2025 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2026 Toyota Camry

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale appearance than its price suggested, thanks to its new front and rear styling, revised wheel designs, and fresh paint colours like Monterey Blue Pearl. The styling modifications emphasized the car’s width, visually widening and lowering it for a more premium look. Inside, the Jetta received an upgrade with nicer materials and a redesigned dashboard. Standard features included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and dual-zone automatic climate control, although the latter's touch-sensitive controls were frustrating. The Highline trim offered leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and upgraded digital instrumentation, enhancing the overall experience despite the presence of some plastic materials.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Camry, particularly in the Nightshade package, showcased trendy satin black 19-inch wheels and gloss black exterior detailing. The interior mirrored the SE Upgrade trim with SofTex artificial leather upholstery and matching fabric accents, creating a more pleasing environment. The Camry's front seats were notably comfortable, offering power height adjustment for both the driver and passenger. While the back seat wasn't as roomy as some competitors, it provided adequate legroom and support. The Camry's trunk space was smaller than expected for a midsize car, measuring only 428 litres, but the front offered ample storage options.

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta retained its turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,750 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive option. The Jetta's fuel economy was rated at 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though testing averaged 8.9 L/100 km in hot conditions. The Sport mode improved driving pleasure by reducing turbo lag, while the sport-tuned suspension provided a more engaging driving experience, especially on twisty roads.

The 2026 Toyota Camry transitioned to a hybrid system, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with electric motors to produce 225 horsepower in FWD models and 232 hp in AWD versions. Fuel economy ranged from 5.0 to 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres, with the FWD Nightshade test car averaging 5.3 L/100 km. The Camry's TNGA platform contributed to a balanced ride and handling, though it lacked the communication and sophistication of some rivals. The hybrid system's eCVT was less satisfying than a traditional automatic, but the Camry's performance was adequate for most drivers.

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta offered a remarkably roomy interior for a compact sedan, with comfortable front and rear seats and a 399-litre trunk. The Highline trim featured leather seats with power adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the touch-sensitive climate control panel was a drawback, requiring drivers to look away from the road to make adjustments.

The 2026 Toyota Camry provided comfortable front seats with power height adjustment and SofTex upholstery. While the back seat wasn't as spacious as some competitors, it offered adequate legroom and support. The Camry's trunk space was limited at 428 litres, but the front cabin provided ample storage options. The lack of a grab handle for the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro display. Standard features included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The infotainment system's operation was occasionally frustrating, with proximity-sensing menus and changing knob functions.

The 2026 Toyota Camry featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and connected services plans. The larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available on higher trims. The Intelligent Assistant voice recognition system performed well, though the lack of a tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. Safety Connect and Remote Connect offered valuable features like emergency assistance and remote engine starting.

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with IQ.Drive, a suite of driver assistance systems and safety features. Notable features included active collision avoidance and Emergency Assist. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS rated it lower in some crash tests.

The 2026 Toyota Camry came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. Proactive Driving Assist was also part of the package. The Camry received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.