an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front and rear seats. The interior was designed for comfort, with thoughtful placement of controls and leg rests.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. The Execline trim offered a Digital Cockpit, replacing the conventional instrument panel with a customizable digital display, enhancing the driving experience with its advanced features.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback introduced a new infotainment system, with the LX and Sport trims featuring a 7-inch touchscreen and the Sport Touring trim offering a 9-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring also included a 12-speaker Bose audio system and wireless smartphone charging. The Civic's infotainment system was praised for its improved user interface and voice recognition capabilities.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Highline trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Execline included advanced driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Jetta received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to its headlight performance.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. The Civic also offered new features like Traffic Jam Assist and Low-Speed Braking Control in the Sport Touring trim. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety performance.