The Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI enter the 2023 model year virtually unchanged, with the German car giant making minor revisions to the four-door sedans that include the addition of standard remote start to the Jetta’s SE trim and minor cosmetic updates. Unsurprisingly, VW is also raising its base price.
Related: 2022 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI: Mild Updates Keep Compact Sedan Going
The bulk of the Jetta recipe is carried over from 2022. Most trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque. The lone exception is the GLI, which uses a version of the same turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Golf GTI hatchback; however, power is slightly less than with the hot hatch, with Jetta GLIs making 228 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque to the Golf GTI’s 241 hp and 273 pounds-feet. The GLI is also the only one that gets access to the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; the rest of the Jetta family gets an eight-speed automatic either standard (SE, SEL) or optional (S, Sport, GLI; a six-speed manual comes standard for these trims).
All 2023 Jettas come with front-wheel drive and feature the same standard safety equipment as before, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
Fuel economy remains a strong suit for the Jetta, with manual-equipped examples offering an EPA-rated 29/42/34 mpg city/highway/combined. The automatic version of the base S gets 31/41/35 mpg, while the Sport, SE and SEL get 29/40/33 mpg. The performance-oriented GLI gets 26/37/30 mpg with the stick shift; automatic-equipped variants lose 1 mpg in freeway driving.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI are available now. Opting for an automatic transmission adds around $800 depending on the trim. Full pricing is below (all pricing includes the $1,095 destination charge):
- S: $21,760
- Sport: $22,650
- SE: $25,480
- SEL: $29,480
- GLI: $32,680
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