Volkswagen’s Jetta compact sedan has always been a consistent sales generator for the German car giant. This is even as SUVs and CUVs expanded their presence in the market which also put the squeeze on compact cars in the process. The company recently gave the Jetta its most comprehensive update yet for 2025 with VW sharpening the car’s good traits while also addressing some flaws as it attempts to bring balance and newfound poise to the Jetta.
Sharper styling enhances Jetta’s personality
It’s important to note that since this is merely a mid-cycle update and not an outright reboot, the 2025 Jetta shares plenty of the core essentials with the outgoing 2024 model. However, the headlights and the front grille get a new design with the reworked front bumper giving Sport models like our tester more aggression and a bolder personality. SEL models like our tester also get access to a small lightbar that spans the entire width of the front grille with a similar bar being added to the rear taillights. Several new wheel designs are also making their debut with the Sport and SE models getting 17-inch alloys while the SEL gets bigger 18-inch wheels. The range-topping GLI also gets 18-inch wheels but these models get exclusive designs and the GLI itself is marketed differently from the rest of the Jetta family.
The S is still the base model but budget buyers will most likely be attracted to a Sport model which balances the right amount of style and value while also presenting fewer compromises for the consumer as a whole. With models like the Hyundai Elantra and the Honda Civic still in the marketplace, the Jetta’s new suit of clothes will finally allow it to stand out better in the crowd while maintaining its high level of poise and maturity.
Jetta interior continues to deliver the goods
Like the European market Golf, the Jetta continues to deliver an interior that’s surprisingly roomy and comfortable with good amounts of head, leg, and knee room in the front seats. The rear seats are also spacious though in traditional compact car fashion, they are still a bit too cramped for really tall passengers. The overall design is modern but unless you move into the GLI, the Jetta’s restrained approach can make certain trim levels feel a bit boring to look at. The base S models get simple cloth seats, but SEL models get leatherette heated and cooled front seats with the rear seats also getting heat.
SEL models like our example get a bigger 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster but all Jetta models now get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which supposedly benefits from updates to the programming and software.
The screen looks great and the menu layout is pretty good but VW’s continued fascination with touch-sensitive control layouts also plays a role in making the overall user experience worse with the new layout for the climate controls replacing a simple three-dial setup. The eight-speaker Beats sound system in our tester sounded good and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are baked in too. The Jetta’s trunk can also swallow plenty of cargo including a large load of groceries.
Performance sees the biggest changes
The bulk of the changes for 2025 focus on the performance hardware with the carryover 158-hp turbocharged four-cylinder now being mated to an eight-speed automatic only with the six-speed manual now being reserved for the GLI moving forward. The updated model shares some of its core driving demeanor with the outgoing one but changes to the steering and suspension did give our SEL-grade tester sharper handling in certain driving situations and better responses in sharp corners.
The 1.5-liter is also a spirited engine but it will never be accused of upstaging the GLI’s engine either with the 1.5-liter in our SEL model needing 7.1 seconds to make the jog to 60 mph with the eight-speed automatic doing a good job of giving the right gear to the driver when they need it most of the time. Fuel economy is also a strong suit but while the S gets an EPA-rated 31/41 mpg in city and freeway driving, Sport, SE, and SEL models have equipment differences which causes their figures to dip a bit to 29/40 mpg in the same categories.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta starts at $21,995 for the base S model with Sport models having a slightly higher base MSRP of $23,275 before taxes and fees are factored in. The SE and the SEL are also under $30,000 but an SEL like our tester can cross over that figure if it’s equipped with optional extras.
This pricing ladder reflects the company’s commitment into giving more to consumers for less money which helps the Jetta be a better fit when compared to its rivals. While it outshines the Civic in regards to standard equipment, this task gets more difficult when compared with the Elantra which also comes with a high amount of standard equipment but at the cost of having funkier-looking exterior styling. The updated 2024 Volkswagen Jetta is worth a look and if you’re willing to live with some of the quirks that exist in Volkswagen’s haptic feedback controls, the amount of space you get in the cabin and the spirited 1.5-liter will be welcome diversions.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.