2026 Volkswagen Jetta Review, Pricing, and Specs

Car and Driver

18-06-2025

Overview
As compact cars have fallen out of favor in the automotive zeitgeist, affordable and efficient four-doors like the Volkswagen Jetta have become increasingly rare. That's especially true if you're looking for a compact car of German origin, as the Jetta is the final holdout following the standard Golf hatchback's demise. With a starting price below key rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3, the Jetta is a value play. Its cabin is spacious, its 158-hp turbocharged inline-four gas engine boasts great fuel efficiency, and it comes chock-full of standard features. It might not be the most exciting compact around (look to the Jetta GLI if that's what you're after), but the Jetta's value proposition is hard to deny.
What's New for 2026?
After a substantial refresh last year, the Jetta gets only minor packaging tweaks for 2026. All Jetta trims now benefit from rear seatbelt pretensioners. The SE trim now comes with a sunroof as standard equipment, and the top-tier SEL model gets an eight-speaker premium VW audio system.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is expected to start around $24,000 and go up to $31,000 depending on the trim and options.
S
$24,000 (est)
Sport
$26,000 (est)
SE
$27,000 (est)
SEL
$31,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k
While it's hard to ignore the S model's bargain price, the Sport trim hits the sweet spot for just a few dollars more. The Sport trim justifies its title with a front anti-roll bar, VW's XDS brake-based limited-slip differential, and standard 17-inch alloys. On the feature side are heated front seats, stainless-steel pedal trim, black window trim and mirror caps, and a 60/40 folding rear seat; all in, it's a steal for a moderate price increase. However, if power seats, remote start, satellite radio, and wireless charging are dealbreakers, you'll need to step up to the SE.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2026 Jetta carries over with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed manual is now only available in the Jetta GLI, so the eight-speed automatic handles gear swaps regardless of trim. In our initial test drive, we found that the updated model drives much the same as before. The chassis is tuned more for a quiet and comfortable ride than razor-edge handling, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining within its limits; just know that its steering isn't as precise as its GLI sibling's or even the Mazda 3's. In this case, "performance" means a pleasant personality that doesn't mind stretching its legs when called upon.
0–60-MPH Times
The last Jetta SEL we strapped our test gear to knocked off the dash to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.
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Volkswagen
More on the Jetta Sedan
2025 Jetta 1.5T Doesn't Save the Manuals
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Jetta yet, but last year's Sport, SE, and SEL trims tied for top efficiency honors with an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. The base Jetta interestingly received a slightly lower rating, checking in with 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. We're pleased to report that previous Jetta models with the automatic exceeded their EPA Highway estimates in our 75-mph fuel-economy route, returning an impressive 42 mpg. For more information about the Jetta's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Jetta provides a satisfying amount of front passenger head, shoulder, and legroom. The rear passenger compartment is reasonably roomy as well. The interior's design is contemporary, if not particularly fashionable, and although the feature content increases with each higher trim, every cabin caters to the driver and boasts excellent outward visibility. The base S has cloth upholstery, manually adjustable seats, useful door pockets, and a deep center console bin. Features including ambient interior lighting, wireless device charging, and ventilated front seats are reserved for the most expensive models. Though the Golf GTI hatchback trades partially on its cargo capacity, our testing revealed the Jetta held seven bags out of sight in its trunk, whereas the Golf swallowed only five behind its rear seat. Likewise, the Jetta held three extra bags more than the Golf (18 total) with the back seats folded, so there's no need to feel like you're forgoing cargo space by selecting the Jetta over a Golf.
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Volkswagen
Infotainment and Connectivity
Jetta S, Sport, and SE trims get a basic 8-inch digital gauge cluster; the SEL gets a 10.3-inch fully customizable setup. Thankfully, the tiny but useful hard knobs for volume and tuning on either side of the touchscreen remain. We're less excited about the exit of the previous Jetta's simple and familiar three-dial HVAC control setup, replaced here with a more finicky touch setup as seen in other VW products. A 4-speaker audio system is standard, the SE improves things with a six-speaker setup, and the SEL gets an eight-speaker Beats Audio rig. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are baked in (wireless is standard on the SE and SEL), and VW's Car-Net feature allows for gesture controls such as swiping and pinch-to-zoom. Two USB-C ports are standard. Every Jetta has a mobile hotspot as long as you're willing to pay for a subscription-based data plan, and wireless charging is standard on the top two trim levels.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Even the entry-level Jetta comes with a handful of standard driver-assistance technology, and upgraded equipment such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are all available. For more information about the Jetta's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Volkswagen has an above-average limited warranty and below-average powertrain coverage. To offset the latter, the company provides some complimentary maintenance.
Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2025 Volkswagen Jetta
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base: S, $23,220; Sport, $24,500; SE, $26,200; SEL, $30,225
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 91 in3, 1498 cm3
Power: 158 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.7 in
Length: 186.5 in
Width: 70.8 in
Height: 57.7 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 51/43 ft3
Trunk Volume: 14 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3100 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 7.1 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.5 sec
Top Speed: 126 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 33/29/39–40 mpg
More Features and Specs