2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VS. 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA
The blue corner comes out on top with its better value, high-tech features
Clayton Seams: The Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla have been fighting with each other for a long time. The Corolla is on its 12th generation, which debuted last year, and the Jetta is in its
7th iteration, which debuted this year. Both are compact frontwheel-drive sedans, powered by four-cylinder engines. Both have shown up to the party in mid-level trim and both retail for $28,000 and change as tested. Representing team Jetta was this Tornado Red Comfortline tester with the R-line appearance package.
Alex Reid: In the blue corner is a 2020 Toyota Corolla XSE, and it’s stuffed full of tech. These two vehicles have evolved to become more than just small-engined runabouts designed to pinch sales away from yank tanks, they’re now at the top of their reasonably priced game. But which one of them can claim to be the more mature? I would argue that the Toyota is wise beyond its years, even if hesitant to react to changes around it. First, the amount of technology in the Corolla greatly surpasses the Jetta, having navigation, satellite radio, heated seats and steering wheel, and a host of safety features for almost the same cash. CS: It’s true. A heated steering wheel, Satnav, satellite radio, and a digital dash are all in the Corolla, but you could have those in a Jetta if you choose a more loaded model. Also worth noting is the styling of the Corolla. I don’t know why it has a Super Duty-size grill or why it’s so angry at me. The Jetta, meanwhile, looks rather dashing in the red paint and 17-inch alloy wheels. That clean look continues to the interior, where the Jetta has a smart white/black twotone interior. The touch screen display is neatly integrated into the dashboard and the sporty D -shaped steering wheel looks great but feels out of place in a car that lacks a sport mode or paddle shifters. Unfortunately it seems the nice-looking seats were designed for the hard, square butts of Lego people and human butts may not find them very comfy.
AR: I agree, the Corolla has a face only a mother could love, although I don’t have to see it when I’m driving it, so it’s a moot point, really. Another thing I can’t see but I can definitely feel is the 18-inch wheels and low profile tires on the Corolla, which translate to more sporty handling. While the Jetta has a sporty steering wheel, it doesn’t have the handling prowess to back it up, and it’s the Corolla that has a sport mode and paddle shifters, even if it’s connected to a CVT.
The Jetta’s good looks inside don’t translate to comfort, and the seats are manually adjusted, which is surprising, considering the almost $30k price tag. The Corolla has electrically operated seats with lumbar support, a super cool blue-stitched pattern, and the digital dash is miles above the dials you get in the Jetta.
I think the Corolla also has the Jetta licked when it comes to size: it feels compact, like the segment suggests, the turning radius is small and it’s extremely easy to park. The Jetta, even though VW claims it’s a compact, feels more like a mid-size car, yet it struggles to offer a few millimetres more rear headroom than the Corolla, and has only a negligible legroom advantage.
CS: While it’s true the Corolla is the more sporty of the two (CVT and all!), the Jetta is a little more quiet when driving at highway speeds. The Corolla’s 2.0-litre naturally aspirated I4 feels more sprightly than the Jetta’s 1-L turbo I4. The Jetta makes more torque — 184 versus 151 — but the Toyota makes more power, with 169 horsepower versus 147. On paper, the smaller turbo engine of the VW has a clear fuel economy lead over the larger-engined Corolla.
Also worth mentioning is that the VW has a more modern-looking infotainment system and Apple Carplay. The Toyota has Apple Carplay as well, but its regular interface looks a little dated and plain. That said, the Toyota system is lightning quick to respond to your commands and pairing your phone to the Corolla is a cinch.
We have to pick a winner. The Jetta has a lot going for it, including better fuel mileage, a quieter ride, a sharper looking exterior, and a prettier infotainment system. But how does it stack up against the Corolla?
AR: The key here is value, and I think the winner is the Corolla. For the same money, it includes satellite navigation, satellite radio, heated and electrically operated seats, heated steering wheel, and as a bonus, it’s more fun to drive.