2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan was available in LX, EX, Sport, and Touring trims, with prices in Canada starting at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and reaching up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Civic Touring, tested in the new Morning Mist Blue, cost $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $31,467. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord, offering a more conservative and mature appearance compared to its predecessor. Inside, Honda aimed for simplicity, with a minimalistic control layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, which reflected a newfound maturity.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a mild makeover, including an engine update and subtle exterior styling tweaks. Offered in Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trims in Canada, the Jetta Highline was the focus of this review. The exterior changes were subtle, with more chrome on the front fascia and grille, and new LED lighting. The Jetta's design was described as bland yet purposeful, akin to a suitcase. The interior updates included a new rhombus pattern on cloth seats and contrast stitching for a premium look. The Highline trim offered a two-tone leather interior option and a standard heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Jetta's technology upgrades included an 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and an optional 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro with navigation.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX, EX, and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the Touring trim. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Step Shift programming. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's handling was praised for its structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel, providing an enjoyable driving experience. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 L/100 km on a 150-kilometre loop compared to the estimated 6.9 L/100 km combined.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a single engine: a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, replacing the previous 1.4-litre turbo-four. Transmission options included a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic, with the automatic standard on the Highline trim. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with estimates of 8.0 L/100 km city, 5.5 highway, and 6.9 combined for the manual, and 7.7 L/100 km city, 5.7 highway, and 6.8 combined for the automatic. On a 1,300-kilometre tour, the Jetta averaged 5.0 L/100 km on the highway. The Jetta's ride quality was comfortable, but the powertrain was criticized for its touchy throttle, turbo lag, and tepid dynamics. The Jetta offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, with Sport mode providing a slight improvement in performance.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, heated front seats with power adjustments for the driver. The Civic's low seating position made entry and exit challenging for some, but the back seat offered ample legroom. The Civic's interior redesign included a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 419 litres, or 408 litres with the Touring trim due to premium sound system components.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with comfortable seats and a driver-centric cabin. The front seats' bottom cushion had a slight incline for thigh support, which might not suit shorter individuals. The Jetta's cabin featured buttons for climate control, audio, and seat controls, with driving-related controls conveniently located. Storage options included door pockets, a centre console bin, and a sunglass holder. The centre storage bin lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel with greater customization and a Vehicle Activity display. This feature showed when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on, addressing the issue of drivers unknowingly turning off automatic headlights. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim offered a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system's performance was praised, despite a slow load time.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received technology upgrades, including a Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The Comfortline and Highline trims featured an 8-inch infotainment system, with the Highline offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The Jetta's infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. The Highline trim offered premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system. The Jetta's technology was praised for its customization options and ease of use.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also included a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, replacing the previous LaneWatch system. The Civic's vehicle architecture was strengthened for improved collision protection, and new airbag designs offered better head protection. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian recognition as standard. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist were available from the Comfortline trim. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, while Emergency Assist monitored driver attentiveness. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to an Acceptable score in the updated side crash test.