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Starting at
Starting at
| 184 | Torque (lb-ft) | 126-151 |
| 43 [b] | Fuel Economy (hwy mpg) | 40 |
| 14.1 | Max Cargo (cu.ft.) | 13.1 |
Are you looking for a new sedan? If so, you’re not alone, and simply put, there’s no lack of models to choose from either. Chances are this has made the shopping process harder than you anticipated, but you’re finally narrowing it down to a couple of models. While researching which sedan is better, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Toyota Corolla is a comparison that might have caught your attention. Volkswagen and Toyota are two manufacturers that operate on different stretches of the Earth, but this doesn’t stop the vehicles they both produce from sharing more than one similarity. Although Toyota is located in Japan and Volkswagen operates out of Germany, vehicles such as the Jetta and Corolla resonate with drivers from around the world, including here in the United States.
The Jetta and Corolla have similar starting prices, with the Volkswagen sedan sporting an MSRP of $20,365 and the Toyota Corolla starting at $20,175.[a] Four trim levels for the Jetta and five for the Corolla means there’s a fair amount of options available to you during the shopping experience, with the Sport, SE, and SEL following the base S Jetta model. The L is the base Corolla model, and additional trim levels include the LE, SE, XLE, and, lastly, the XSE. Both base models aren’t at too much of a disadvantage to their pricier counterparts as they retain a handful of features, but when spending more on pricier trims, you’ll inevitably begin seeing more luxurious components too.
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta sticks with one powertrain configuration across all four trims. With the Corolla, there are two powertrains to select from; however, neither of them is turbocharged. The engine included with the Jetta powertrain is a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 that you can pair with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. Because this is the only available engine, every Jetta model produces 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. For a stock engine, the performance gets the job done admirably, and the choice between manual and automatic transmissions opens the door for more types of drivers being interested in this sedan.
Keeping the base 1.8L I-4 engine in your Corolla with its standard CVT, Toyota’s sedan creates 139 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque. Drivers may find the two transmissions in the 2022 Jetta punchier, and manual-transmission enthusiasts will steer clear of the base Corolla powertrain altogether. For a non-turbocharged engine, the 1.8L I-4 is impressively fuel-efficient with its EPA-estimated ratings of 30 MPG city and 38 MPG highway. As appealing as these fuel ratings are, they’re still less than the 2022 Jetta, with its turnout of 29 MPG in the city and 43 MPG on the highway with a manual transmission or 31 MPG city and 41 MPG highway with an automatic transmission.[b]
While the second and more powerful engine you can fit inside your Corolla enhances performance, it’s still not as good as the Jetta base engine except for horsepower. With 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, the 2.0L I-4 engine available to Corolla drivers manages to produce nearly 7% more horsepower, albeit it still has nearly 18% less torque. Unlike the base Corolla engine, the 2.0L I-4 can be fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission instead of Toyota’s standard CVT. Ultimately, the stronger engine brings performance closer to the Jetta, but it’s still far from an identical match, with the Corolla falling short in a couple of categories, both torque, and fuel efficiency, with EPA-estimated ratings of 31 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway.
The interior of your sedan isn’t something you should take lightly while shopping. The cabin in your sedan is a link between yourself and every available feature for your vehicle. Nowadays, interiors have become quite advanced, and it directly benefits you, the driver. Volkswagen, in particular, is often held in high regard by millions of drivers for its top-notch interiors, thanks in part to phenomenal German engineering.
The base trim levels offer similar amenities across the board, including 6-way manually-adjustable cloth driver’s chairs, but you can swap these with authentic leather in the Jetta. By comparison, the only other option for the Corolla is synthetic leather, lending Toyota’s sedan a cheaper overall feel and look when kitted out. Leather-wrapped steering wheels are available on both, but it’s more of a unified design with authentic leather than the leatherette found in the Corolla. It’s also worth noting the manual chairs can be swapped out for power-adjustable driver seats on each vehicle.
Both the Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla seat a maximum of five passengers, and everyone will fit similarly enough between the two. Cargo space is in favor of the Jetta with 14.1 cu.ft. of available space against the Corolla’s 13.1 cu.ft. With sedans being smaller vehicles in general, an extra foot of cargo space is important to have, and the Jetta has you covered.
Sound systems have also come a long way in a short period. Upgrading either sedan from its base configurations, you can opt for premium audio systems with nine integrated speakers on both the Jetta and Corolla, the latter using a system from JBL. Between the two sound systems, drivers who like rich bass and a clear sound should certainly consider the Jetta upgraded audio system, provided courtesy of BeatsAudio. Historically, BeatsAudio has provided some of the deepest sounding bass drivers in the industry, and the built-in subwoofer provided by 400W of power within the Jetta is a prime example of this.
Additionally, BeatsAudio is a subsidiary of Apple, whose software you can also find in the form of Apple CarPlay in both infotainment centers. BeatsAudio paired with the intuitive yet robust nature of Apple CarPlay is a match made in heaven, and of course, Android Auto is standard too. The Jetta and Corolla come with built-in Bluetooth, and what’ll likely be a surprise to many, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspots come standard.
Screen sizes differ slightly between the two, with the Jetta offering either 6.5 or 8-inch touchscreens on their media centers against the Corolla 7 or 8-inch screens. Against all of the other features, the size of the screens, in this case, is mostly subjective. However, considering iPhones accounted for 46.9% of cell phone users in the United States in 2021, according to Statista, the combination of Apple CarPlay and BeatsAudio will surely benefit millions of drivers.
Volkswagen and Toyota are two seasoned manufacturers, and the vehicles they produce are built with decades of research and development behind them. As such, advanced safety suites have become the standard in how we partly measure the reliability of the latest vehicles released. Both the Jetta and Corolla include feature-rich safety packages, meaning a handful of useful features come standard, but more can be acquired via optional upgrades. Many of the standard safety features are unified across the board, with both vehicles offering comparable experiences.
Features you can expect to find on the Jetta and Corolla include forward collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection, falling under different safety systems provided by each brand. These three features are used to prevent front-end collisions by regaining the driver’s attention through an audible alert, followed by the vehicle’s brakes being autonomously applied if your reaction time isn’t quick enough.
Both the Jetta and Corolla can also be fitted with lane keeping assistance, automatic high beams, and Adaptive Cruise Control, the latter being known as Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control on Toyota’s sedan. Lane keeping assistance will slightly adjust your steering on the freeway if you’re unknowingly drifting into another lane, and automatic high beams remove the need for the driver to manually adjust their high beams when they’re needed. Lastly, the specialized cruise control systems in place for both vehicles mean your sedan will reduce its speed according to the distance between yourself and the other driver but will get you back up to speed when allowed.
As for other features you may want to add to your sedan, there’s blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Blind spot monitoring is important to have because it’ll warn you of vehicles riding alongside your blind spot to help you make an informed decision on when you’ll switch lanes. Rear cross-traffic alert, on the other hand, is a large help for drivers reversing their vehicle, whether it’s into a parking lot or busy street, for example. When reversing, your vehicle will identify vehicles coming from either side, and it’ll sound an alert, which is your sign not to proceed until the car passes you.
You wouldn’t eat at a restaurant you don’t like, nor would you purchase a bed from an electronics store, so why not treat your vehicle purchase with the same care? At Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen, our dealership provides a fine selection of brand new Volkswagen vehicles, and you’ll find that our lot includes a host of used vehicles.
The quality of our service here at Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen is well known in our community, and our reputation as a trustworthy Volkswagen dealership speaks for itself with the help of our expert sales team. Whether it’s a question about a brand new Volkswagen or an inquiry about one of our many pre-owned offerings, a member of our sales team will be your guide throughout the process. Plus, our on-site service department will be here for you when it’s time to get your vehicle serviced or repaired, with all of the work being handled by one of our certified technicians. There’s always something new to look at here, so come visit us to check out the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta or any of our other great inventory options.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
