2025 Volkswagen Jetta Review

The front face has been slightly changed to include new headlight and grille designs. Above the Sport trim level, a light bar that goes across the grille can be added. A new trunk lid links the taillights with a full-width lightbar that comes as standard. New metal wheels of 17 inches for the SE model and 18 inches for the SEL have been added to the rolling stock. The color range has grown with the addition of Monument Gray and Monterey Blue Pearl, two new colors that have a dark, aristocratic look. There are changes inside the car, like a new dash design with three bars for the air vents and the part in front of the passenger seat. Volkswagen has a built-in 8-inch screen for entertainment, and the temperature control panel is located below it. Satellite radio, wireless charging, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity through wireless charging used to only be available on the SEL models. These features are now standard on all SE cars.

Pros

• New style and technology.
• The Jetta GLI is fun.
• Costs are fair. 

Cons 

• The GLI only comes with a manual gearbox. 
• Not an increase in power. 
• It’s the last fuel economy that was better.

The 2025 Jetta will still have the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only car with a six-speed manual transmission is now the Jetta GLI. All trim levels can now use the eight-speed automatic gearbox. During our first test drive, we saw that the updated model works almost the same as the old one. The chassis isn’t as accurate as the GLI’s or even the Mazda 3, but it’s still fun to drive within its limits because it’s tuned for a smooth and quiet ride rather than lightning-fast speed. “Performance,” in this case, means having a friendly attitude and being willing to go the extra mile when needed.

There are even some driving assistance features built into the base Jetta. You can add on more advanced features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance for an extra fee. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about the Jetta’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are: 

• As standard, the car has automatic emergency brakes and a forward collision warning.
• Blind-spot detection and back cross-traffic alert come as standard.
• Adaptive speed control is made possible by stop-and-go technology.

Like the Golf, the Jetta has a lot of head, shoulder, and headroom for people sitting in the front. Also, there is a good amount of space for passengers in the back. With each higher grade, there are more features, but the design inside is modern, if not very pretty. All cabins are focused on the driver and have great visibility outdoors. The basic S model comes with a large storage bin in the center console, cloth seats that can be adjusted by hand, and useful door pockets. Some of the features that are only available on the most expensive models are heated front seats, wireless device charging, and lighting that changes throughout the car. Even though the Golf GTI hatchback has less storage room, our tests showed that the Jetta could hide seven bags in its trunk, while the Golf could only fit five under the back seat. You don’t have to worry about losing cargo room if you choose the Jetta over the Golf. With the back seats folded, the Jetta can hold three more bags than the Golf, for a total of 18 bags.

The 2025 model keeps the Jetta’s low-cost style. The base S with automatic gets the best gas mileage rate, with 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. The Jetta Sport, SE, and SEL trims get only 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, which is a huge drop from their previous numbers. The old Jetta models with the automatic got an impressive 42 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is better than their EPA Highway numbers.

The Jetta S, Sport, and SE trims all come with an 8-inch digital cluster of gauges. The SEL, on the other hand, has a 10.3-inch cluster that can be set up in any way you want. The 6.5-inch touchscreen will be replaced by the 8-inch touchscreen across the entire line-up in 2025. The small but useful level and tuning knobs that are on either side of the touchscreen are still there, which is good. We aren’t as excited about the change from the old Jetta’s simple three-dial HVAC control system to this more delicate touch choice, which is also found in other VW cars. The base model comes with four speakers, the SE model has six speakers, and the SEL model has an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. VW’s Car-Net technology includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wireless is standard on the SE and SEL models). It also lets you use gestures to control the car, such as pinching to zoom and tapping. There are two normal USB-C ports. There is a mobile hotspot in every Jetta as long as you pay for an internet plan. The top two trim levels also come with wireless charging as standard.

The most recent SEL that we put our test gear on had an automatic transmission and showed that it could go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

The great price on the S model makes it hard to pass up, but the Sport trim is a bit more expensive but still a great deal. The Sport trim will have nice-looking black cloth seats with a black design raised in them starting in 2025. These seats, which VW calls “molekular,” were first seen on the GLI 40th Edition. With 17-inch metal wheels, a front anti-roll bar, and a limited-slip differential based on VW’s XDS brake system, the car lives up to its “Sport” name. The extras include heated front seats, black window trim, and mirror caps, stainless steel pedal trim, and a rear seat that folds down 60/40. This is a great deal for the small price rise. If you want power seats, satellite radio, wireless charging, and remote start, you’ll have to go up to the SE type. There are other good options at that price besides the SEL, which has high-end music, a sunroof, heated leather seats in the front and back, and GPS.