Volkswagen Jetta Vs. Honda Civic | 2023 Comparison

Quick Take: While the Jetta and Civic come as sedans, the Honda has a hatchback option.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies the Jetta and Civic as mid-size sedans based on passenger volume. The Honda Sedan has as much as 99.0 cubic feet inside, compared to a maximum of 94.7 cubic feet for the Jetta. Most Civic Hatchbacks have 96.6 cubic feet of passenger volume, splitting the difference between the Jetta and the Civic Sedan. 

Overall, a few cubic feet may not make much of a difference, but it gives the Civic the upper hand in passenger space, which I’ll detail later.

Quick Take: Volkswagen offers zippier acceleration with the Jetta, while Honda gains an edge with better fuel economy. Both automakers keep the manual transmission alive and well.

Engine Options & Specifications:

I’ll give VW and Honda credit for employing a one-size-fits-all approach to engines in their entry-level cars. Both vehicles have perfectly adequate base powerplants, but more potent options are available.

Volkswagen does more with less with the Jetta’s standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. 158 horsepower won’t win many races, but a 0-60 mph acceleration of 7.7 seconds is almost quick. 

Coincidently, the Civic’s base engine also delivers 158 horsepower, but this comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine without the benefit of turbocharging. To put it kindly, a 0-60 time of 8.8 seconds is pokey. Its modest performance won’t matter much in urban and suburban driving but may feel inadequate during highway outings. 

Moving to a next-step engine changes the performance picture. Only available with the Jetta GLI, Volkswagen’s turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder dials up output to a punchy 228 horsepower. This VW reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 7.1 seconds, not blazing fast, but enough to push you back in your seat. 

Honda’s methodology with engine upgrades starts with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, making 180 horsepower. Standard on higher Civic trims, this powerplant cuts acceleration time by 1.3 seconds. A 0-60 dash of 7.5 seconds is a noticeable improvement. Still, the Civic Si gets even more of a boost (to 200 horsepower), reducing acceleration to 7.2 seconds, almost equal to the Jetta GLI. 

The 315-horsepower coming from the Civic Type R’s mighty turbo 2.0-liter engine has no equal in the Jetta realm; that’s what the VW Golf R is for. 

Fuel Economy:

A conversation about fuel economy is necessary when looking at the Jetta and Civic. It’s safe to say that buyers of these cars may not have the deepest pockets, so saving money at the pump is vital.

Fuel economy with the base engines is basically a toss-up. A base Jetta with an automatic is rated at 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. A Civic Sedan LX comes in with 31 city/40 highway. 

However, the Civic pulls ahead with the premium (non-performance) engine in the higher trims. For example, the Civic Sedan EX gets 33 city/42 highway. In comparison, the Jetta GLI with a manual gearbox delivers an estimated 26 city/37 highway. Its Civic equal, the Si, is almost the same with 27 city/37 highway.

All in all, there’s not much gas savings to be had by choosing a base Civic over a base Jetta (or the So over the GLI). But fuel economy gets marginally better with a Civic with the 180-horsepower turbo 1.5-liter engine.

Transmission Options & Specifications:

As somewhat of an automotive purist, I find it refreshing to still talk about a manual transmission, an option with the Jetta and Civic. Yet, each manufacturer employs a slightly different strategy. 

For VW, a DIY gearbox keeps the MSRP lower for its cheaper Jetta editions. It also offers this transmission with the GLI, making the top-tier trim more of a driver’s car. In contrast, Honda offers a manual transmission in the guise of performance. It’s only available with Civic Hatchbacks with “Sport” in the trim name and is the sole gearbox for the Si and Type R. Interestingly, there’s no price difference for a manual or automatic on the models where this is a transmission choice. 

Volkswagen and Honda head in separate directions with their self-shifting transmissions. The German automaker sticks with conventional automatic gearboxes (7- or 8-speed), while Honda relies solely on a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A CVT skips individual gears for a belt system that adjusts to balance and fuel economy.

Arguably, Honda makes one of the better CVTs on the market, but it’s engineered with a bias towards saving gas. The average driver won’t know the difference between a traditional automatic transmission and a CVT, but those more sensitive to gear shifts will be able to tell. 

See the “Tech Talk” section below the charts to learn about CVTs.

TECH TALK: CVTs

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) does not use gears like a typical automatic transmission. Instead, it has two pulleys connected by a belt. One pulley connects to the engine, and the other connects to the wheels. The belt transfers the power between the pulleys. This setup allows the pulleys to continuously change positions as needed. The CVT automatically adjusts the pulleys as required, providing smooth and efficient power delivery.

There’s not much to discuss regarding drivetrains for the Jetta and Civic. Both are strictly front-wheel-drive automobiles. You’ll have to look at the Toyota Corolla or Mazda Mazda3 if you want an entry-level car with all-wheel drive.

Quick Take: The Jetta and Civic are evenly matched in NHTSA testing, but the newer Jetta gets the nod from IIHS.

NHTSA Safety Ratings

Crash test performance is a crucial consideration with any vehicle purchase, especially with modestly sized cars like the Jetta and Civic. While larger vehicles have the benefit of extra bulk to isolate occupants, smaller sedans and hatchbacks must rely on more sophisticated engineering for better crash energy management.

The Jetta and Civic get a praiseworthy five-star overall rating in tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is as good as it gets. There are identical results for the side impact assessment. However, both vehicles take a slight step back in the front crash test, receiving a still-admirable four-star ranking. 

The Jetta falls behind the Civic in the government’s rollover assessment. A four-star rating for the Jetta is typical of most vehicles, but the Civic heads to the top of the class with a five-star performance. Government data shows that rollovers account for only 2% of all crashes, reducing the significance of the Civic’s advantage.  

IIHS Awards:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) takes a somewhat different approach to safety testing. In particular, it focuses on its small frontal overlap crash test, which the organization feels represents a more real-world scenario (a single car running into a fixed object). IIHS also looks at side impact crashes, roof strength, headlight effectiveness, and advanced driver safety technologies (like automatic emergency braking). 

While tested vehicles receive a Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor grade, the true measure comes if a car gets a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation. If “Good” is a “B” grade, Top Safety Pick notches things up to an “A-,” and the Top Safety Pick+ signifies an “A+.”

The Civic received Top Safety Pick designations, while the Jetta came up short with no above-average accomplishments. This Volkswagen has been around since the 2019 model year and is due for a more advanced generation. Meanwhile, 2022 marked the debut of the eleventh-generation Civic. 

Airbags & Head Restraints:

The Jetta and Civic have their share of airbags. Both are equipped with front and side airbags for the front row and side curtain units that protect the head in an accident or rollover. However, the Civic again has an edge due to airbag placement beyond what the Jetta offers. 

In particular, the Civic has a knee airbag for each front-row position, helping to better position the body during a collision to minimize injuries. The Jetta lacks this feature. Further, the rear outboard positions in the Civic are protected by side impact airbags. Again, technology that doesn’t exist in the Jetta. Interestingly, Volkswagen’s luxury division, Audi, was one of the first automakers to offer rear seat side airbags. 

Neither the Jetta nor the Civic comes with overhead airbags. This newer technology replaces traditional front-row units (steering wheel and dashboard) with overhead devices. Active head restraints are usually found in specialty and high-end vehicles to minimize whiplash injuries. Mainstream cars like the Jetta and Civic aren’t usually equipped with this feature.

Driver-Focused Features and Equipment:

Quick Take: Honda makes adaptive cruise control standard across the board with the Civic, while Volkswagen does the same with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in the Jetta. 

Semi-Autonomous Driving:

Hands-free driving technology isn’t something you’ll find in price-focused cars like the Jetta and Civic. Instead, drivers will encounter semi-autonomous driving features as optional or standard equipment. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the lower Jetta trims were substantially cheaper than their Civic counterparts? Now you’ll know why.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is standard across the Civic line, while it’s an add-on for the Jetta S and Sport. ACC is a driver-assist technology that automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from cars in front. Similarly, lane-keeping support is optional with the Jetta trims but standard on more expensive versions and all Civics. 

Driver Warning Systems & Telematics:

The safety technology advantage shifts to the Jetta when assessing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Both cars have forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection. 

However, all Jetta trims get blind-spot monitoring (BSM) and rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), while these features aren’t available at any price on lower Civic trims and are an option on mid-tier editions. Anyone who’s ever had a blind spot close call (or worse) knows the value of this technology. 

All Civics get lane departure warning (LDW), an option on lower-priced Jettas, and traffic sign recognition (not available on the Jetta). But, if I had to choose, I’d select BSM/RCTA over LDW any day of the week.

Both manufacturers offer telematics (marketed as VW Car-Net or HondaLink) for emergency support, remote vehicle services, and other features. However, Volkswagen offers this technology on all Jettas, while available only with upper-end Civics.

If ADAS technology appears like alphabet soup, check out an effort from AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and other groups working to standardize the terminology for these systems. 

Road Visibility Features:

Seeing LED headlights on a $21,000 Jetta is impressive. It’s not the most expensive equipment, but other automakers usually provide less-effective halogen headlights on their base trims at this price point. That said, I’m surprised that automatic headlights only come with the pricier Jettas; this feature is standard on most new cars, including the Civic. 

Meanwhile, only two Civics (top-end editions) have rain-sensing windshield wipers, compared to it being standard or optional across the Jetta range. Rain-sensing wipers may not be the most crucial feature, but it can matter if you deal with a rainy climate or season. All Jettas and Civics have a rearview monitor, a federal requirement. 

Quick Take: There are no worries about syncing a smartphone to a Jetta or Civic, but getting heated seats can be hot or miss. Civic passengers get more room, while the Civic Hatchback is the cargo champion.

Interior Features:

To the credit of their respective manufacturers, all Jetta and Civic trims come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This feature is necessary for cell phone-dependent buyers (meaning everyone). 

A shopper with heated front seats on their deal-breaker list will have to work a little harder to get this feature. In other words, buy a Jetta SE, SEL, or GLI. Or, choose a Civic Sedan EX or Touring or a Civic Hatchback EX-L.

And speaking of heated seats, some automakers offer this feature through a subscription service. This hasn’t yet happened in the U.S., but in certain countries, BMW offered heated seats for a monthly fee. The advantage is you can shut off the service during warm months, but you’ll need to keep paying (or pay a one-time upfront fee) to activate the heated seats. Recently, BMW announced it was backing away from this practice. Moving forward, the automaker will only charge a subscription for software-based services (like upgraded navigation). Hardware-based features will be part of the vehicle’s initial purchase price. 

One industry study shows mixed results for consumer acceptance of features on demand (FoD), with about one-fifth not even being aware of the concept. 

Interior Dimensions:

There are a couple of interior measurements (rear legroom and headroom, for example) where the Jetta and Civic are evenly matched. Otherwise, the Civic’s extra passenger volume creates extra space in both rows.

In particular, the Civic’s 42.3 inches of front legroom offers a noticeable difference over the 41.1 inches in the Jetta. This Honda also excels with two inches more front and rear shoulder room. There’s also more front hip room. On the other hand, the Jetta has better rear hip room. 

If cargo space is a priority, the Civic Sedan’s 14.8 cubic feet won’t provide much more capacity than the 14.1 cubic feet in the Jetta. However, the Civic Hatchback’s 24.5 cubic feet of rear storage is certainly generous. 

Quick Take: Exterior shades for the Jetta and Civic are the usual collection of monotones with the occasional splash of color. Despite a smaller interior, the Jetta is larger on the outside. 

Exterior Features:

Wheels may also be an afterthought for many car buyers. But wheel size can impact ride quality. Larger rims can translate into better traction and cornering but may result in a bumpier ride. Bigger wheels also offer better aesthetics by filling out the wheel wells more completely. This is why the higher the trim, the larger the wheel. Different materials (steel or alloy) and finishes also help separate the wheels among the various trim levels. 

Don’t expect a Jetta to be available with any wild colors; red or blue is as exciting as it gets. Of course, there are options for black, white, gray, and silver. The choices are similar with the Civic, although Rallye Red and Aegean Blue Metallic are a bit punchier. The true standout is a Civic Type R ordered in can’t-miss Boost Blue Pearl. 

Exterior Dimensions:

A larger interior doesn’t always mean a bigger exterior. In this case, the Jetta is about two inches longer and taller than the Civic sedan. This VW is also about eight inches longer than the Civic hatchback. A few inches here or there won’t matter to most, but the Jetta’s larger size could make for a tighter squeeze in urban settings and smaller garages. 

Yet the Jetta’s greater length doesn’t lead to a longer wheelbase. On the contrary, the Civic is two inches longer between the axles. A greater wheelbase often helps smooth out rough roads and lessens the impact of highway expansion strips. 

If possible, I’d suggest doing a back-to-back Jetta-Civic test drive over the same streets to see if you notice a difference in ride quality.

Quick Take: Honda offers a more traditional approach to the Civic’s warranty, while Volkswagen combines coverage into a more comprehensive but shorter package. 

Honda’s factory warranty is typical for mainstream brands: three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper safeguards and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain protection. In contrast, like many luxury brands, Volkswagen extends its bumper-to-bumper coverage to four years or 50,000 miles. However, VW doesn’t offer extended-term protection for the powertrain. 

In essence, with Volkswagen, you’re betting there won’t be any engine or transmission trouble between years four and five as a trade-off for extra safeguards between years three and four. 

Both automakers offer complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first two years, yet VW has a cut-off at 20,000 miles, compared to 24,000 miles for Honda. The 4,000-mile difference isn’t significant, but could matter to an owner who drives more than 800 miles a month.