As one of the founding fathers of automobiles with centuries of experience and performance, Volkswagen is well known for the affordability of its product.
Don’t take it away from them as their product are no pushovers as the 2021 Jetta is termed “Pragmatic “ From the 70s, the compact sedan has always brought the balance between the playful Golf and the gown-up Passat.
The VW Jetta is a fine car offering a lot of passenger room for a vehicle of this size, as well as intuitive infotainment features and great fuel economy.
Years ago, that would have been enough to make this Volkswagen very competitive in the class. Now, the highest-ranking compact cars deliver agile handling, peppy acceleration, and interior quality that borders on luxury.
The VW Jetta offers great gas mileage, a roomy rear seat, and an accommodating trunk. A great car for pulling daily duty in relative comfort. Starting at around $19,000, it’s a decent value.
Under the Hood of the 2021 Volkswagen
The VW Jetta puts up a fantastic performance With its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which produces 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
The cheapest 2021 Jetta, the S trim from $18,995 (plus $995 destination), comes with a six-speed manual. So, too, does the $22,795 Jetta R-Line.
Otherwise, you get an eight-speed automatic, with a front-wheel-drive across the board. Without a hybrid powertrain, the 2021 Jetta doesn’t reach the dean’s list for gas mileage, but its thrifty 1.4-liter turbo-4 is certainly on the honor roll delivering 30 mpg in the city, 40mpg on the highway and 34mpg combined with an automatic or manual transmission.
The Jetta GLI’s bigger 2.0-liter turbo-4 rates 25/32/28 mpg with an automatic. Opting for the manual drops the highway figure by 1 mpg.
In the case of the 2021 Jetta SEL Premium, the swankiest Volkswagen offers. it pushes pricing to $28,045 plus destination.
With a considerable $500 being part of the charge for the Cold Weather Package that comes with it on lesser trims, and the equally priced Driver-Assistance Package.
2021 Volkswagen Exterior
Its exterior gets upgraded as all VW Jetta get LED front and rear lights, and R-Line also upgrades the 16-inch alloy wheels to 17-inch versions. SE and above have heated side mirrors and a panoramic power sunroof.
SE and above get dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats; The Cold Weather Package has a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats have really added much comfort to the VW.
Only the SEL Premium has actual leather upholstery, though.
2021 Volkswagen Comfort & Quality
The VW has done a lot in terms of its interior upgrade as well with the introduction of an 8-inch touchscreen on SEL and SEL Premium trims now runs MIB3, a newer version of VW’s infotainment system; S, SE, and R-Line cars get a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the older MIB2.
So, too, the two highest trims pack the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, with a screen replacing the analog gauges a good move as we are in the digital age.2 MIB3 is clean and easy to use, though VW’s graphics don’t stray from the pallid aesthetic of the rest of the interior.
There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless charging pad, and both SEL and SEL Premium cars get a 400 watt Beats Audio system with eight speakers and a subwoofer.
There’s a surprising degree of bass from that, along with two USB-C ports.
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta any different from 2020
The significant changes found in 2021 Jetta as compare to the 2020 Jetta is the SE and SEL trims gain a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and trims with the optional 8-inch touch screen get new software that improves voice recognition and navigation, as well as allowing for wireless smartphone integration.
Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights are newly optional in the Jetta GLI.
Volkswagen Jetta Versus the Competition
Volkswagen Jetta vs. Volkswagen GTI
This is an in-house rivalry as Golf GTI is one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the class, thanks to deft handling and a peppy 228-horsepower engine. That’s the same turbo-four powertrain found in the Jetta GLI.
Of these two Volkswagen vehicles, the GTI features a higher-class interior, and as a hatchback, it offers up a ton of cargo room.
The Golf GTI is also one of the most expensive cars in the class, and it costs a few thousand dollars more than the comparable Jetta GLI. If you prioritize performance, however, the former is basically a slam-dunk choice.
Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic
Honda Civic outclass its Jetta counterpart in a number of ways and with its features. Having both the sedan and hatchback body styles, offering a wide range of engine options than the VW Jetta.
There’s a configuration for most budgets and priorities. You’ll get a handsome cabin with the Civic, along with a sporty ride and a long list of standard driver assistance features.
The Jetta has a more user-friendly infotainment system, but that isn’t enough to recommend it over the Civic.