2022 Volkswagen Jetta

Competes with: Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla

Looks like: The same Jetta as 2021, but with new wheels

Powertrains: 158-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder; eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive (Jetta); 228-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder; seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or six-speed manual; front-wheel drive (Jetta GLI)

Hits dealerships: November

Volkswagen just replaced the Golf compact hatchback with the new Taos crossover following an industry trend of replacing cars with SUVs, but one car in the VW showroom has received an extension on its stay. The 2022 Jetta sedan has been given a new lease on life with a mild styling refresh, rejiggering of its trim levels, new standard equipment and a massaged powertrain meant to deliver a more spirited driving experience. Toss in more standard safety gear and a nicer interior, and VW hopes that a slightly updated version of the Jetta and high-performance Jetta GLI will be enough to stave off the completely redesigned Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra, and keep consumer favorites like the Toyota Corolla at bay.

Related: Which Compact Sedan Has the Best Value?

Exterior

VW didn’t spend a whole lot of effort updating the Jetta’s exterior, but it was already an attractive sedan that didn’t need much to stay current. The big changes are that the exterior lights are now standard LEDs, and both models get new bumpers, grilles and wheels. The high-zoot range-topping GLI gets a  new hexagonal honeycomb mesh pattern in the rear valance, and the script identifying the car’s trim level is now displayed on the car itself on prominent fender badges, the grille and the rear end of the GLI.

Standard wheel sizes are 16-inchers for the regular Jetta and 18-inchers for the GLI. Three new colors are available for the lineup, and the trim levels have been rearranged. There are four for the Jetta: S, Sport, SE and SEL. Gone is the R-Line, as its equipment and styling has been incorporated into the new Sport trim at a lower price point, says VW. The SEL Premium model is also gone.

The SE and SEL will be the premium models, while the S will represent a new value push on the low end. The GLI remains the range-topping model above these more plebian Jetta offerings, but it has been reduced to just one spec: The loaded Autobahn model, previously the upper trim of the GLI, is now the only offering. VW says it was at an 80% take rate in prior model years, so it made sense to make it the sole trim. The only option for the GLI is a Black Package with black wheels, trim, grille and mirrors.

Engine and Transmission

More substantial updates have been made under the hood of the basic Jetta, which sees its engine grow from a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder to a revised turbo 1.5-liter. Horsepower is at 158 hp (up 11 hp) while torque remains at 184 pounds-feet. More significantly, the torque curve has been reshaped thanks to a host of engine upgrades, substantially lowering peak torque delivery and supposedly creating a much more engaging acceleration experience, according to VW. The Jetta still retains a standard six-speed manual transmission on the S and Sport trims, but it also can be had with an optional eight-speed automatic that’s standard on the SE and SEL. The Sport doesn’t see any enhancements to its engine from the R-Line version, but it does get a sport suspension, software-based limited-slip function that employs selective braking to improve traction and handling, and racier trim.

The range-topping GLI carries over mechanically unchanged to what is already a potent and entertaining sports sedan. It features a larger, more powerful turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 228 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque that’s mated to either the standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Interior

Minor updates mean to give the Jetta’s interior a more premium feel than prior models. It starts with material choices as all Jettas now get contrast accent stitching on the doors and console, as well as upgraded cloth interiors, with the higher trim models getting new leather trim and even more contrast stitching. A new 8-inch digital gauge cluster is standard, and there’s a 10-inch digital cockpit optional on higher trim levels. The GLI trim gets new leather seats that have a “layered” look to them, with a red leather lower level that shines through an upper perforated level. Heated and ventilated seats are optional on the regular Jetta and standard on the GLI. The GLI also gets some sharp-looking stainless-steel pedals and a new steering wheel featuring VW’s latest haptic feedback touch controls and red painted trim.

Safety

In a bid to make the new Jetta more competitive, VW introduced more standard safety equipment. All Jettas now feature standard forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The more advanced IQ.Drive system is an option on the S and Sport trims and standard on the SE, SEL and GLI, bringing active blind spot monitoring, automatic cruise control, lane departure prevention and semi-autonomous Travel Assist hands-on lane-centering steering system.

Pricing and Release Date

We don’t have word yet on the 2022 Jetta’s pricing, but VW is very conscious about how price-sensitive the compact sedan segment is, so we’re not expecting big changes from the current model. Two areas will likely see some differences: the Sport, which features much of the previous R-Line’s sporty equipment but will likely be priced less than the R-Line as it’s lower in the trim hierarchy than the R-Line was, and the GLI, which is likely to start well above its previous entry price as the base GLI has been eliminated in favor of the loaded Autobahn. The new Jetta will arrive in dealerships in November.

Did VW Go Far Enough?

The Jetta currently holds a strong position in the compact sedan class, but the competition is heating up considerably for the 2022 model year. An all-new and very impressive Civic sedan is arriving with two engines — the base non-turbo model matches the VW’s output, but an optional 180-hp turbo engine in the higher-trim Civics bests the Jetta’s only engine (we haven’t seen what the new Civic Si trim will be packing, a higher-performance variant that competes with the GLI). The all-new Hyundai Elantra arrived with jaw-dropping styling and a wild digital dash, accompanied by the first-ever high-performance Elantra N with a turbo engine that beats the GLI’s output by more than 50 hp.

The changes to the Jetta are milder in comparison to either of these new models, making VW’s challenge to maintain its segment share a tall order. We’ll know how successful they’ve been in this goal after we get some seat time in one.

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