2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta underwent a subtle makeover, featuring an updated engine, minor exterior styling tweaks, and enhanced infotainment options. It was available in three trims in Canada: Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline, with the Highline being the focus of this review. The exterior changes were so understated that they were almost unnoticeable, akin to distinguishing one black suitcase from another at baggage claim. The front fascia, bumper, and grille received more chrome accents, while the rear bumper became more squared. New wheel designs and metallic colours, such as Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue, were introduced. The interior saw modest updates, including a new rhombus pattern on cloth seats and contrast stitching across all upholstery types. The Highline trim offered a two-tone leather interior option and a standard heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster became standard, with the Highline featuring the 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra retained its 2020 redesign, presenting a modern, low-slung, coupe-like appearance reminiscent of a downsized Altima. It was a significant improvement over its predecessors, aligning with Nissan's current design language. The Sentra was available in bold colours like blue, burnt orange, and Scarlett Ember, with some options featuring a contrasting black roof. The interior was a highlight, combining modern aesthetics with functional design. The controls were user-friendly, and the centre dash vents added an upscale touch. The base S trim included 16-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV trim added 16-inch alloy wheels, a larger 8-inch touchscreen, and additional features like dual-zone climate control. The SR trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and sport cloth seats with orange stitching. Special editions, such as the Midnight Edition, offered unique styling elements.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This engine replaced the previous 1.4-litre turbo-four, offering an 11-horsepower increase. Transmission options included a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic, with the automatic being standard on the Highline trim. The Jetta was exclusively front-wheel drive. Fuel economy was impressive, with the manual version rated at 8.0 L/100 km city, 5.5 highway, and 6.9 combined, while the automatic achieved 7.7 L/100 km city, 5.7 highway, and 6.8 combined. On a 1,300-kilometre highway trip, the Jetta averaged 5.0 L/100 km. The ride was comfortable, though the cabin wasn't the quietest. The powertrain had some drawbacks, with a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The Jetta offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the steering feedback was detached, and acceleration in stop-and-go traffic was jumpy.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. In Canada, it came with a standard six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, with a CVT available. The CVT managed power well, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road bumps well but struggled with harsher conditions. Overall, the Sentra was suitable for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the option to accommodate five. The front seats were comfortable, though the slightly inclined edge of the bottom cushion might not suit shorter individuals. The cabin was driver-centric, with easily accessible buttons for climate control, audio, and seat controls. 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 Nissan Sentra provided 404 litres of trunk space, surpassing many small sedans, though slightly less than the Kia Forte's 433 litres. The trunk space could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though it created a ledge that could hinder loading larger items. The trunk could be opened remotely via the key fob or a dash button. The Sentra's two rows of seating offered ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable front seats and decent rear legroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the centre console provided ample cupholders and trays.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade, with all models featuring the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. Comfortline and Highline trims had an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Highline offered the Digital Cockpit Pro with a 10.25-inch display. The system allowed for customization, such as displaying navigation in the instrument cluster. The Trendline trim had a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, supporting Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink. Standard features included Bluetooth, two USB-C ports, and an SD card multimedia interface. Comfortline models and above added a charge-only port, premium Beats Audio, and remote start.

The Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims offered a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The system was user-friendly, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics needed updating, and it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were becoming more common in non-luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta included standard forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian recognition in Canada. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Comfortline trim, along with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. 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 side crash test score and Marginal to Poor headlight ratings.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered a comprehensive list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS in all crash tests. It also received a "Superior" rating for driver-assistance features, earning a "Top Safety Pick" award.