2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta underwent a subtle makeover, featuring an updated engine, minor exterior styling tweaks, and enhanced infotainment options. Offered in three trims in Canada—Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline—the Jetta Highline was the focus of this review. The exterior changes were so understated that they were almost unnoticeable, akin to differentiating one black suitcase from another at baggage claim. The front fascia, bumper, and grille received more chrome, while the rear bumper was redesigned to be more square. New wheel designs and metallic colours, such as Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue, were introduced. Inside, the Jetta's updates were subtle yet appealing, with new cloth seat patterns 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 trim featuring a 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta maintained its conservative design, which was styled to age gracefully. While the current-generation Jetta lacked the symmetry and balance of its predecessors, it remained visually inoffensive. The interior of the Highline trim channelled the VW Group’s Audi luxury brand, featuring ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, an oversized power sunroof, and larger screens for digital instrumentation and infotainment systems. The Jetta Highline delivered an upscale feel at a price of less than $32,000. Despite its bland appearance, the 2023 Jetta offered a no-nonsense interior that provided emotional value, making it a practical choice for those seeking a traditional four-door sedan.

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. The vehicle's fuel economy was impressive, with Natural Resources Canada estimating 8.0 L/100 km city, 5.5 highway, and 6.9 combined for the manual transmission, 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. Despite its ride quality, the Jetta's powertrain was its downfall, with a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The vehicle offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the dynamics were tepid, and acceleration was jumpy in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta also featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Trendline and Comfortline trims came with a standard six-speed manual transmission, while the Highline had an eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission offered a Sport mode and a manual shifting mode. However, there was a noticeable delay in acceleration with the automatic transmission, leading to unexpected surges. The manual transmission likely provided more control over this behaviour. The official fuel consumption rating for the Jetta Comfortline and Highline was 7.1 L/100 km combined, but the test averaged 7.8 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. Despite these issues, the Jetta Highline offered a rewarding driving experience, with accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling. The all-season tires provided excellent grip and communication about the road surface.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact proportions, offered ample passenger space for four adults, with the option to accommodate a fifth passenger. The seats were comfortable, though the front seats' bottom cushion inclined slightly, which might not suit those with shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats. Storage space was available in the form of door pockets, a centre console bin, and a sunglass holder. The centre storage bin lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta successfully bridged the gap between compact and midsize sedans, comfortably accommodating four adults and a fifth passenger for short trips. The interior storage space was generous, with a cavernous trunk offering 399 litres of cargo space. The Highline trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, but the Jetta's higher seating position made entry and exit easy. The back seat offered plenty of legroom and heated rear seats, though rear air conditioning vents were absent. Storage options included a large bin under the centre armrest, a glove compartment, and door panel storage areas. The trunk's shape and opening size made loading luggage easy, and the 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade, with all models featuring the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The Comfortline and Highline trims had an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Highline featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The system allowed for customization, such as a full-screen navigation view within the instrument cluster. The Trendline trim had a 6.5-inch Volkswagen MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, App-Connect, Bluetooth, and USB-C ports. The Highline trim included premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta Highline featured a 10.25-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro configurable instrumentation panel and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system included proximity-sensing surfaces, knobs for stereo volume, and shortcut tiles for main system menus. The infotainment screen was used for vehicle settings, phone calls, and music streaming. However, the system required more inputs for tuning the radio, and the voice recognition system was limited without Car-Net connected service upgrades. Car-Net offered a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and four years of complimentary access to Remote and Safe & Secure feature plans. The Highline trim included a Beats Audio premium audio system, though it was not as satisfying as previous Fender systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta in Canada came with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian recognition. The Comfortline trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, while Emergency Assist identified unresponsive drivers and brought the vehicle to a stop. 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.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta also featured standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Comfortline trim added blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Travel Assist. The system worked well, accommodating traffic and ignoring off-ramps. However, it occasionally issued inaccurate lane-departure warnings and required manual braking in rapidly slowing traffic. Emergency Assist was a rare feature in this segment, identifying unresponsive drivers and bringing the vehicle to a stop. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but earned four-star ratings for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS rated the Jetta's safety as Poor in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test.