The base Jetta will have 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The Canadian government’s imminent imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles deals another blow to the prospect of affordable EVs in this country.
But with so much focus on electric options, it’s easy to forget that there are still affordable new cars out there. Just not electric ones. Cars like the Volkswagen Jetta. The company has given it a comprehensive update and its price has stayed low, meaning it’s still one of the best values, not just in its segment, but in the industry.
The Jetta has been a staple on Canadian roads for more than 40 years. Practical, efficient and well made, it won consumers over with its tidy packaging and confident handling. It was also cheap, which made it popular with younger buyers.
The entry-level Jetta Trendline is now $25,795, only $367 more than the 2024 model. A base Honda Civic is nearly $4,000 more. By comparison, the average price of a new car in Canada is more than $66,000.
Volkswagen has given the Jetta more than just a simple nip and tuck. The front and rear fascias have been completely refreshed, there’s a new dashboard, improved technology like standard LED lighting and more standard equipment. Slimmer headlights and a narrower grille look sportier and bear a stronger resemblance to the Golf. The rear gets a redesigned trunk lid and a light bar connecting the tail lights.
Slimmer headlights and a narrower grille look sportier and bear a stronger resemblance to the Golf.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Interior updates include a new eight-inch touch screen and a new dashboard design. VW is moving on from physical buttons, replacing them with glossy black touch-sensitive pads and sliders, and I can’t get behind it yet. Thankfully, the Jetta still retains a good old-fashioned volume knob, and all but the highest-trim GLI models still have real buttons on the steering wheel.
Even the base models have a good mix of soft-touch surfaces up top and harder plastics lower down in the cabin, as expected in this segment. Where the Jetta comes into its own is once you start driving. All Jettas have responsive steering and a balanced feel. Base models are equipped with 16-inch wheels and tires, which benefit the ride but don’t compromise handling. The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s an exceptionally frugal powertrain, with our tester netting us a hybrid-like 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on a mix of 80-to-90-kilometre-an-hour rural roads, yet it has more than enough power for daily driving.
Long-range EVs with 500-plus kilometres of range are equipped with giant battery packs that can weigh more than 450 kilograms. And then here’s this $25,000 car that can travel more than 800 kilometres on the highway between fuel stops. Factor in the high cost and unreliability of our nation’s fast-charging networks and these economical gas-powered cars become all the more enticing.
The sporty GLI trim gets the same updates as the other trims and the 228-horsepower, two-litre turbo four carries over from the previous version.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The sporty GLI trim also gets the same updates and the peachy 228-horsepower, two-litre turbo four-cylinder carries over from the previous version. If you like to row your own gears, the GLI will let you do that. The Golf is killing off the manual transmission, but you can still get one in the GLI. And Volkswagen Canada says they’ll offer one in the Jetta GLI trim as long as they possibly can.
The GLI is the flagship of the Jetta line and gets all the bells and whistles, including leather seats and a Beats audio system. There are also mechanical goodies like an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, which cuts understeer and torque steer. You can even get the tail to step out in the tighter corners, pretty cool for a front-wheel-drive sedan. And at just under $35,000, it’s still a good deal.
We have until 2035 before the government bans the sales of new gas passenger cars but in the meantime, there are still affordable new vehicles out there that Canadians can buy on a budget. As great and fun as the GLI is to drive, the real story here is the base Jetta. For just over $25,000 before fees and taxes, you get a well-built, German-engineered sedan with Apple Car Play and Android Auto (wired), heated seats, a spacious cabin for up to five, a large trunk and a full factory warranty. It also looks great and has excellent road manners.
Zero-emission electric vehicles might be the future, but until we get to that holy grail of the affordable EV, cars like the Jetta are a great option for many Canadians.
Tech specs
2025 Jetta Trendline
- Price as tested: $25,795, plus $1,950 for freight, plus other fees and tax
- Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four cylinder
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 158 / 184
- Transmission / drive: Eight-speed automatic / front-wheel drive
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 8.4 city; 6.1 highway; 7.4 combined
- Alternatives: Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3
Looks
The current-generation Jetta has been updated twice since it was released in 2018. This latest refresh was meant to make it look sportier and bring it closer to the Golf, and it’s successful from that standpoint. The Jetta is considered a compact sedan but it feels closer to a mid-size.
Interior
The update adds some visual flair to an otherwise monotonous interior. The new climate controls look good but there was nothing wrong with the old buttons and dials.
The GLI trim is the only one available with a stick shift.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Performance
The Jetta GLI has impressive road-holding abilities and a fancy locking differential that allows you to chuck it into corners with the confidence of a newly licensed high-schooler trying to impress their friends. The engine is smooth and torquey, and the ride is ultra-stable but still very compliant.
Technology
The four-cylinder engine in the Jetta features variable geometry turbos and spray-coated cylinder liners, which help it achieve its impressive efficiency.
Cargo
The Jetta’s 399-litre trunk is large enough to swallow strollers, groceries and suitcases. All at the same time.
The trunk on the new Jetta has 399 litres of space.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The verdict
Great road manners, a frugal drivetrain and an affordable price tag make the Jetta one of the best deals in the compact segment.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
The back seats on the 2025 Jetta.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
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