Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic: Compact Car Showdown (2024)

Let's see which vehicle gives you better options when comparing the Honda Civic vs. VW Jetta trims and features. The VW Jetta is available in five trim models, while the Honda Civic only has four trim styles, so right away, the VW Jetta gives you more choices.

Let's look at some of the essential features the trim lineup offers to help you decide on the best new compact car for your driveway. The VW Jetta S starts with LED headlights, 16-inch black alloy wheels, and App-Connect. The new Honda Civic LX has LED lighting, connected audio integration, and fully covered 16-inch wheels. You will need to upgrade a trim level to the Honda Civic Sport if you want the style of black alloy wheels.

The VW Jetta SE comes with the safety of Front Assist, the comfort of a 6-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and the luxury of a panoramic sunroof. If you desire a one-touch power moonroof to come with your Honda Civic, you will need to step up to a higher trim model than the Honda Civic Sport.

As you can see from the start of our VW Jetta or Honda Civic trim model comparison, the Honda makes you pay more for features that come standard on the comparable VW Jetta trim.

This pattern continues with the popular VW Jetta R-Line because there isn't a comparable Honda Civic trim. The new Honda Civic lineup skips this tier and advances to the Honda Civic EX.

The VW Jetta SEL gives you a 10-color interior ambient lighting package to match the cabin to your mood, as well as wireless App-Connect for your compatible device and the VW Digital co*ckpit.

The Honda Civic EX doesn't come with an ambient lighting package. And suppose you want a Honda Civic with wireless Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto Integration for your compatible device. In that case, you need to step up to the top-of-the-line Honda Civic Touring because you won't find it on the Honda Civic EX either.

When deciding between the Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta, we can quickly see that both of these new cars for sale come with five seats and offer comparable cargo capacity and passenger room. So where do the VW Jetta and Honda Civic differ?

In the drive.

Under the hood of the VW Jetta is a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that puts out 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The Honda Civic has a bigger 2.0L four-cylinder engine that produces the same 158 horsepower, but only 138 pound-feet of torque, which is why the VW Jetta is faster than the Honda Civic.

The new VW Jetta for sale only needs 7.6 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph. Honda Civic drivers will need to settle for a 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds.

The VW Jetta also gets better fuel economy than the Honda Civic on the highway. VW Jetta drivers can expect an EPA-estimated 30/41/35 mpg¹ (City/Highway/Combined) while Honda Civic drivers get an estimated 30/38/33 mpg (City/Highway/Combined).

As you can see, when it comes to comparing Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic performance and mpg, the VW Jetta has more torque, a faster 0-60 time, and gets better gas mileage than the new Honda Civic.

Since you'll most likely plan to drive your new VW Jetta for the foreseeable future, make sure to note the mileage life expectancy of the vehicle so you can drive without worry.

Now, let's look at the interior. After all, it's where you spend your time when you're enjoying your vehicle. So, does the VW Jetta or Honda Civic have a nicer cabin? The VW Jetta is slightly smaller when it comes to size, but these vehicles are very similar. They both offer five seats. The new VW Jetta for sale provides up to 14.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The Honda Civic does slightly better with 14.4 cubic feet.

The VW Jetta gives you and your passengers up to 94.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the Honda Civic is slightly roomier with 99 cubic feet of passenger room.