Volkswagen Jetta Vs. Honda Civic: Compact Sedans Compared

Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic: Performance and Safety

When you compare Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic standard power outputs, the Jetta starts off with a clear advantage. It can produce 158 horsepower, while the Honda Civic can only muster 150 horsepower.

Of course, horsepower is only half the engine-power equation. The other is torque, and the Jetta makes 184 pound-feet of it. The Civic, meanwhile, has 133 pound-feet of torque as standard. In both regards, the VW model outpaces the Honda.

This standard turbo performance lets the Jetta achieve a 7.1-second 0-60 mph time with an automatic transmission.¹ Choose the Civic, and you'll end up behind in the Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic performance battle because it'll manage an 8.9-second 0-60 mph time at best.²

It's worth noting that both of these vehicles also offer sportier variations in the new Volkswagen Jetta GLI and the 2025 Honda Civic Si. Both come equipped with a six-speed manual transmission that will appeal to enthusiasts. However, the Jetta GLI also offers an available automatic gearbox, making its adrenaline-pumping performance accessible to more drivers. The same can't be said about the Civic Si – yet another area in which it falls short in the Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic comparison.

You may wonder, does this extra performance come at the cost of efficiency and safety, right? You're in luck – the answer is no.

The Civic, in its entry LX trim, delivers an EPA-estimated 32/41 MPG (City/Highway),³ while the faster Jetta, in its entry S trim, delivers an EPA-estimated 29/40 MPG (City/Highway),⁴ making things essentially equal here. But, for Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic safety, the Jetta goes far further with its standard features.

The Civic does not have a standard Blind-Spot Monitor and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring, but the Jetta does. The Civic also requires a trim upgrade for features like Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, and yet, this is a standard perk on the base-trim Jetta, which also happens to cost less than the base-trim Civic.

That price difference also makes Adaptive Cruise Control an even more appealing aspect of the Jetta, as it's a standard feature.

Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic Dimensions and Cargo Space

Rounding out the Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic review, these two compact sedans are similarly sized and offer similar cargo volumes.

The Jetta measures 186.5 inches in overall length and has a 70.8-inch wide (not counting the mirrors) and 57.7-inch tall body. This car can seat five, but so can the Civic. The Civic, specifically, is a compact sedan that has an overall length of 184 inches and a 70.9-inch wide, 55.7-inch tall body.

Even though Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Civic dimensions mark the Civic as a smaller vehicle, the Jetta has a tighter turning circle, needing 36 feet to turn around. The Civic needs 36.1 feet, which, while similar, is surprising given the car's smaller size. And because of its smaller size, the Civic also has lesser interior dimensions, such as 48.9 inches of rear hip room and 37.1 inches of rear headroom. The Jetta has up to 51.4 inches of rear hip room and up to 37.2 inches of rear headroom.

Both sedans have around 14 cubic feet of cargo space, but as the new Volkswagen Jetta has better interior measurements and more maneuverability, thanks to its narrower stance and shorter turning circle, it's the winner of this battle.

And as the winner of the performance, standard safety features, and interior features battles, too, the Jetta is probably looking pretty tempting by now. If you're ready to see it in person and experience its winning attributes for yourself, come by Gunther Volkswagen Daytona Beach and ask to take one on a test drive.