2026 Volkswagen Jetta: Ageing Sedan Enjoys Impressive Growth

Even though the current generation is getting fairly old (launched as a 2019 model, it received updates for 2022 and 2025), the Volkswagen Jetta is on a mission. Of course, it can't expect to become as popular as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, or even the Hyundai Elantra which seems comfortably settled in third place. However, the German sedan has just climbed to fourth place in compact car sales in Canada, as the company predicted 18 months ago.

That’s right: thanks to impressive jumps of 44.4% in 2024 and 34.7% in 2025, bringing its total to 15,849 units, the Jetta now surpasses the Kia K4 and Mazda3 (the latter, which is just as old, enjoyed the strongest growth last year). It’s not exactly luring customers away from the brand's two smaller SUVs, as the Taos and Tiguan also have seen significant sales growth, but it clearly shows that many people are eager for an affordable Volkswagen car since the discontinuation of the standard Golf in Canada. Time will tell if and to what extent this momentum continues in 2026.

Read also

• 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI: Simplified Lineup With a Big Choice to Make
• 2025 Volkswagen Jetta: Gunning for Fourth Place

Happy Medium

The recent success is quite remarkable when you consider that the Volkswagen Jetta is limited to a four-door body style while several rivals also offer a five-door alternative that maximizes cargo space and versatility. We’re not even mentioning all the SUVs and crossovers that are all the rage these days. What’s more, the Jetta doesn't feature a hybrid system or even all-wheel drive as an option. And despite the nice styling updates for 2025, you have to admit there are many more inspiring and more distinctive designs—both inside and out—on the market.

So, where’s the appeal in the Jetta? For starters, it boasts a spacious interior that's perfectly suited to a small family or four adults. Rest assured, legroom and headroom in the rear seats are ample. Meanwhile, the trunk has a large opening that makes it easy to load or unload items, although the 399-litre capacity is actually a tad below average.

Up front, the driving environment is cleverly designed and set up, with a comfortable steering wheel, straightforward controls, basic yet easy-to-read displays and an ergonomic centre stack featuring an 8-inch multimedia screen angled towards the driver. There’s one exception, mind you: the touch-sensitive buttons for temperature and ventilation, though modern-looking, are not very user-friendly while driving.

Next, we need to emphasize the Jetta's excellent level of comfort, with highly accommodating bucket seats that prove ideal for long road trips, as well as the quiet cabin that reduces noise at high speeds. Material selection overall is commendable, too.

Under the hood, the 158 horsepower generated by the turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine is adequate for normal daily driving but left us wanting more, especially since the same engine in the Taos now produces 174 horsepower. Fortunately, the Jetta gets a boost from its 184 lb-ft of torque, available between 1,750-4,000 rpm, which results in pleasant acceleration off the line and when passing slower traffic. This is where it has an advantage over Korean competitors and a few others from Japan. And if you crave more performance, there's always the Jetta GLI (228 horsepower, 258 lb-ft), the sporty sedan that continues to offer a manual gearbox even in 2026.

Fuel consumption is officially rated at a combined 7.2 L/100 km, including less than 6 L/100 km on the highway, nearly matching the ratings achieved by CVT-equipped compact cars. The Jetta relies on an eight-speed automatic transmission that is considerably more enjoyable despite occasional hesitations at low speeds.

Which Jetta Should You Buy?

For customers seeking good value, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta delivers. Pricing ranges from $26,495 to $32,595 (excluding fees totaling $2,685), which represents a $700 hike in base trim. The Trendline model comes with small 16-inch wheels that compromise handling, is only available in white, grey or black, and offers a limited array of safety and driver-assistance features, but other than that it remains decently equipped.

If it were our money on the line, we’d pick the mid-grade Jetta Comfortline, which adds 17-inch wheels, remote starter, six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, as well as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and emergency assist.

Tacking on the Sport Package doesn't just enhance the car’s looks—it provides even better value and financially makes more sense than the top-of-the-line Highline model, which will nonetheless appeal to some buyers with its leather upholstery and heated rear seats. For just $1,600 more, you get many of the same extras as the fully loaded Jetta, such as 18-inch black wheels, heated windshield wipers, power sunroof, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-colour ambient lighting. Oh, and let’s not forget the Cross Differential System (XDS) that improves agility in corners.

Our Verdict

The Volkswagen Jetta isn't the best compact car in any particular area, but it strikes an interesting balance. You’re out of luck if you prefer hatchbacks (you'd have to look at a Taos starting at $30,095 or be prepared to spend $36,895 for a Golf GTI), but it impresses with its ample space, solid build quality and above-average driving dynamics. With reasonable prices and interest rates, good fuel economy, a 4-year/80,000-km limited vehicle warranty and modest depreciation, your budget will love it, too.