Key Points
- Cars.com editors liked the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta for its trim-level lineup and options, responsive powertrain, controlled ride and handling, new infotainment system, interior accommodations and value.
- However, editors weren’t fond of the small touchscreen, uncomfortable driver’s seat, and the lack of all-wheel drive or a hybrid powertrain.
The Volkswagen Jetta is one of a dwindling number of compact sedans still on the market as buyers and manufacturers alike have largely abandoned the category in favor of SUVs. But for some drivers, a sedan can be a more affordable and more fuel-efficient alternative to an SUV, and the Jetta’s lower center of gravity and sporty demeanor also make it more fun to drive. A freshening for the 2025 model year brought an improved infotainment system and other updates, adding to the appeal. (It continues for 2026 with no significant changes.)
Related: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta Review: The Merits of Quiet Competence
The update also brought new front and rear bumpers, though few will be likely to notice the difference. What buyers are more likely to spot is the Jetta’s relatively low starting price and solid value, even if its mid-pack standing can’t match the reliability of Japanese brands or the tech of South Korean competitors.
Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman spent a week getting to know a new Jetta in the upscale SEL trim, and he found some nice surprises along with some disappointments. Tap the link above to read his expert review, or keep reading for a quicker look at six things we like about the 2025 VW Jetta and three things we do not.
What Do We Like About the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
1. Lots of Choices
Jetta buyers have plenty of flavors to choose from, including five trims ranging from basic to the sporty GLI. The base S trim is the value leader, which is nicely equipped and has a competitive starting price of less than $25,000. The Sport, SE and SEL trims add features as you go, with few stand-alone options available. All share the same turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission; the GLI gets its own engine, suspension and distinctive trim. No hybrid powertrain is available with any Jetta, however.
2. Lively Powertrain
While some buyers might prefer more powertrain choices, the turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in all trims but the GLI feels surprisingly peppy and responsive for its size. With 158 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque on tap, output is relatively modest by today’s standards. But the transmission is well matched with the engine, helping to maximize power and response throughout the rev range as well as deliver smooth power around town or on the highway.
3. Refined Ride and Handling
Balancing a supple ride with responsive handling, our Jetta SEL test car felt refined and controlled, revealing its European roots even as the Jetta has grown more Americanized over time. The SEL trim comes standard with 18-inch wheels and tires, and they deliver a quiet, absorbent ride while still making any commute more entertaining. Drivers looking for maximum performance should go for the GLI.
4. Improved Infotainment
The 2025 freshening brings a new multimedia system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen that’s now standard with all trims. While not as large as the screens in many competitors, the Jetta’s system is easy to use and retains physical controls for some functions. There are also actual buttons for the steering-wheel controls as opposed to dreaded touch-sensitive panels. This is a welcome departure from other recent new VW models, including the Atlas and ID.4 SUVs, which have both virtually eliminated physical controls.
5. Inviting Interior
The interior is spacious and well finished, with a clean, modern design and controls angled toward the driver for easier reach. The Jetta’s upright design and sedan profile provide decent headroom and legroom for taller occupants front and rear, and the interior materials have a premium, put-together look and feel.
6. Value
With a starting price roughly half the $50,000 average new-car price, the base Jetta S offers an attractive value and includes such standard features as alloy wheels, the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, cloth seats, rain-sensing wipers and heated side mirrors. Our loaded SEL test car came to $30,225 (price includes destination) and included a power driver’s seat with memory, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, a premium BeatsAudio system and adaptive cruise control.
Read More About the Volkswagen Jetta:
- How Much Is the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
- 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Quick Spin: The Adult Compact Sports Sedan Option
- Mid-Size Sedans Struggle to Protect Rear-Seat Occupants in Revised Crash Test
- Research the Volkswagen Jetta
What Do We Dislike About the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
1. No AWD or Hybrid
All-wheel drive isn’t essential, but it is something many buyers demand and is offered by some of the Jetta’s competitors. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are also offered by others for increased fuel economy, while some rivals even offer all-electric powertrains. VW offers none of these with the Jetta.
2. Short on Tech
We’re pleased overall with the Jetta’s updated infotainment system, but state of the art it is not. Its 8-inch touchscreen is small by current standards, and its menu structure and functionality trail more advanced systems from Hyundai and Kia, among others.
3. Driver-Seat Comfort
We only had one notable complaint with the Jetta interior, but it’s a significant one. We had a hard time finding a comfortable driver’s seating position no matter how much we fussed with adjustments. As in some other VW offerings, we found the seat bottom cushions don’t have as many control options as we’d like.
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