2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Honda Accord

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a subtle makeover, featuring an updated engine, minor exterior styling tweaks, and improved infotainment. The Jetta Highline trim, which was the focus of this review, showcased these changes with a redesigned front fascia, bumper, and grille, now adorned with more chrome. The rear also saw updates with standard LED lighting and a more squared-off bumper. New wheel designs and metallic colours like Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue were introduced. Inside, the Jetta offered subtle yet appealing updates, including a new rhombus pattern on cloth seats and contrast stitching across all interiors. The Highline trim boasted a two-tone leather option and a standard heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster became standard, with the Highline featuring a 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

The 2023 Honda Accord underwent a redesign, adopting a more technical and conservative appearance, moving away from the previous model's chrome and character. The Accord EX, the only gas-only variant in Canada, featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord EX offered durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and a stylish metal mesh dashboard trim. The digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system, and the switchgear reflected attention to detail. The Accord EX was priced at $37,000 in Canada, with additional fees bringing the total to $38,964. While the EX trim lacked some features like a power-adjustable front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents, it was well-outfitted for its class and price.

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 a slight increase in horsepower. Transmission options included a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic, with the Highline trim featuring the automatic as standard. The Jetta was exclusively front-wheel drive. 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 long road trip, the Jetta averaged 5.0 L/100 km on the highway. While the Jetta offered a comfortable ride, its powertrain had some drawbacks, including a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The drive modes—Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom—offered varying experiences, with Sport mode providing a slight improvement in responsiveness.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimicked the feel of a traditional automatic. The Accord's front-wheel-drive setup was complemented by a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, providing good handling and road feel. The Accord EX's fuel economy was estimated at 7.3 L/100 km combined, though our test car returned 8.2 L/100 km due to high temperatures and continuous air conditioning use. The Accord's ride quality was communicative yet quiet, with precise steering and effective brakes. While the CVT's Sport mode was less satisfying, the Accord's dynamic tuning made it enjoyable to drive on winding roads. The Michelin Energy tires, however, were a weak point, lacking grip during spirited driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the ability to accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seat cushions had a slight incline that might not suit shorter individuals. The driver-centric cabin featured easily accessible controls for climate, audio, and seat functions. Storage options included door pockets, a centre console bin, and a sunglass holder. The centre storage bin, while not large, was functional, though it lacked a latch for the cover.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX came standard with features like heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. However, it lacked a power-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The driver's seat needed more seat-track travel for taller individuals, and the hard plastic lining the centre console was uncomfortable. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed good leg support and easy access, though they missed air conditioning vents and charging ports. The Accord's 473-litre trunk was spacious, with easy loading and a handle to close the lid without dirtying fingers.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster across all models, with the Highline trim offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The infotainment system included an 8-inch display with customizable views and widgets. The Jetta Highline also offered navigation, phone history, and driver-assist system status. Standard infotainment included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with App-Connect for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. Bluetooth, two USB-C ports, and an SD card multimedia interface were standard, with a charge-only port added to higher trims. The test vehicle featured premium Beats Audio and a remote start system.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX came with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text-messaging support, and HondaLink connected services. Two USB-C ports and an eight-speaker audio system were standard. The Accord lacked SiriusXM satellite radio, but streaming services like Pandora were accessible via Apple CarPlay. The voice recognition system worked well with Siri, though Google Built-in was only available on higher trims. The physical controls for the stereo were appreciated, though the function control knob was misleading.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian recognition. 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 side crash test score and Marginal to Poor headlight ratings.

The 2023 Honda Accord featured Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. Additional features included a reversing camera, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, a driver monitoring system, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Accord's safety systems performed well, with accurate and refined operation. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for 2023.