2025 Volkswagen Jetta Is Working for Your Weekend

Everyone's watching, to see what you will do. Everyone's looking at you.

The year was 1981, MTV was brand new, and party rock band Loverboy hit the screen in fire-red leather unleashing the classic cultural anthem Everybody's Working for the Weekend. At the same time, and in its own way, Volkswagen was striking a similar chord. The Jetta had just joined the German brand's lineup, striding onto the North American stage with the kind of confidence that elicits an encore. Fast-forward four decades, and Jetta is still releasing crowd-pleasing hits in a new era. For 2025, the compact sedan returns with fresh styling, a sleeker interior, and an entry-level starting price that makes it one of the best values in its class. Blending weekday practicality with weekender capability, Jetta delivers updated design, impressive technology, and exceptional value, proving it hasn't missed a beat.

Volkswagen's current lineup is as fresh as it gets, and the 2025 Jetta exemplifies that energy. Refined for the new model year, the vehicle presents a sharper exterior with updated front and rear treatments, new wheel options, and vibrant color choices. Inside, upgraded materials and a redesigned dash give the cabin a modern feel. With a lower starting price than the outgoing 2024 automatic model at $21,995, the Jetta continues to combine style, quality, safety, and value—a formula that has made it Volkswagen's best-selling car in North America for more than forty years.

You Want a Piece of My Heart | Exterior

This year's Jetta presents a refreshed exterior that balances sporty energy with clean, modern lines. Up front, a redesigned fascia features new upper and lower grille designs paired with LED headlights and an available light bar on Sport and SEL trims, creating a distinctive and contemporary look. The front bumper updates give the sedan a subtly more aggressive presence, while the roofline flows seamlessly into a revised rear with a trunk lid that incorporates a standard light bar connecting sharply defined LED taillights. Mirror caps are body-colored on most trims, with black accents on the Sport providing a subtle sporty flair. Wheel options are tailored to each trim, with the optional Black Wheel Package adding a more aggressive statement; and two new exterior colors comprised of Monterey Blue Pearl and Monument Gray join the existing palette of shades giving buyers more choices to suit their style. Beyond aesthetics, the Jetta's streamlined profile and aerodynamic enhancements, including active radiator shutters, air curtain intakes, and underbody panels, contribute to a low drag coefficient and efficient airflow.

By pairing its 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Jetta delivers lively performance while maintaining efficient fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined for most trims. The engine uses Volkswagen's modified Miller cycle, which closes the intake valves early during the induction stroke to improve efficiency, and its high 11.5 to 1 compression ratio helps optimize output without sacrificing economy. Built on Volkswagen's MQB platform, the Jetta benefits from high body rigidity provided by a mix of ultra-high-strength steel, contributing to confident handling and a composed ride. Speed-sensitive electric power-assisted steering ensures precise control at highway speeds while remaining easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and the 35.8-foot turning circle makes city driving practical.

You Better Start From the Start | Interior

Step inside the 2025 Jetta, and the updates are apparent from the get-go. A redesigned dashboard introduces a floating 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display as the centerpiece, standard across all trims, while Climatronic® Touch automatic climate control adds a clean, functional look to the center stack. The upper dash features a three-bar design that flows seamlessly through the air vents, complemented by chrome optic and matte or grained piano black accents for a subtle, modern aesthetic. Comfort and material choices are thoughtfully distributed across trims: Jetta S comes with rhombus-pattern cloth seats in Titan Black or Storm Grey, paired with Brushed Silver décor, while Sport trims add embossed molekular cloth seats for a sportier appearance. SE models offer perforated, two-tone CloudTex leatherette seating surfaces in Grey/Titan Black or Seawall Blue/Storm Grey combinations, accented with String Figure décor, and SEL trims step up to perforated Vienna leather seats in Grey/Titan Black or a new Brown/Titan Black option with Horizon Black décor. All models feature a six-way adjustable driver's seat, with power and lumbar adjustment added on SE trims and above, while SEL adds a memory function for the driver's seat. Heated front seats come standard on all but the S trim, with SEL models also including heated rear outboard seats. Practical touches like padded leatherette door inserts, standard contrast stitching, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel on most trims ensure the cabin feels polished without excess, while 14.1 cubic feet of trunk space and 60/40 split-folding rear seats make the Jetta a functional choice for everyday life.

You Wanna Be in the Show | Technology

A suite of technology features are designed for convenience and connectivity. The standard 8-inch Composition Color touchscreen infotainment system includes App-Connect, Bluetooth® for compatible devices, and two USB-C ports with 45-watt fast charging. SE models upgrade to Composition Media with Voice Control, SiriusXM® with 360L, wireless App-Connect, and wireless charging. SEL trims add navigation, and Car-Net® connectivity allows for Wi-Fi hotspot use, remote access via the myVW app, and real-time navigation updates through the Plus Nav Package. Remote Access lets users start or stop the engine, lock or unlock doors, locate their vehicle, and receive alerts for speed, boundaries, curfews, or valet use, all from a smartphone or via Alexa commands. Vehicle Alerts and Roadside Call Assist provide added peace of mind, while the advanced Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, standard across the lineup, presents a fully digital instrument cluster with customizable layouts. Audio options range from four speakers on S and Sport models to the premium BeatsAudio® system on early SEL and GLI trims, while SiriusXM with 360L provides a personalized, on-demand entertainment experience. Comfort-focused technology includes dual-zone Climatronic® Touch automatic climate control, keyless access with push-button start, remote start, heated side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and available heated windshield wiper park and rear seats.

Come on Baby Let's Go | Safety

The Jetta combines a comprehensive set of passive and active safety systems to protect occupants. Six airbags come standard, including front and side airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags for outboard seating positions, complemented by anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System helps mitigate additional collisions after an initial impact by automatically applying the brakes, while the Intelligent Crash Response System shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks doors, and activates hazard lights if a collision occurs. Standard IQ.DRIVE® technology offers hands-on semi-automated driver assistance, including Travel Assist for lane centering and speed adaptation, Front Assist for forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, Active Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control Stop & Go, Lane Assist, and Emergency Assist which can bring the vehicle to a safe stop if the driver is incapacitated. Light Assist high-beam control, standard on SEL and GLI trims, automatically toggles high beams on poorly lit roads when no oncoming traffic is detected. These systems work together to help keep occupants safe and confident on the road.

The 2025 Jetta blends thoughtful comfort, efficient performance, and advanced technology into a well-rounded sedan that feels modern without trying too hard. Its refreshed exterior offers subtle yet distinctive touches, while the cabin provides a spacious, comfortable environment with intuitive controls and versatile seating. The turbocharged engine balances responsiveness and fuel efficiency, supported by a suspension and steering setup that delivers composed handling. Technology and safety work in tandem, with digital interfaces, connectivity features, and semi-automated assistance systems enhancing both convenience and confidence behind the wheel. With every detail considered, the Jetta presents a compelling value proposition for those seeking a practical and straightforward compact sedan.

Learn More

For more information or to test drive this vehicle for yourself, stop by a local dealer or visit online at:
Volkswagen Jetta

About Volkswagen

Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Volkswagen of America sells the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Golf R, ID.4, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Taos, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Volkswagen Group of America operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee which produces Volkswagen brand vehicles including the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and the ID.4. The global Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Visit Volkswagen at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.