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2026 VW Jetta

A watershed moment has arrived -- for Volkswagen. This year will be the last year you'll be able to buy any VW with a manual transmission. This includes the Jetta, which (for the next six months) you can still get with a manual six-speed, in the Jetta GLI. Next year, it and every other model VW sells -- including the high-performance Golf GTI and the Golf R -- will be automatic only.

The latter two already are.

So, the Jetta (GLI) will be the last of the manual Mohicans. At least as far as VWs.

What It Is

The Jetta is VW's compact sedan. It is the only German-brand sedan that isn't also a luxury-badged (and luxury-priced) sedan, even though it is related to German luxury-brand cars made by Audi, which is closely related to VW. It has also been one of the few remaining cars of its type available with a manual transmission -- in the GLI. After the end of this year, the Jetta will become automatic only, like every other vehicle VW sells.

But there's some good news. The Jetta's automatic isn't a continuously variable transmission. It's an eight-speed automatic that shifts up and down instead of varying through ranges (with the soupy feeling that you get with that). It's also still affordable -- $23,995 for the base S trim, which comes with LED headlights, dual-zone climate-control AC, a four-speaker stereo and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

The next-up Sport trim -- $23,305 -- gets a set of 17-inch alloy wheels and electric-locking front differential, heated seats and black exterior trim details.

The SE -- $26,985 -- ups the luxury quotient with synthetic leather upholstery, keyless ignition/door locks, wireless phone charger, an upgraded six-speaker audio system and a sunroof.

The top-of-the-line SEL -- $29,995 -- includes the SE's upgrades and adds 18-inch wheels, real leather upholstery, heated rear seats (and steering wheel), an even better eight-speaker stereo system, ambient interior lighting and a digital cockpit LCD main gauge cluster.

All four Jetta trims are front-wheel drive and come standard with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Except for the GLI, which is the performance version of the Jetta. It uniquely gets a 2.0-liter turbo'd four that makes 228 horsepower, paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Either version lists for $33,745.

What's New for 2026

The current Jetta, which was last updated back in 2019, is probably riding out its last year before it gets a major makeover for 2027. The upside is that the current Jetta doesn't have the creepy eye-movement monitor that is going to be standard (because the government will require it) in all 2027 model year vehicles. Many 2026 models already have this system in anticipation of it. Also, because this is probably the last year for the current Jetta before the next makeover, odds are good you'll be able to score a good deal on one as dealers are eager to clear out their inventories of what will soon be an "old" model.

What's Good

-- One of the most affordable sedans available -- and the only affordable German sedan available.

-- Decently large trunk (almost 15 cubic feet) for a compact sedan.

-- Hasn't got some of the latest -- and creepiest -- government-mandated "safety" tech.

What's Not So Good

-- This will be the last year of availability for a manual-equipped Jetta (the GLI).

-- No hatchback option.

-- Touch screen interface is a little ... touchy.

Under the Hood

As mentioned already, every Jetta -- regardless of trim -- comes standard with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that touts 158 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic and FWD. The combo is capable of getting the Jetta to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. This is considered a ho-hum figure today because so many sporty cars can get to 60 mph in six seconds and performance cars in less than five seconds. Still, 7.8 seconds to 60 mph is quicker than most of the V8 performance cars of the early-to-mid-1980s. Granted, that's 40 years in the rearview, but the point is that our sense of "quick" and "slow" have evolved. The truth is, nothing new is actually slow -- at least not in the way that many cars once were.

The main draw of this car is the mileage: 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway. That plus an affordable MSRP makes this an affordable car to drive and to buy.

You can still get it with a manual transmission too -- for the next six months, at least. The high-performance Jetta GLI is the last Jetta -- the last VW, apparently -- that will be offered with a manual (six-speed) transmission. The GLI also comes standard with a larger, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that touts 228 horsepower. And it gets to 60 mph a lot more quickly (about six seconds).

On the Road

The Jetta may not be the quickest thing on the road, but it's also not slow. Not in any meaningful sense. It is quick enough to comfortably keep up with the ebb and flow of traffic; to merge with faster-moving traffic. To be capable of pulling out from a side street onto a busy road without forcing the drivers of other cars you pulled out in front of to slam on their brakes to avoid rear-ending you. It is also fast enough to comfortably cruise at 75-80 mph all day long, with reserve for faster on tap. The engine has enough power for that, if you need it -- and the engine doesn't feel overworked getting there or holding it there -- because the eight-speed automatic cuts the engine's speed to around 2,500 RPM at 75 mph, which cuts down on the noise and helps the car get 40-plus mpg on the highway. Emphasis on "plus" because if driven with a light foot, you'll find you can get more than 40 mpg out of it.

I got 43 mpg (on the highway) with the cruise set at 60 mph. VWs have a history of overperforming when it comes to fuel economy, and that's true here again.

The other thing to like about this Jetta is that it is one of just a few small, affordable cars that does not (yet) have a CVT. Probably because the current Jetta is basically the same as the 2019 model, and back then, regulatory compliance pressure was less than it is now. CVTs are great for maximizing gas mileage because they keep the engine in the optimum spot for maximum efficiency by continuously varying the range (rather than the gear) you're in. But they also tend to feel slushy and sound like they might be slipping when you floor the accelerator pedal. This is not an issue in the Jetta. Floor the pedal and you get a snappy downshift, followed by acceleration and then an upshift to the next-highest gear. It's a more natural-feeling kind of acceleration, and the other upside is that the eight-speed automatic is likely to last the life of the Jetta if not abused and if maintained decently. CVTs, on the other hand, have a history of failing much sooner even if they are well maintained. This is due to their being more fragile, generally speaking, than a conventional automatic (or manual) transmission.

At the Curb

The Jetta is compact -- on the outside. It is just 186.5 inches long, which isn't very big. But inside, there's midsize-car room. Up front, 41.1 inches of legroom, and in back, 37.4 inches -- which makes riding in back comfortable for adult-sized passengers. Many small cars feel tight inside, especially in the back.

But it's the trunk space that's most noteworthy because 14.1 cubic feet is close to the size of the trunk in many midsize cars; for example, the midsize (195.7 inches long) Honda Accord sedan's trunk is only slightly larger (16.7 cubic feet), and the Accord is also a lot less affordable (base price is $28,395). The same-size Civic sedan's trunk is slightly larger (14.7 cubic feet) than the Jetta's, but the Civic's base price ($24,695) is also significantly higher.

Another thing in the Jetta's favor is its uniqueness -- in that it is the only German-brand small sedan you can buy for $23,000-ish to start. The others -- the Audis and Benzes and BMWs -- all start well over $30,000. The subcompact Audi A3 sedan, for instance, starts at $40,100. This is an interesting disparity given that VW and Audi are the same company and there is a lot of similarity between VWs and Audis. Put another way, when you sit down behind the wheel of a Jetta, it is not difficult to see (and feel) the kinship, especially if you're sitting behind the wheel of a Jetta SEL with the digital cockpit. It looks very much like it could be an Audi and feels like it could be too. This is what you'd expect given the fact that VW uses the same suppliers (and in some instances the same parts) that Audi does. The take-home point here is that you do not get the feeling you're driving an entry-level car -- because it could pass for an entry-luxury car.

The Rest

The Jetta's secondary touch screen looks handsomer than some, but it (sometimes) doesn't work as well as some. The surface is very sensitive, such that if your finger glances the glass, it can cause something to be selected you didn't intend to select. Both the touch screen and the controls below it for the climate controls are canted toward the driver, which is aesthetically pleasing and functionally useful.

The Bottom Line

It's sad the manual's gone, but the Jetta is still appealing because it's a nicer (and roomier) car than you'd expect for the money -- as well as less creepy than what's coming soon to a dealership near you.

SET IMAGE) epe061626adAP.jpg (SET CAPTION) View the VW Jetta this week. (END CAPTION)

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

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