MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, Motorway-America.com

(February 4, 2024) Volkswagen hit on a "just right" compact sedan in 2019 with its current generation Jetta and it carries on with incremental changes in 2024. The Jetta is the last sedan standing in Volkswagen's U.S. lineup, and lucky for value-seeking cash-strapped families with a couple of children, it's still being sold as a viable alternative for the more expensive crossover vehicles that now populate the automotive landscape.

The Jetta's clean Audi-influenced exterior is complimented by what appears to be a rather spartan interior, and could throw off some people shopping for a compact sedan against the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla or Mazda3. But look past the conservative styling, and the spacious Jetta — ample room for four adults — has an appealing driving demeanor and is loaded with a lot of content for a reasonable price. If the Jetta has not been on your shopping list perhaps you should pencil it in and take a ride to your nearest VW store.


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The big news for 2024 is the addition of VW's IQ.Drive driver-assistance suite as standard equipment across the lineup. Also added for 2024 are an eco-leather steering wheel, leather gearshift knob, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and rain sensing wipers. The Sport trim gets standard heated front seats and a space-saving, lightweight spare tire.

Here's the deal. The midlevel SE such as our test car, which includes a comprehensive list of driving aids and modern technology, carries a bottom line of around 27 grand. Included for that price are dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver's seat, rain-sensing wipers, blindspot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, emergency braking, tire pressure monitoring system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, two-years or 20,000 miles of free maintenance and three-years or 30,000 miles of 24-hour roadside assistance.



The current-generation Jetta received a makeover for the 2022 model year, and for 2024 has been endowed with more standard equipment. The '22 refreshening included updated styling and a new turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder replacing the 1.4-liter engine that had graced the Jetta for several years. 



The new engine, which is also found in the new Taos crossover, makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic, and takes the Jetta from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds according to testing by Car and Driver. We use these 0-to-60 times because they are usually a good indication how a car performs in normal driving, and in the case of 2024 Jetta it performs quite well. It feels snappy in stop and go city traffic and it can haul buggy when necessary to merge into fast-moving interstate traffic or pass a pesky slowpoke on a two-lane road.



Its off-the-line performance up to 40 mph is just short of amazing. Hit the accelerator and the car virtually jumps off the line. This low-end torque infusion is very rewarding in city traffic.

But perhaps the best trait of the Jetta engine is its excellent gas mileage measured at 30 mpg in city driving, 40 on the highway and 33 combined on the least expensive regular gas. The EPA says this is a $1,250 saving in fuel costs over the average new vehicle.

We found the Jetta had a very compliant ride, and a relatively quiet interior at highway speeds for a car at this price point. The driver's seat is comfortable. Rear seats should afford adequate legroom for most adults, but taller passengers may have to negotiate with front-seaters to gain enough space.

Trunk space is excellent with 14.1 cubic feet of storage. Two sets of golf clubs will easily fit, and for more space the rear seatbacks fold down. 


Every Jetta has a responsive touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Along with traditional volume and tuning knobs, the Car-Net unit allows gesture controls for swiping and pinch-to-zoom. Likewise, every Jetta has a mobile hotspot as long as people are willing to pay for a subscription-based data plan. Wireless charging is standard only on the SEL. Controls are very intuitive and easy to use, even the first time around the block.

Although you will have to go to the SEL for navigation, most people it seems these days count on their smart phones for navigation, and we have found in most case the iPhone has more up-to-date and superior navigation tools than the in-car units. And we were pleased that Apple CarPlay instantly showed up when we paired our phone, and the navigation app looked great on the VW screen.

The Jetta comes in four trim levels — S, Sport, SE and SEL — with a starting price of $22,660. We think the sweet spot is the SE that starts at $26,100. Our test car carried a very reasonable price of $27,270 that included the $1,150 destination charge.

2024 Volkswagen Jetta

Essentials
Base price: $22,660; as driven, $27,270
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 158 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 184 pound-feet @ 1,750 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: front wheel
Seating: 2/3
Length: 186.5 inches
Curb weight: 2,989 pounds
Turning circle: 36.7 feet
Luggage capacity: 14.1 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 30 city, 40 highway, 33 combined
0-60: 7.1 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla

The Good
• Great bang for the buck
• Loaded with features for the price
• Very fuel efficient

The Bad
• No hybrid powertrain

The Ugly
• All-wheel drive not available