2025 Volkswagen Jetta is a bargain-priced European road car

Published 10:00 am Monday, January 27, 2025

If you’re shopping for a compact sedan, it might be easy to overlook the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta. But that would be a mistake because it is a great bargain.

The current Jetta doesn’t generate a lot of publicity. It has been in production since 2018, which is a long time in today’s fast-changing automotive world. It also only comes with a gas-powered engine instead of offering the kind of hybrid or plug-in hybrid power plants that are generating a lot buzz these days. Nor is it available with all-wheel-drive.

But the 2025 Jetta is based on VW’s newest Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) scalable platform. It’s the same platform that carries the compact Tiguan and mid-size Atlas SUVs, and it’s the foundation of the Jetta’s value proposition. It is Jetta is spacious and comfortable inside, very quiet on the road, and offers performance far beyond what you might expect.

But more than that, because it has been in production for so long with few changes, the seventh-generation Jetta is very inexpensive compared to most competitors. A well-equipped base S starts at $21,995. Even the top-of-the-line SEL, the subject of this review, begins at a mere $30,225 with leather seats, a sunroof, safety upgrades, and much more.

And those prices get you something that is increasingly hard to afford – a genuine European driving experience. While VW is openly chasing the American market with its Atlas SUV, the Jetta still drives like its Golf sibling, which is to say fun. The ride is firm without being harsh, and even the electric steering is precise and responsive..

The Jetta has offered various gas and diesel engines over the years but now comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 4 mated to an eight-speed cn with a traditional shift lever and a manual shift mode. It produces 158, which is more than enough for good acceleration, with the Sport mode delivering peppy performance. The combination is enjoyable in day-to-day driving, even on short errands.

The exterior styling of the Jetta is restrained compared to some other compact sedans, but enhanced by a more chiseled front and rear end for 2025. The interior may seem outdated because it does not have a long screen across the top of the dash, but it features a new 8-inch floating center display angled toward the driver. Materials are typical for VW, which is to say a mix of durable plastic with leather trim. The touch sensitive climate controls take a little practice, but the stereo comes with physical volume and tuning knobs.

In a week of test driving, my 2025 Jetta SEL was always comfortable and solid feeling on the road. It pulled away from stops well, even in the Eco and Comfort modes, and took curve well for an affordable family car. The suspension registered potholes without upsetting the ride, contributing to the well-balanced feel. It also gets great mileage for a non-hybrid car, with EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway.

For those who want more performance, VW sells a GLI version of the Jetta as a separate model. It features such upgrades as a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower, an available six-speed manual transmission, a multi-link rear suspension, a rear anti-roll bar, sport-tuned gas-filled shock absorbers, and variable-ratio electric steering. Starting at $32,715, it is a truly affordable sport sedan.

Volkswagen has devoted a lot of time and energy developing electric vehicles in recent years, and is drawing well-deserved praise for its new retro ID Buzz EV van. But for affordable and rewarding day-to-day driving, it’s hard to beat the tried-and-true compact Jetta sedan. The 2025 version is the most refined yet, and one of today’s best automotive bargains.

2025 Volkswagen Jetta

Base price: $21,995 (S)

Price as tested: $30,225 (SEL)

Type: Compact sedan

Engine: 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (158 hp, 184 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 8-speed Triptronic automatic w/manual mode

Drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom

EPA estimated mileage: 29/40

Overall length: 185.1 inches

Curb weight: 3,031 pounds

Final assembly: Puebla, Mexico