Volkswagen Jetta VII (facelift 2021) 1.5 TSI (158 Hp)

Overall Rating

7.9 / 10

Safety N/A / 5

Not Rated

Engine 4.5 / 5

Value 4.0 / 5

Performance 3.8 / 5

Comfort 3.7 / 5

People\'s Opinion 2.8 / 5

Volkswagen Jetta:

The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan niche slightly above the firm's Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven generations, variously as the Atlantic, Vento, Bora, City Jetta, Jetta City, GLI, Jetta, Clasico, and Sagitar.
The Jetta has been offered in two- and four-door saloon / sedan and sometimes as five-door wagon / estate versions. Since the original version in 1980, the car has grown in size and power with each generation. By mid-2011, almost 10 million Jettas have been produced and sold all over the world. As of April 2014, Volkswagen marketed over 14 million, becoming its top selling model....(Read more on Wikipedia)

VII (facelift 2021) Overview:

Volkswagen Jetta (VII (facelift 2021)). With 250 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~8.1 l/100km). With a weight of 1322 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

1.5 TSI (158 Hp) Verdict:

Performance Verdict

Responsive and engaging with the manual transmission, offering sufficient power for most driving situations.

Fuel Economy

Good fuel economy, though slightly less efficient than its Tiptronic counterpart due to manual operation.

Best Use Case: Daily driving, drivers preferring manual control, mixed city/highway.

Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 46% Neutral: 0% Issues: 54%

2.8 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 13 discussions

Read What Owners Say

👎 NEGATIVE

Personally, I would not consider purchasing a used car without having a pre-purchase inspection. Full stop. Regarding your other criteria (intended duration of ownership, desire for reliability, desire to “row your own”): the Mazda would be at the top of my list. Then probably the Civic. The Elantra may go that distance with meticulous maintenance on your part. I would avoid the VWs. They will be

👍 POSITIVE

I have owned multiple VWs including 3 Jettas in the last 25 years All were incredibly reliable. I currently drive a Tiguan and have nothing but positive things to say about it. I love it

👍 POSITIVE

My 2003 Jetta TDI ran like a top but anything electrical in it was fucked, especially the door sensors. My 2019 Golf Alltrack with 90,000 miles on the clock sounds and feels like the day I bought it. I love it.

👎 NEGATIVE

I’d like to get out of mine. But I owe more than it’s worth. 2019 Passat Wolfsburg. But I’ve had to replace the engine - leaking oil more than VW could pinpoint. They replaced it under warranty. I’ve also replaced the transmission because it just failed and wouldn’t shift anymore. They found metal in trans fluid and replaced it under warranty. Now I’m gun shy. I have no more warranty left (o

👎 NEGATIVE

I’ve had a higher mileage Passat wagon for 2.5 years now, I’ve put 60,000km on it, currently sits at 260,000km. 2.0T 6MT wagon. I’ve had to put money into the car (which I expected) but other than a new CV that went bad within a week it hasn’t left me stranded, ever. They need more maintenance to run properly than their Japanese or domestic counterparts, however I often say a VW will run broken

👍 POSITIVE

I live in Canada and in my city, the A7 generation of the Jetta is very popular with taxi companies and ride share drivers. They have to be reliable to put in the hours of service that is required for that line of work and all the extremes of the seasons (from bitter cold and windchill of winter to the extreme heat and humidity of summer).

👎 NEGATIVE

The reliability is rated on how many times it’s been in the shop say your inside lights go out and you take it to the shop it’s noted and goes towards ratings so it doesn’t necessarily have to be like engine or transmission related in order for it tbe taken down any time it goes in mainly for anything other than regular maintenance it’s put down and the car is called “unreliable” but I’ve owned mi

👍 POSITIVE

I tell you I don't trust that jd power reliability crap. You see top 3 Americans brands on top and are all junk.... Dodge, Ford, Chrysler, gmc, Cadillac. Like wtf... I can count on 1 hand this winter I seen a vw Jetta on side of the road or stranded, lil lone causing an accident. People jus don't take care of vehicles is what it is. Jetta been more reliable and next to no rust living in Midwest s

👎 NEGATIVE

Some of it has to do with the individual generation and motor. The 2.5 inline 5 will run until the eventual heat death of the universe. But the interior in mine is falling apart. Headliner failed at like 120k

👎 NEGATIVE

Mk5 Jetta owner (2009, 2.5) for 4 years. Got the car at 120K miles, have put 65K miles on it. Besides electrical gremlins (which seem to be a common thing), and the pain of changing out the steering/suspension system myself (all of which would have been covered under "Preventative Maintenance," but the previous owner apparently didn't believe in such a thing), I've had no issues. No major drivetr

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Spacious interior and large trunk capacity
• Strong performance from GLI models
• Good fuel economy from 1.5 TSI engine
• Comfortable and composed ride quality
• Competitive pricing for its segment

Cons:

• Interior materials can feel less premium than some rivals
• No all-wheel-drive option available
• Styling might be considered conservative by some buyers
• Limited availability in certain global markets (e.g., Europe)

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(VII: April, 2018 - November, 2021).

General:
Brand:	Volkswagen
Model:	Jetta
Generation:	VII (facelift 2021)
Modification (Engine):	1.5 TSI (158 Hp)
Start of production:	August, 2021
End of production:	September, 2024
Powertrain Architecture:	Internal Combustion engine
Body type:	Sedan
Seats:	5
Doors:	4

Engine:
Power:	158 Hp @ 5500 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:	105.5 Hp/l [36mm more]
Torque:	250 Nm @ 1750 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:	DNKA More details about the engine DNKA
Engine displacement:	1498
Number of cylinders:	4
Engine configuration:	Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:	4
Fuel injection system:	Direct injection
Engine aspiration:	Turbocharger, Intercooler
Valvetrain:	DOHC
Engine oil capacity:	4.3 l
Coolant:	10 l
Engine layout:	Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:	74.5 mm mm
Piston Stroke:	85.9 mm mm
Compression ratio:	11.5:1

Performance:
Fuel Type:	Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:	8.1 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:	5.5 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - combined:	6.9 l/100 km
Weight-to-power ratio:	8.4 kg/Hp, 119.5 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:	5.3 kg/Nm, 189.1 Nm/tonne

Space:
Kerb Weight:	1322
Max. weight:	1850
Max load:	528
Fuel tank capacity:	50 l

Size:
Length:	4738 mm mm [36mm more]
Width:	1799 mm mm [Same width.]
Height:	1465 mm mm [7mm more]
Wheelbase:	2686 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:	1543 mm
Rear (Back) track:	1534 mm
Minimum turning circle (turning diameter):	11.2 m [above average]

Powertrain:
Drivetrain Architecture	The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheel	Front wheel drive
Number of gears	6
Transmission type	Manual
Front brakes	Ventilated discs, 288x25 mm [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakes	Disc, 272x10 mm [above average]
Assisting systems	ABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering type	Steering rack and pinion
Power steering	Electric Steering
Tires size	205/60 R16
Wheel rims size	6.5J x 16
Front suspension	Independent, type McPherson with coil spring and anti-roll bar
Rear suspension	Coil spring, Torsion