2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series returned to its traditional familial look, reminiscent of the classic E30 3 Series. However, the G20 3 Series appeared stuffy, with a large, oddly-shaped grille that seemed out of place on the smaller sedan. The design lacked distinctive features beyond the grille and headlights, which referenced older models' "halo" lights. Our test car, equipped with the optional M Sport trim package, featured M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, adding some flair. The interior design was nice but marred by unimpressive materials, with plastic trim and fake-looking Ash wood. Leather upholstery was optional, with synthetic Sensatec material as standard. The optional M heated steering wheel looked out of place in the otherwise conservative interior.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, a best-seller for three decades, received a mild makeover for 2022, including an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The Jetta's design changes were subtle, with more chrome on the front fascia, bumper, and grille. The rear bumper was less squatty and more square, with full-length chrome extending from deflector to deflector. New wheel designs and metallic colors were added to the paint palette. The Jetta's interior updates included a new rhombus pattern on standard cloth seats and contrast stitching on all upholstery types. The leather-wrapped steering wheel was standard on all trims except the entry-level Jetta S. The 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster was now standard across the lineup, with the Jetta SEL receiving the 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains. The base 330i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 330e plug-in hybrid combined a less-powerful version of that engine with electric assist, for a total of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, including an XtraBoost overboost function. The M340i featured a turbo inline-six, producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All powertrains were available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M340i could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the base 330i took 5.6 seconds. The RWD 330e matched the gasoline 330i's zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds, despite the extra weight of the battery pack and hybrid components. However, the transition from electric to gasoline power was clunky, and the driving experience was less engaging than past 3 Series models. The chassis provided a comfortable highway ride and excellent handling, but the overall driving experience felt disconnected and underwhelming.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a single engine: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, replacing the previous model year's 1.4-liter turbo-four. The new engine produced 158 horsepower, an increase of 11 hp, and maintained 184 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the stick-shift model estimated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic transmission models had slightly different ratings, with S and Sport trims at 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL trims were rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. On a road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg, requiring only two fill-ups for a roughly 1,000-mile journey. The Jetta's powertrain had a touchy throttle, turbo lag, and surge, with tepid dynamics. The Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes offered varying levels of responsiveness, but overall acceleration was good. The eight-speed automatic performed well on the highway, but the power delivery felt jumpy in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered better-than-average interior space for a small luxury sedan. Rear headroom was the best in the segment, and front headroom was above average, though still behind the Infiniti Q50. Legroom in both rows was about average, with rear-seat passengers potentially feeling cramped if a long-legged person was in front. The 3 Series had 17 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models, but the 330e plug-in hybrid's battery pack reduced trunk space to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's long-and-narrow shape required an awkward reach to maximize space, though a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. The cockpit was well-designed, with a touchscreen positioned for easy reach and good outward visibility.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided ample passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five if needed. The front seats' bottom cushion inclined slightly for thigh support, which might not be appreciated by those with shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats easily accessible. Driving-related controls were logically placed next to the shifter. The Jetta offered usable storage space, including door pockets, a center console bin, a slot next to the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin was small but functional, though it lacked a latch, which was unusual.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Gasoline models included both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 330e only had CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster and navigation, with a head-up display (HUD) also available. The infotainment system in our 330e test car, equipped with Live Cockpit Professional, felt premium, with high-quality graphics and responsive controls. BMW provided multiple control options, including the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, a voice assistant, and gesture controls. Some features, like gesture control, felt gimmicky but were optional, allowing users to choose their preferred method of control.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE trims had an 8-inch display, while the Jetta SEL featured the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The standard infotainment system in S, Sport, and SE trims was a 6.5-inch Volkswagen MIB2 system, with capacitive-touch sensors and smartphone-like operation. App-Connect allowed for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. The Jetta SEL had the newer 8-inch MIB3 system, adding navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, multi-phone pairing, and enhanced voice recognition. The SEL also included HD Radio, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Car-Net Hotspot subscription, and a Plus Nav package. The premium Beats Audio sound system and remote start were also available. The voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, requiring specific prompts and often misunderstanding inputs. The touchscreen was fast and responsive.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series received a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, headlight scores were mixed, and the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional driver-assist system scored lower than the base system in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published safety ratings for the 2021 BMW 3 Series. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Driving Assistant Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automated lane centering, with a stop-and-go function and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. A lower-level Driving Assistant Package included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while a parking-assist package with a 360-degree camera system and automated parking aid was also available.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's driver-assistance tech. The Jetta S and Sport included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian recognition. The Driver Assistance package, available for automatic transmission models, added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist for speeds over 20 mph on clearly marked roads, issuing driver warnings if hands strayed from the wheel. Emergency Assist worked with lane-keep assist or Travel Assist, stopping the vehicle and activating hazard lights if the driver was unresponsive. The full IQ.DRIVE safety list was standard on Jetta SE and SEL trims. The 2022 Jetta had not yet received crash safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but the 2021 Jetta received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with lower scores for headlights, LATCH use, and overall structure and safety cage.