Volkswagen is busy in 2021. The automaker has a brand-new SUV in its lineup and is implementing tech updates for almost all of its vehicles. The venerable Jetta sedan is one of them, but along with new tech, the car receives a new engine and updated safety features for the 2022 model year.
The Jetta GLI gets standard projector LED headlights.Volkswagen
The 2022 Jetta gets the new turbo-four that powers VW’s freshman SUV, Taos. It’s a 1.5-liter unit that makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta GLI is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is available.
Both cars are based on VW’s MQB platform, but the GLI gets additional go-fast chassis and handling components. Like its spiritual cousin, the Golf GTI, the Jetta GLI carries a VAQ electronically-controlled torque-sensing limited-slip differential. That extremely hyphenated component works with the car’s XDS Cross Differential System and DCC adaptive dampers to help keep things tidy when the driver puts their right foot down.
The Jetta comes standard with a digital gauge cluster.Volkswagen
Styling updates include new front and rear bumpers with a new grille and chrome trim pieces. The GLI features a signature red accent strip and a honeycomb lower fascia. The standard Jetta gets LED headlights and daytime running lights, while top Jetta trims and the Jetta GLI get projector LEDs.
New standard tech headlines the cars’ interior updates and include a standard digital gauge cluster, measuring eight inches for the Jetta and ten inches for the Jetta GLI. The Digital Cockpit system can display maps, audio information, and other data from the car’s infotainment system. Top Jetta trims and the Jetta GLI also come with VW’s MIB3 infotainment software, which brings wireless charging and wireless app connectivity.
New safety tech is available for the 2022 Jetta.Volkswagen
The Jetta’s standard and available safety technologies also get an overhaul for 2022. Front assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts are now standard, while Volkswagen’s IQ.DRIVE safety package is available for some cars and is standard for the GLI. The package includes a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a semi-automated driving assistance system, and a semi-automated medical emergency vehicle assistance system.
Pricing details for the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta have not yet been released. The automaker expects the cars to begin arriving on dealers’ lots in the fourth quarter of 2021.
