2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review: Take a Seat in Economy Plus
Economy cars aren't the basic beaters they used to be, as shown by the 2022 Jetta.
Review QuickTakes:
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta is a five-passenger, compact sedan that is larger inside than many of its rivals. Most versions of the 2022 Jetta have a modestly powered but lively turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, the sport-tuned Jetta GLI includes a more energetic turbo-four that delivers spirited performance.
What's New for the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta?
Volkswagen is making several updates to the 2022 Jetta lineup. The styling gets a nip and a tuck, and a new standard engine supplies slight improvements in power and efficiency. A new Sport trim debuts, replacing the previous R-Line model. All VW Jetta models now have standard digital instrumentation, connected services including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, and several helpful advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Volkswagen makes its IQ Drive collection of ADAS available as a safety upgrade this year, and higher trims come with wireless smartphone connectivity and charging.
How Much is a Volkswagen Jetta?
This year, 2022 Volkswagen Jetta prices range from the low $20,000s to the low $30,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the Puebla, Mexico, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Trim Levels and Configurations
The Volkswagen Jetta comes only in a four-door sedan configuration with a 14.1 cu.ft. trunk. There are five 2022 Jetta trim levels from which to choose:
Volkswagen Jetta S — The least expensive Jetta model includes a manual transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED taillights, and power-adjustable heated side mirrors. Interior features include air conditioning, cloth seats, a height-adjustable driver's seat, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.
Every Jetta S comes with an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services with access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Driver-assist systems include cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, a blind spot monitoring system, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Volkswagen Jetta Sport — The new Jetta Sport trim level adds 17-inch alloy wheels, sport-design bumpers, blacked-out exterior details, a front cross-differential system (XDS), a black interior headliner, ambient interior lighting, and sport-bolstered front seats.
Volkswagen Jetta SE — The Jetta SE builds on Jetta S equipment with a standard automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated side mirrors, and keyless entry with push-button engine starting. This trim level also comes with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, simulated leather upholstery, sport-bolstered front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats.
Volkswagen's IQ Drive collection of ADAS is also standard with SE trim. It builds on what the Jetta S includes with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic emergency stop assistance.
Volkswagen Jetta SEL — With Jetta SEL trim, you get sport-design bumpers, automatic high-beam LED headlights, heated washer-jet nozzles, and a windshield wiper de-icer system. Leather seats are standard, along with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, ambient interior lighting, simulated wood trim, and a power panoramic sunroof.
Tech enhancements include a larger and more comprehensive 10.25-inch digital instrumentation display and a bigger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running next-generation software. In addition, the Jetta SEL has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360 L satellite radio, enhanced voice recognition, a navigation system, and a nine-speaker Beats Audio premium sound system.
Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn — The sporty Jetta GLI comes only with Autobahn trim for 2022. As such, it includes most of the equipment found on the Jetta SEL, except for a navigation system.
Highlights of the Jetta GLI Autobahn include a more powerful engine, a front cross-differential system (XDS) and a torque-sensing limited-slip differential, an independent rear suspension design, an adaptive damping and sport-tuned suspension, progressive variable-ratio steering, and upgraded brakes with red calipers. In addition, design modifications include 18-inch alloy wheels, a honeycomb grille insert, red exterior accents, a rear diffuser panel with wider exhaust outlets, a sport steering wheel with available shift paddles, and stainless steel pedal covers.
Beverly Braga
2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review and Test Drive
The Volkswagen Jetta has topped the German automaker's sales charts for most of the last three decades. Yes, a compact sedan was Volkswagen's breadwinner for a generation. And yes, its dominance has ended; the Jetta is now dethroned by, you guessed it, an SUV (the Tiguan).
Nevertheless, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta sees a mild update. The minor changes simplify the lineup and make previously top trim-only features either standard or available on entry- and mid-level models. Gone are the Jetta SEL Premium and Jetta R-Line. The former passes its premium doodads to the SEL; the value-minded, all-new Sport replaces the latter. The Jetta GLI, which Volkswagen treats as a sub-model, drops the base S trim and is offered only in top-of-the-line Autobahn spec for 2022. The Jetta lineup as a whole receives new exterior design pieces, more technology, and additional power.
For this 2022 Volkswagen Jetta review, I test-drove the SEL trim equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Sporting a Rising Blue Metallic exterior and a Titan Black leather interior, the test vehicle had no additional options and wore a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $29,190, including the destination charge of $1,095. Volkswagen provided the vehicle for this Jetta review.
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review: The Design
Volkswagen took a minimalist approach with its 2022 Jetta refresh. Essentially a game of spot-the-differences, you'd be forgiven if you didn't notice any differences between this year's Jetta and last year's exterior design. So here's a hint: chrome.
The majority of the styling changes happen up front. The now-standard LED headlights and daytime running lights retain their shape but now feature double chrome bars that flow into the redesigned grille, drawing your eyes toward the VW logo. Another chrome piece bordering the bottom of the grille completes the frame. On the GLI, a signature red stripe is sandwiched between the center chrome bars while black trim swaps in for the surrounding chrome.
The fog lights are positioned upright versus horizontal and embedded into the redesigned bumper. Being a singular black piece and with the fog lights shifted, the shape of the air dam contorts into a slight snarl. Or maybe a wince. It depends on whether the Jetta's had its morning coffee yet.
At the rear, the taillight design carries over but now features standard LED lighting. The revised rear bumper seems to share the same mood as the front bumper with its single-piece chrome-adorned insert. On non-GLI models, VW hides the exhaust outlet, whereas on the GLI, its wider dual sport tailpipes are on full display.
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Each trim level also gets new wheel designs ranging from 16-inch to 18-inch aluminum alloys. There are fresh paint colors, too. Of the seven available for 2022, three are all-new, no-charge metallic options. They are Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue, which my test car wears.
Rising Blue is an attractive color that makes the VW Jetta pop with some semblance of personality. Because even with the added chrome and attitude, the Jetta still exhibits the most ho-hum design profile amongst its compact-car competitors. Volkswagen design isn't known for flurries of character lines. Everything is seemingly drawn and detailed with purpose rather than passion. Thankfully, great colors compensate for the design's lack of character (lines).
Changes to the Jetta's interior are even less distinguishable. Regardless of upholstery type, all Jetta models feature premium-looking contrast stitching with thread color varying by trim (e.g., red on GLI). Newly standard is a unique rhombus pattern for the cloth seats in S trims and padded door inserts for all Jetta models. Leather-trimmed interiors also have a new two-tone Volcano Brown-and-black option.
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My test car had a plain black leather interior, but the light-colored accent stitching broke up the monotony. A Ceramic thread is standard for SEL models and was present throughout the front of the cabin — seats, headrests, center armrest, shifter boot, and door panel inserts. The rear seats also received some stitching love, with Ceramic sewn into the seats and headrests. Contrast threads were missing from the steering wheel, though, likely a budget decision since the same steering wheel is used throughout the Jetta lineup (except on the GLI).
Because the Jetta is dimensionally the same, the interior room and comfort remain identical to last year's model. That's to say, the compact sedan is comfortable, spacious, and full of pockets to store your things in. The trunk has a capacity of up to 14.1 cu. ft. and can easily carry two large check-in-sized suitcases without stacking them.
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And the Jetta has loads of room for four adults. There is seating for five, but that fifth grown-up better be petite and/or someone you don't mind being close to. The perforated leather seats were supportive and amply cushioned, which made long drives neither exhausting nor backbreaking. The seat bottom's edge does rise ever so slightly, providing welcome thigh support for the long-legged but not so much for those already having trouble reaching the pedals.
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review: The Technology
Getting into the finer details of the updated 2022 Jetta, Volkswagen improves the standard technology across the board. All models now have an advanced Digital Cockpit system. Customizable and offering multiple view options, the digital instrument cluster presents various vehicle information such as navigation, safety features, driving data, and fuel economy. The S, Sport, and SE trims get an 8-inch screen, while SEL and GLI models receive the larger 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The Pro version was already standard on SEL and GLI Autobahn vehicles.
A 6.5-inch Volkswagen MIB2 infotainment system pairs with the new Digital Cockpit instrumentation. Don't worry; it has nothing to do with aliens but is standard on Jetta S, Sport, and SE trims. Operating like a smartphone or tablet, you can tap, swipe, and pinch through the various screens and menus. The MIB2 setup includes Bluetooth, two USB-C ports, an SD card multimedia interface, and App-Connect, which integrates Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink. An additional USB-C charging port comes in the SE models and above. If you're like me and own an ancient smartphone that still has an auxiliary input jack, there's a 12-volt socket that works perfectly fine with your existing car charger.
Of course, the Jetta SEL and GLI get the fancier 8-inch MIB3 operating system which adds multi-phone Bluetooth pairing, wireless App-Connect, wireless smartphone charging, HD Radio, SiriusXM with 360L and three months of complimentary service, and Car-Net connected services.
Car-Net service plans cover three main areas: remote access, safety and security, and hotspot (Wi-Fi). Via the myVW app, you can control vehicle functions like remote start, climate, and door locks — even if you're miles away. The app also supports Amazon Alexa compatibility, roadside assistance, and theft alert features for a price. Volkswagen includes a complimentary five-year subscription to Remote Access, but everything else is a la carte after shorter free trial periods. For three years, Volkswagen has been kind enough to let new Jetta owners try out the Plus Nav (navigation system) at no cost.
The VW Jetta has a ton of technology for a mass-market compact car, though you do have to pay extra for some of it. As for the freebies, some of the functionality was hit or miss. For example, I loved the level of customization offered with the Digital Cockpit but hated the voice recognition system.
The MIB3 processor made for quick touchscreen responsiveness, which pleased me. But what I appreciated most was the ability to change the default screens to a configuration that worked best for me. That meant moving the navigation to the instrument cluster and the fuel economy and trip data to the center infotainment display. Having the route map positioned directly in front of me is safer because it minimizes the time I take my eyes off the road. When this information shows in the middle of the dashboard, drivers must glance to the side for longer periods.
Also, I found it easier to adjust the map's scale with the steering wheel-mounted controls versus reaching over to the center screen. As responsive as the Jetta touchscreen is, its glass surface and lack of haptic feedback can lead to erroneous taps and swipes while driving. Audio tones indicate when you've selected something, but that doesn't mean you hit the intended icon. And there are already enough audible reminders from the safety systems that I personally mute unnecessary chimes.
Multi-screen customization has such a low learning curve that referring to the Jetta's owner's manual is unnecessary. What wasn't intuitive (and drove me crazy) was the enhanced voice recognition. I don't know what Volkswagen's definition of "enhanced" means, but the system clearly couldn't interpret what I was saying. While driving and while parked, I tried using voice commands for navigation. It seldom worked, more often initiating an endless conversation with an AI asking me to repeat myself.
Yes, I did look through the owner's manual for instruction. But unfortunately, it still didn't work. Though I stated the correct commands, the system did not understand destinations and points of interest. For example, when asking for the nearest location for Costco and OfficeMax, the MIB3 system asked if I was looking for "Coco" and provided directions to every office supplies store without "Max" in its name.
I think the trick is to pay for the extra-cost Plus Speech Car-Net subscription. It requires an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription and supposedly provides a digital assistant that recognizes naturally spoken commands. Do you know what else does that? Your smartphone, so pair it to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and forget about trying to use the Jetta's native voice recognition technology.
Regarding safety, the new Volkswagen Jetta includes standard IQ Drive. On S and Sport models, this collection of advanced driver-assist and collision avoidance technologies includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. In addition, with S and Sport trim, an optional Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop-and-go capability, lane keeping assist (LKA), Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist.
Combining ACC and LKA, Travel Assist offers hands-on, semi-autonomous driving when traveling faster than 20 mph and on marked roads. And don't try to trick the system. Audible and visual warnings will scold you to keep your hands on the steering wheel. Ignore the safety nanny, and Travel Assist will deactivate. On long highway curves, I noticed that the Jetta veered slightly out of its lane, so hands-on guidance was necessary, anyway.
Emergency Assist keeps track of driver attentiveness and activates when LKA or Travel Assist are in use. If the system can't get your attention with its notifications and warnings, the system will assume you are asleep or suffering a medical emergency and will slowly bring the Jetta to a stop with hazard lights flashing to indicate an emergency.
All IQ Drive features are standard, starting with the Jetta SE. Additionally, the SEL and GLI models receive automatic high-beam headlights, or Light Assist, as additional safety equipment. In all Jettas, you can adjust the driver-assist features for sensitivity or intensity by accessing the related menu through the touchscreen. However, you can only turn them on or off via the Digital Cockpit.
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta gets a Five-Star overall safety rating, the highest possible, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That does not mean a perfect score, however. The Jetta did exceptionally well, acing the side-impact crash tests but earned four stars in frontal and rollover evaluations. In addition, the GLI is listed separately by the NHTSA but received the same marks as the standard Jetta.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards the Jetta its highest grade of Good in all crash tests. Where the vehicle failed to measure up was in headlight performance (Marginal with Light Assist or Poor without it) and assessments related to LATCH access (Acceptable) and seat belt warnings (Poor).
Beverly Braga
2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review: The Drive
The 2022 Jetta (except for the GLI) receives a new engine in the form of a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder. Replacing the previous model's 1.4L turbo-four, the powertrain is the same one Volkswagen uses in the Taos small SUV. Thanks to the new engine, the Jetta sees an 11-hp bump over last year, with output increasing to 158 hp. However, torque remains the same at 184 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission choices also carry over and include a standard 6-speed manual or optional 8-speed automatic. Engine and transmission choices for the Jetta GLI sport sedan are unchanged for 2022.
The Jetta's standard engine is more than adequate in propelling the car in and out of town. Acceleration is quick enough for high-speed highway merging and passing, but if you're looking for a six-second car, the GLI trim would be the Jetta to buy. Genuine sport-tuned dynamics are also the GLI's strong suit. However, while my SEL test car did get me to where I needed to go, it lacked personality during the drive there and had a few notable quirks.
Engine turbo lag and a touchy throttle can make the Jetta an annoying travel buddy in stop-and-go traffic. In my stop sign-happy neighborhood, I felt like the Jetta accelerated too eagerly from a stop or too forcefully into one. After a week with the car, I did figure out the sweet spot for smoother transitions, but if I wasn't paying attention or was tired, the Jetta jolted me awake one way or the other.
The steering, on the other hand, was surprisingly accurate and well-tuned. But the steering feel was numb at best. My Jetta SEL featured Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the distinction between the modes was as subtle as the vehicle's design changes. Eco was the least engaging of the drive modes, and Sport did add something to the driving experience. I wouldn't call it fun or excitement, but it was…something. With the Jetta, it's as if VW engineers had better things to do, so all we got was a purpose-built commuter car.
The open road is where the Jetta did shine. By the end of my weeklong vehicle loan, I put nearly a thousand miles of interstate travel on the odometer, so I would know. Power delivery spooled more fluidly, and the eight-speed automatic transmission shifted without incident. During a road trip that offers little in terms of off-the-beaten-path roads, dynamics are less important than fuel economy and driver comfort. I was traveling between Detroit and Road America, the famed racetrack an hour north of Milwaukee, and my 800-mile round trip route was Interstate 94 for 85% of the drive. The Jetta was perfect for the monotonous landscape of asphalt, concrete, and open fields.
Ride quality was top-notch. Some road noise penetrated the cabin, but the Jetta is a compact car with probably little in terms of sound deadening versus what larger, more luxurious vehicles might have. Compared to the Jetta's rivals, the "noise" is relative.
The driver-oriented cockpit was well suited for the long drive. Buttons and knobs were available for frequently-accessed features like the climate and audio systems. The IQ Drive features performed as expected and made me less tired over time. During my entire drive to Road America and back, I only stopped for gas twice because the Jetta sipped fuel like it was the last tank it would ever have. The highway fuel efficiency was mind-boggling.
The Jetta SEL boasts an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg in combined driving. On my tour of I-94, the Jetta averaged 46.9 mpg on the highway. Using the ACC to cover the Midwest's mostly flat terrain likely contributed to the better-than-EPA average, because I certainly didn't hypermile the car.
On the return trip, I stopped in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, for fuel and food. I still had 308 miles to go back on the road, but I didn't stop again for gas. When I arrived home, the trip computer said I still had 305 miles of range left in the tank. Say what? I had just driven that distance!
Is the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta a Good Car?
Though improved, the 2022 Jetta remains a mixed bag against the competition. It's not stylish or sporty (save for the GLI) but makes up for these supposed shortcomings in spaciousness, comfort, technology, and real-world fuel economy. And although the updates for the 2022 model year are on the mild side, the Jetta will not disappoint buyers who prioritize execution over excitement. The Volkswagen Jetta is a high-functioning compact with little interest in being flashy or fun.
Volkswagen Jetta Competitors for 2022
As American consumers transition from traditional cars to crossover SUVs, the Jetta's competitive set isn't as large as it used to be. Nevertheless, you have several alternatives from which to choose, including the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda Mazda3, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Corolla.
Volkswagen Jetta Features
Highlights
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta blends uniquely German ride and handling qualities and turbocharged performance with a roomy interior and a large trunk. It is an affordable, efficient car with enjoyable driving dynamics that a family of four can easily use for most daily driving and road-tripping purposes.
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Safety Features
- Automatic Post Collision Braking — Standard feature that brings the Jetta to a stop as soon as possible following a collision to prevent secondary impacts after the airbags have deployed
- Car-Net Safe & Secure — Standard connected services plan with numerous safety features such as automatic collision notification
- Family Guardian — Part of an available connected services package that allows parents to program speed, curfew, and geographic boundary alerts
- Travel Assist — Available feature pairs adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist to create a semi-autonomous driving technology for use on highways
- Emergency Assist — Available feature identifies an unresponsive driver and brings the Jetta to a safe stop
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Technology
- Infotainment system — Standard 6.5-inch and available 8-inch touchscreen display*
- Smartphone connectivity — Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless with 8-inch display)
- Connected services — Standard Car-Net availability* with three different subscription plans
- SiriusXM 360L — Available extended satellite radio services* with hundreds of additional stations
- Navigation system — Available feature*
2022 Volkswagen Jetta Interior
- Simulated leather seats — Available feature*
- Genuine leather seats — Available feature*
- Heated and ventilated front seats — Available features*
- Power panoramic sunroof — Available feature*
- Premium sound system — Available nine-speaker Beats Audio system*
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2022 Volkswagen Jetta Specs
1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (S, Sport, SE, SEL):
- 158 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque
- 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive (FWD)
- EPA fuel economy rating of 33 mpg to 35 mpg in combined driving
2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (GLI):
- 228 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque
- 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- FWD
- EPA fuel economy rating of 30 mpg in combined driving
*Availability is subject to specific trim level selections
