2023 Volkswagen Jetta

Trims and Powertrain

Sedan fans interested in the front-wheel-drive 2023 Jetta can choose from four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL. They all have a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood; it makes 158 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The Jetta stands out in that a six-speed manual remains the standard transmission (on the S and Sport), pleasing old-school drivers who appreciate the chance to control the gear shifts. An eight-speed automatic is optional for those two trims and standard on the SE and SEL. The EPA has estimated the fuel economy for a 2023 Jetta with the manual transmission at 29 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. The Jetta S with the automatic is rated for 31 city/41 highway, while the other Jetta trims with the automatic achieve 29 city/40 highway.

Standard Features

The features list for the Jetta S includes LED exterior lighting with automatic headlights, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, fabric seats, manually controlled air conditioning, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Sport adds track-style front seats, unique exterior accents, heated power side mirrors, front accent lighting, a rear-seat armrest with cup holders, and 17-inch alloy wheels. This trim also gets an upgraded differential for improved traction during cornering. The SE gets remote start, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar controls, heated front seats, V-Tex upholstery, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. At the top of the Jetta range is the SEL, which is loaded up with a power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, a driver’s position memory system, a 10.25-inch configurable digital instrument panel, a front grille light bar, and ambient cabin lighting.

Safety Technology

All 2023 Jetta trims come with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. IQ.DRIVE is available on the S and Sport (with the automatic transmission only) and standard on the SE and SEL. This grouping of advanced driver aids contains adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous driving support, lane-keeping assist, and emergency assist (the vehicle will slow down and stop if the driver fails to respond to alerts). All Jettas also have a full complement of airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and a rearview monitor. The SEL alone is equipped with automatic high beams.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The standard infotainment system has a 6.5-inch touchscreen (the SEL is upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen), a four-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, a USB port (the SE and SEL get a second USB port), and Volkswagen’s Car-Net smartphone app for remote services. Further standard amenities found on the SEL are navigation, a BeatsAudio nine-speaker sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless device charging.