2022 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite the automaker's overall sales decline due to various global issues, remained a steadfast performer. It accounted for more than 61 percent of Volkswagen's U.S. car sales in the previous year, and this figure rose to 70 percent in the first quarter of 2022. The Jetta received a mild makeover for 2022, including an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The design changes were subtle, with minor updates to the front fascia, bumper, and grille, and new wheel designs and metallic colors added to the paint palette. The interior also saw subtle but appealing updates, including new seat patterns and contrast stitching.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with the most variety found in the 2.5 S lineup, offering five trim levels and a choice between FWD and AWD. The top-of-the-line hatchback in 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim featured a sophisticated design with refined materials and polished metallic finishes. The Mazda3's appearance, while not universally appealing, had a certain artistry. The interior was driver-centric, with excellent thigh and side bolster support, and a snug but comfortable fit. However, the back seat was less accommodating, especially for taller passengers, and lacked rear air conditioning vents and USB ports.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four, offering a slight increase in horsepower. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the manual transmission rated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic transmission models had slightly different ratings, with the S and Sport models achieving 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while the SE and SEL models were rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Jetta offered a comfortable ride, though the powertrain had some drawbacks, including a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The steering was accurate but lacked feedback, and the overall driving experience was somewhat tepid.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered three engine options. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, with a focus on fuel economy, achieving 31 mpg combined. The 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, available with either FWD or AWD. The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine, producing 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on regular gas, or 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The turbocharged Mazda3 was fun to drive, with smooth power delivery and excellent handling. However, the fuel economy was lower than advertised, and the brakes showed signs of fade during aggressive driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with comfortable seats and a driver-centric cabin. The front seats had a slightly inclined bottom cushion edge, which might not be appreciated by those with shorter legs. The cabin featured buttons for quick access to climate control, audio, and seat controls, as well as usable storage spaces, including door pockets, a center console bin, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin, while not large, was still functional, though the lack of a latch on the compartment cover was unusual.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 had a low seating position, making entry and exit challenging, especially with small door openings. The front seats provided a snug but comfortable fit, with excellent thigh and side bolster support. The interior was driver-focused, with user-friendly controls and padded armrests. However, the back seat was less accommodating, particularly for taller passengers, and lacked rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The cargo space in the hatchback was limited, with 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received an upgrade in technology, with all models equipped with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The S, Sport, and SE models had an 8-inch display, while the SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The Jetta SEL also had an 8-inch MIB3 infotainment system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, and enhanced voice recognition. The standard infotainment system in the S, Sport, and SE trims was a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensors, App-Connect, Bluetooth, and USB-C ports. The voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, often requiring manual input for accuracy.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch static display and primary controls on the center console. Mazda's approach to avoiding touchscreen distractions included steering wheel controls and a voice recognition system. However, the lack of a physical tuning function and the need for specific voice commands were drawbacks. The system required the driver to look at the display for command suggestions, which was distracting. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration helped mitigate some of these issues. Mazda Connected Services provided remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app, and an eight-speaker audio system was standard, with a 12-speaker Bose system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's suite of driver-assistance technologies. 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 added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The full IQ.Drive safety suite was standard on the SE and SEL trims. The 2022 Jetta had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the 2021 model received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with some lower scores for headlights and LATCH use.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 excelled in safety, with standard features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all assessments and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.