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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda32020 Volkswagen Jetta Review
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is a great compact sedan with handsome styling, well-appointed interior, good tech, and an efficient powertrain.
What’s New for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta?
In the compact sedan segment, competition is fierce. The Jetta has long held its own by delivering a distinctively Germanic driving experience with a sense of solidity and stability not felt in its rivals. The latest 2020 Volkswagen Jetta continues on this tradition with an attractive exterior that looks crisp and modern, but is free from gimmicks. The Jetta has a surprisingly spacious interior, plus a fuel sipping engine that still delivers plenty of poke. The whole package is topped off by Volkswagen’s latest driver aid technologies that help make each drive a little safer.
2020 Volkswagen Jetta – media.vw.com | Shop 2020 Volkswagen Jetta on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Sharp exterior styling
Impressive interior space
Responsive infotainment system
Neat ambient lighting
Engine could be more powerful
Not exactly fast
2020 Jetta Specs
- 147 horsepower from base engine
- 184 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 7 available trims
- 14.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Digital Cockpit replaces traditional gauges
- Availableforward collision mitigation
- 4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty
2020 Volkswagen Jetta Powertrain
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta provides a very competent driving experience, with good acceleration, confident if not especially sporty handling, and a smooth ride. The engine is a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder developing a respectful 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to the front wheels exclusively. The engine provides good response and a solid amount of mid-range torque to help you get going. The six-speed manual transmission is great for drivers that enjoy rowing their own gears. But, it’s hard to beat the convenience and smooth shifting of the eight-speed automatic, and you can still select gears yourself thanks to the Tiptronic function.
The suspension provides a smooth and comfortable ride that won’t beat you up, but is tuned to still provide stable cornering and athletic responses. The available XDS differential helps the Jetta put power to the road for even better traction when driving spiritedly. When it comes time to cruise, the available adaptive cruise control helps to take the stress out of long drives or the stop and go of heavy traffic. There’s a reason we mention it as one of the best entry level cars from Volkswagen.
There’s also the Jetta GLI with its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired with the same manual transmission option found in the standard Jetta or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as an option. This model also swaps in some summer tires and a sport turned suspension. It’s a lively driving experience in comparison to the standard model, and moving up to the Autobahn with its adaptive dampers further increases that sentiment.
2020 Volkswagen Jetta Fuel Economy & MPG
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta returns pretty impressive fuel economy figures, with no difference between the two transmission options in the EPA’s test results. The Jetta achieves 30 mpg when driving in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 34 mpg. These ratings are right in line with many of the other compact sedans on sale today. Jumping into the Jetta GLI reduces these numbers just a bit, with the manual option being capable of 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Swapping in the dual-clutch transmission only drops the highway estimate a single digit.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The interior of the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is a surprisingly spacious place to pass the miles, with interior space approaching that of a mid-sized sedan rather than a compact. There is a generous 38.5-inches of front headroom and 41.1-inches of front seat leg room, while the EPA rates the interior volume at 94.7 cubic feet. The trunk also holds a good deal of stuff with 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
The cabin boasts nice materials as well. While the base S trim gets cloth seats, you can step up to V-Tex synthetic leather that feels just as nice as the real thing. Or you can opt for premium leather if you want to really indulge. The Jetta is offered with other niceties like a power panoramic sunroof to let in light and fresh air, available heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, perfect for taking the bite out of cold mornings. Your rear seat passengers are even catered for with available heated rear seats. To help you set the right kind of mood, Jetta also is also offered with ambient lighting, with ten color options to choose from.
Entertainment & Technology
Having good technology is becoming a big priority for car makers these days, and the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta offers solid tech. One standout feature is the Digital Cockpit which replaces traditional gauges with a fully-digital display that can show the things you expect like revs and speed, but can also display things like your navigation directions to help keep your eyes on the road. Upper trim levels come equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Even if you go for a lower trim with the 6.5-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, making it easy to connect your smartphone and access your favorite apps and media. Technology can update fast, so be sure to see how the new Jetta compares to a used Jetta here.
Safety Features
Safety should be a major consideration in every car purchase, and the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta earned a 5-star rating from the IIHS. Volkswagen includes some handy safety technologies like a blind spot monitoring system to alert you to vehicles you might not see. The forward collision warning and automatic braking system alerts you when it detects a likely collision and can even apply the brakes to help mitigate damage should a collision occur. The available lane keeping assist help prevent you from drifting out of your lane and the adaptive cruise control automatically adjust the car’s speed to match the traffic ahead.
2020 Volkswagen Jetta Trims and Pricing
S – $18,895
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta base level S trim comes with the 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is standard across all the non-GLI trims. The S also comes with a six-speed manual transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels, and LED taillights and headlights. The interior gets cloth seats, manual climate controls, a rear-view camera, 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a multi-function steering wheel.
SE – $22,645
The SE trim upgrades to an eight-speed automatic transmission, heated side mirrors, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior gets V-Tex leatherette seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and heated front seats.
R-Line – $22,695
The R-Line trim gets unique R-Line badging, black accents around the exterior, and a sportier rear valance. The R-Line also benefits from 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, the six-speed manual transmission, and the XDS cross differential. Inside you’ll find two-tone seats and a black headliner.
SEL – $25,495
The SEL trim adds luxury features like a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and ambient interior lighting with ten different colors. It also benefits from technology like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, a wireless phone charger, and BeatsAudio premium sound system.
GLI S – $27,165
The first of two trims available on the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the S trim. Jetta GLI models swap in a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that can either be paired with the standard manual or a slick seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The GLI S also adds on some sporty exterior styling, a sport tuned suspension, LED exterior lighting, a unique grille design, a panoramic sunroof, wide 8-inch alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler.
SEL Premium – $27,945
At the top of the standard Volkswagen Jetta lineup is the SEL Premium trim which adds a memory function for the side mirrors, leather seats with sportier bolstering, and ventilated front seats.
GLI Autobahn – $30,865
The GLI Autobahn is the best performer of the group. It receives all the items form the GLI S and tacks on adaptive dampers, BeatsAudio premium sound system, the Digital Cockpit, wireless charging, and leather upholstery. The GLI Autobahn also opens up the optional Black Package that adds black accenting all around and some unique black 18-inch wheels.
Warranties
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complimentary maintenance is covered for 2 years or 20,000 miles. The coverage and added maintenance are adequate, but if you’re really interested in great warranty coverage, you’d be better off looking at one of the Jetta’s Korean rival Hyundai that offers a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 3 years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2020 Volkswagen Jetta – media.vw.com | Shop 2020 Volkswagen Jetta on Carsforsale.com
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is a great choice if you want something efficient and spacious. The exterior design is attractive and the interior offers lots of space to spread out, impressive technology, and plenty of comfort. In a world where its competitors are trying to shout louder about how good they are with funky designs, the Jetta is quiet and confident in its approach. Plus, there’s always the Jetta GLI if you’re looking to have a some added performance during your drives.
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