2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

2021 Volkswagen Jetta
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
$18,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
$18,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview

MSRP

$18,995

MSRP

$23,995

Average price

$23,975

Average price

$24,264

Listings

280

Listings

96
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.5 out of 10

2021 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews Summary

Small cars aren't asked to do much beyond the basics: provide efficient, reliable transportation at a manageable price. Plenty of models fit this form, and in some rare cases, they manage to do it while also being fun to drive, like the Mazda3. In other cases, the vehicle manages to feel more upscale than the competition, like the Honda Civic. But the Volkswagen Jetta's legacy has historically been defined by its ability to offer both an upscale interior and a rewarding driving experience.

But then something happened with the Jetta. Starting with the 2011 model year, Volkswagen attempted to broaden the Jetta's appeal, and until 2018 we were left with a drab interior, an underpowered engine, and an uninspiring driving experience. VW’s hallmark was always that its cars felt a little special, so by adopting a homogenous look and feel, VW removed what made the Jetta unique and desirable to its fans.

So Volkswagen had some work to do with the seventh-generation Jetta, which launched in 2019. Does this car move the Jetta name back toward driving refinement and upscale feel? Or does it continue to disappoint as just another bland entrant among small cars?

2021 Volkswagen Passat Reviews Summary

In 2011, when a Volkswagen Passat was launched customized for the North American market, VW thought the sedan was the key to domination. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default mid-size sedan choice for most buyers at that time, after all, particularly in the U.S. where mid-size cars were much more strongly preferred. A lot has changed since then: SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan. Both the Passat and the Arteon are nearing the end of their lives here in Canada as they’ll be discontinued at the end of the 2022 model year.

The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously available Comfortline trim level is gone, leaving just the Highline and Execline models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard. Our test car was a U.S.-spec SE model, the closest Canadian equivalent of which would be the Highline, though some equipment varies.

No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs

Engine

1.4L 147 hp I4

Engine

2.0L 174 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

147 hp @ 5000 rpm

Horsepower

174 hp @ 5200 rpm

MPG City

29

MPG City

24

MPG Highway

39

MPG Highway

36
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
$18,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
$18,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview
MSRP
$18,995
$23,995
Average price
$23,975
$24,264
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.5
4.5
Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Read full review

6.5 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Summary

Small cars aren't asked to do much beyond the basics: provide efficient, reliable transportation at a manageable price. Plenty of models fit this form, and in some rare cases, they manage to do it while also being fun to drive, like the Mazda3. In other cases, the vehicle manages to feel more upscale than the competition, like the Honda Civic. But the Volkswagen Jetta's legacy has historically been defined by its ability to offer both an upscale interior and a rewarding driving experience.

But then something happened with the Jetta. Starting with the 2011 model year, Volkswagen attempted to broaden the Jetta's appeal, and until 2018 we were left with a drab interior, an underpowered engine, and an uninspiring driving experience. VW’s hallmark was always that its cars felt a little special, so by adopting a homogenous look and feel, VW removed what made the Jetta unique and desirable to its fans.

So Volkswagen had some work to do with the seventh-generation Jetta, which launched in 2019. Does this car move the Jetta name back toward driving refinement and upscale feel? Or does it continue to disappoint as just another bland entrant among small cars?

In 2011, when a Volkswagen Passat was launched customized for the North American market, VW thought the sedan was the key to domination. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default mid-size sedan choice for most buyers at that time, after all, particularly in the U.S. where mid-size cars were much more strongly preferred. A lot has changed since then: SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan. Both the Passat and the Arteon are nearing the end of their lives here in Canada as they’ll be discontinued at the end of the 2022 model year.

The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously available Comfortline trim level is gone, leaving just the Highline and Execline models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard. Our test car was a U.S.-spec SE model, the closest Canadian equivalent of which would be the Highline, though some equipment varies.

Video
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
1.4L 147 hp I4
2.0L 174 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
147 hp @ 5000 rpm
174 hp @ 5200 rpm
MPG City
29
24
MPG Highway
39
36
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2022 Subaru Impreza vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Chrysler 3002022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Chrysler 3002022 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Chrysler 300 vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Volkswagen Jetta2022 BMW 5 Series vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2022 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Lexus ES vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta2021 Honda Accord vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Chrysler 3002020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 BMW 5 Series2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Subaru Impreza2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Audi A42020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Subaru Impreza2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra2020 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Honda Civic2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Honda Civic2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Lexus ES2019 Volkswagen Passat vs 2019 Honda Accord2019 MINI Cooper vs 2020 Volkswagen Jetta2019 Lexus ES vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 MINI Cooper vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2019 Lexus ES2019 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Chrysler 300 vs 2020 Volkswagen Jetta2019 Chevrolet Impala vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Chrysler 300 vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2019 Chevrolet Impala vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat