Here’s What The Cheapest Volkswagen Gets You In 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog.
VW packs a lot of value into its most affordable car
The cheapest Volkswagen you can buy depends on where you live. Across the pond, Volkswagen sells a number of affordable subcompacts and compacts that aren’t available in the United States. These include the ID.3, the Polo, and the normal Golf (America only gets the Golf GTI and R). This means there are limited options for fans of VW with a tight budget. However, all is not lost, and VW has one model in the USA that still sells for less than $23,000. What is it, and is your money better spent on Toyota and Honda rivals? Let’s find out.
Related: This Is The Cheapest New Toyota Car In America
The Cheapest New Volkswagen Is The Jetta S
VWStarting at just $22,495, the entry-level Jetta S (note that the 2025 Jetta pictured here isn't the base model) is the most cheapest VW on sale right now. That price excludes any options and the destination charge of $1,225.Not many cars are available this cheaply anymore, and even cheap used cars are vanishing.
In this segment, the Volkswagen goes up against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Both of those rivals are also the cheapest models for those manufacturers; the Toyota starts at $22,325, almost exactly as much as the Jetta, while the Honda begins at $24,595 (2026 model).
As all are similarly priced sedans from well-established brands, comparing them is inevitable, and we’ll do just that when running through the specifications of the Jetta S, Volkswagen’s cheapest car.
Related: Here’s What The Cheapest New Honda Gets You In 2025
Design: A Sense Of Solidity
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VW implemented some neat updates to the Jetta’s design for the 2025 model year. New LED headlights, a revised front fascia, and a tweaked rear-end with a light bar are some of them, and they do a good job of keeping the car fresh. Even so, there’s nothing jaw-dropping about the design, but the same can be said of all its rivals.
The Jetta looks more substantial than most competitors, and that’s not just an optical illusion. It’s about as wide as a Civic, but the Jetta is nearly two inches longer and exactly two inches taller.
The following exterior features are standard on the Jetta S:
16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires
LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights
Rain-sensing wipers
Power-folding mirrors
The color palette is basic and includes white, a few greys/silvers, Deep Black, and Monterey Blue. We would have liked to have seen some more wheels on the options menu, but you have to stick with the standard ones.
Interior: Updated For 2025
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Volkswagen revised the dashboard for the 2025 Jetta, and it mostly comes across as a successful update. Three horizontal lines now stretch across the dashboard, and there’s a standard eight-inch touchscreen display (replacing the older 6.5-inch unit) and eight-inch gauge cluster, so it looks more modern than the analog gauges in the base Corolla.
Cloth upholstery is the default on this cheapest Jetta S, with either Titan Black or Storm Gray color schemes. Passenger space is comfortable, and the trunk measures a useful 14.1 cubic feet. Standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats allow you to accommodate longer items.
The following features are standard in the Jetta S:
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning
A basic four-speaker sound system is standard, and, while the touch controls for the climate control system look high-tech, they’re not as easy to use as the simpler physical switches of older Jetta variants. We gradually got used to them when driving the 2025 Jetta, though.
Better sound systems, a larger driver’s display, and heated seats are available on upper Jetta trims. You can’t add these items on the S, so keep this in mind.
Performance: The Manual Is Gone For Cheaper Jettas
Unless you spend much more on the Jetta GLI, you can’t have Volkswagen’s sedan with a manual. All models now rely on the eight-speed automatic, paired to a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine with 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
While a base Corolla is more powerful, it’s not turbocharged, so the Jetta’s meatier torque delivery gives it superior drivability. It takes over seven seconds to hit 60, but that’s perfectly acceptable for a car in this class - and at this price point. Only front-wheel drive is available.
Fuel efficiency works out to 29/39/33 mpg city/highway/combined for the base Jetta S, so it’s not as efficient as the cheapest Corolla (35 mpg combined) or Civic (36 mpg combined), but still quite reasonable.
The smaller wheels and tires of the Jetta S help to cushion harsh road surfaces more effectively than models with larger wheels, and the VW handles well. It’s not as enjoyable to drive as the Mazda 3 or Honda Civic, though.
Other Affordable Volkswagens
Other than the Jetta S, you can spend more on other Jetta models like the Sport ($23,775), SE ($25,275), and SEL ($29,000). The SE looks like the sweet spot in the range with features like a power driver’s seat, keyless access, CloudTex upholstery, and wireless charging. However, there’s another affordable Volkswagen that’s worth a look.
Volkswagen Taos S ($24,995)
VW’s cheapest crossover, the Taos S retails for almost the same price as the Jetta SE. Being a crossover, it’s a more practical vehicle, boasting 27.9 cubic feet of trunk space behind the second row. Its 1.5L engine also has more punch than the Jetta’s, with the same torque but more power - 174 hp, to be precise. However, this model isn’t as well-equipped as the Jetta SE, lacking the nice upholstery, fancier climate control system and heated seats.
Final Thoughts
At almost exactly the same price as the cheapest Corolla, the VW Jetta S also provides a solid choice for first-time buyers or anyone looking for a new car that won’t break the bank. The Jetta is comfortable, just about quick enough, practical, and is equipped with all the essentials.
The Corolla is more efficient, but we’d say the two are on par in terms of specification. Honda charges more for the Civic, with its main benefits being spaciousness and enjoyable handling.
For VW fans shopping in this segment, the Jetta S is a no-brainer, but these three cars are too closely matched for one to emerge as the clear class leader.
Here’s What The Cheapest Volkswagen Gets You In 2025 first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 6, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
