About Jetta
The Jetta began in 1979 as a Golf with a trunk, built for buyers, many of them American, who did not want a hatchback. That simple formula turned it into one of Volkswagen's best-selling cars in North America, and for many families it was the first German car they could afford. Over seven generations it has drifted from a sporty Golf sibling to a roomy, comfortable commuter sedan aimed squarely at value-minded buyers.
The current Jetta is built in Puebla, Mexico, and leans into practicality: a spacious back seat, a big trunk and a small turbocharged engine tuned for fuel economy. The GLI keeps the enthusiast flame alive with the GTI's more powerful engine and sharper suspension, giving buyers a sports sedan for less than many crossovers. Reviewers praise the ride and efficiency; critics note plain interior materials and safety-test results that have not always matched the best in the class.
The Jetta's American rivals are the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia K4 and Nissan Sentra, and it competes as one of the most affordable new cars on sale, a rarer thing every year. In China, Volkswagen even turned the name into a separate budget brand, now moving into new-energy models. This page follows the Jetta's updates, GLI news, crash-test ratings, recalls and its role as an entry point to the brand.