2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Name: 2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 14990 USD

2021 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T R-Line SULEV Sedan Exterior

+91

The Jetta is practical and competent. It also looks good. But don't expect to discover any hidden depths. The Jetta isn't exceptional enough on any front to claim the top spot.

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2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Pleasingly smooth ride
Ample storage in the cabin

Cons

Brakes feel grabby at low speeds
Steering wheel controls take some getting used to
Cabin is more plasticky than others in the class

What's new

New, more capable infotainment system standard on SEL trim and up
Other minor revisions to standard feature availability
Part of the seventh Jetta generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Volkswagen has been selling its Jetta small sedan in the U.S. since 1980. It's been a somewhat bumpy road over the years, at least in regard to the car's overall mission and appeal. The latest Volkswagen Jetta generation, introduced two years ago, generally hits the mark. It has subdued but handsome styling, an eye toward comfort, and upscale features for its price. The Jetta is also practical thanks to a sizable trunk and roomy back seat.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta S SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.44 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$123/mo

$177/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The downside is that it doesn't stand out in a crowded field of competitors in any one category. Many of its rivals are big on personality — something the Jetta struggles to match against the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Still, there's enough good here that you might want to check it out. Read our Expert Rating for more detail and our in-depth evaluation on the 2021 Jetta.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The Jetta is practical and competent. It also looks good. But don't expect to discover any hidden depths. The Jetta isn't exceptional enough on any front to claim the top spot.

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Jetta drive? The Jetta feels quick around town thanks to the solid torque output from the turbocharged engine at low rpm. But the engine runs out of juice if you really try winding it out. In our testing, our Jetta test car posted a mediocre 0-60 mph time of 8.4 seconds.

A panic stop from 60 mph yielded results typical for the segment, but we're not huge fans of the brakes. The pedal is soft, and response seems out of sync as you increase pressure. At low speeds, the brakes can feel quite grabby and make it hard to stop smoothly. Unlike in other small Volkswagen cars, the steering is light and rubbery.

There are some bright spots, such as the well-controlled body roll that lends the Jetta some sporty characteristics. We also like the smooth-shifting transmission, though it shifts too frequently.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Jetta? The Jetta's ride is quite good. It takes the edge off square bumps and ably absorbs larger impacts. It can feel a little bouncy over large bumps, but overall the ride quality feels premium for the class. The seats are soft, with nice cushioning and good side bolstering. However, the seat bottom is too flat, and there's little lower back support. Even worse, you won't get adjustable lumbar unless you upgrade to the highest trim.

Overall noise levels are impressively low around town, and wind noise only really manifests on the highway. The climate controls are a bit small and close together, but the system is relatively straightforward and easy to use. The Jetta is one of the only small sedans to offer ventilated front seats, which go a long way to keep the cabin cool on a hot day.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? This score suffers primarily because of some needlessly complex controls. In particular, the steering wheel controls are harder to figure out than others. Otherwise, the Jetta's cabin is a nice place to spend time, especially if you're in the driver's seat. It offers a considerable amount of height adjustment, and the steering wheel likewise has ample telescoping and tilt range.

The rear legroom is good, but headroom is merely average. Seating for a third person in back isn't the best because of the wide center console and rear hump in the center of the floor.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? While you get some nice standard features such as smartphone integration, it's really in the higher trim levels that the Jetta's tech shines. The upgraded Beats Audio unit, for instance, is one of the best in the class. SEL and SEL Premium models feature the Digital Cockpit, a configurable digital instrument panel that looks clean and crisp.

The difference between the haves and have nots manifests again with respect to voice controls. Lower trims don't have native voice controls at all, while the system on upper trims is finicky and requires a structured syntax.

Unlike rivals, you have to pay extra for driving aids in the Jetta. Fortunately, the systems offered all work reasonably well.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? The Jetta has plenty of room for your stuff. Small-item storage is copious, with large door pockets all around, a tray in front of the shifter, and sizable cupholders. At 14.1 cubic feet, the trunk isn't the largest in the segment, but the space is well realized and usable. There's also a large opening behind the rear seats should you need to drop them for extra storage.

The large back seat, combined with easily accessible car-seat anchors and tethers, means that child safety seats should fit without much trouble.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimate of 34 mpg combined (30 city/40 highway) is on the high end of the segment, but in real-world driving we had trouble matching that estimate. Our test Jetta averaged less than 30 mpg in mixed driving.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Jetta a good value? The Jetta offers an average value. Sure, higher trims have lots of equipment, but they're also priced at the top of the class and don't come with an upgraded engine. Lower trims have advantages over the base trims of competitors, but they also lack some equipment that's standard elsewhere. We're also not impressed by the underperforming real-world fuel economy.

VW's warranty is also average. Bumper-to-bumper coverage for four years/50,000 miles is longer than most, but identical coverage for the powertrain is shorter than what the majority of rivals offer. Volkswagen, though, is one of the few manufacturers that offer free maintenance, good for two years/24,000 miles.

Wildcard

6.5/10

The Jetta is a good-looking car inside and out, and on that front it stands out in the class. But beauty is only skin-deep because underneath the Jetta feels competent but generic. There's nothing about this car that creates an identity for Volkswagen.

Which Jetta does Edmunds recommend?

If you like your business sedan with a little attitude, the R-Line is the right choice. It has a unique exterior style and accents that can't be had with other models, plus a locking electronic differential that makes it more fun to drive. On the other hand, the SE trim offers an enticing package — heated seats and a sunroof are rare at this price.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta models

Volkswagen offers the 2021 Jetta in five trim levels: S, SE, R-Line, SEL and SEL Premium. All models are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) sending power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the S and R-Line trims, while all the others come with an eight-speed automatic.

S
The Jetta line kicks off with this basic model and the following equipment:

LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights
Power-adjustable side mirrors
16-inch alloy wheels
6.5-inch color touchscreen
Two USB ports
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Bluetooth connectivity
Four-speaker sound system
Manually adjustable driver's seat
Cloth front seats
Volkswagen Car-Net mobile app with remote start, door locking/unlocking, parked location finder and other functions
Rearview camera

SE
The second model in line takes a big step forward in terms of amenities:

Push-button start
Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Faux leather seating surfaces
Leather gearshift knob
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Panoramic power-tilting and -sliding sunroof

Standard safety equipment on the SE and up includes:

Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

R-Line
An aggressive style trim that introduces these items to the Jetta line:

Foglights
Leather-wrapped steering wheel

The R-Line is the only Jetta equipped with the following features:

Black front grille
Black side mirror caps
Unique bumper and badging
Electronic differential to improve traction and handling

SEL
A more premium model that comes standard with these items:

Projector headlights
MIB3 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen
VW App-Connect with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Wireless smartphone charging station
Eight-speaker sound system
Front sport seats
Ambient lighting with 10 colors
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Jetta back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Automatic high-beam assist (toggles between high- and low-beam headlights for better nighttime visibility)

SEL Premium
This top-level trim takes everything from the SEL and adds:

Turn signal lights integrated into side mirrors
Navigation
Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support
Leather seats

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#25 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Volkswagen Jetta from 2008-2022.}

$443/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.15x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

9.8%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Volkswagen Jetta.

5 (63%)

4 (6%)

3 (6%)

2 (9%)

1 (16%)

3.9

43 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 43 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Get the SEL Premium if you can!

Micky from SoCal, 07/13/2021

2021 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This vehicle drives well above its class. Despite the small engine and low HP, it is peppy and smooth, and is eager to go. It’s very refined in its handling, reminding me of the mercedes S my Dad had when I was younger and I did my learners permit training on. No, it isn’t a V8 like that, but driving it feels very similar, which means VW had come a long way. No rattles or squeaks so far. …

Nice Car for the Money

Redblock, 07/02/2021

2021 Volkswagen Jetta R-Line SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Lots of features, great gas mileage, good Auto transmission unlike some of the competition which offer CVT Transmissions.

Best compact car I owed

Dan, 07/17/2021

2021 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The Jetta SEL Premium is an outstanding compact car. The exterior design is very attractive. The interior is quieter and more luxurious than its competitors. The gas mileage is astounding. I get over 51 miles/gl on the highway and for the first 1,800 miles of mixed city/highway traffic the average is 37.6 miles/gl. The car fully deserves the 'baby-Audi' nickname. VW has a winner here!

Bye bye BMW

Germanaficionado, 11/11/2020

2020 Volkswagen Jetta SEL SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This car is absolutely amazing. I love that it has all the modern features and then some compared to my 2016 BMW 335i. The acceleration is very quick especially if you venture into manual mode. I typically leave the car in it's sport setting because it feels like it handles much better however if I'm crusing or low on gas I'm for sure in ECO. Speaking of gas the fuel economy is …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, so we've included reviews for other years of the Jetta since its last redesign.

See all 43 reviews of the Volkswagen Jetta

Write a vehicle review

2021 Jetta Highlights

Trim:

S SULEV

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$18,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	34 MPG
Cost to Drive	$123/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Jetta models:

Blind-Spot Monitor: Alerts you with visual and audible warnings if other vehicles are in your blind spot.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System: Applies the brakes once the airbags go off to reduce the possibility of further damage during an accident.
Forward Collision Warning: Sounds an alert when a front collision is likely and primes and applies the brakes if necessary.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

2021 Volkswagen Jetta Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta S SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.44 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Jetta does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Volkswagen Jetta models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Get the SEL Premium if you can!

Nice Car for the Money

Best compact car I owed

Bye bye BMW

2021 Jetta Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta S SULEV 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.44 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}