Published April 08 2021

2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 Toyota Corolla: Enjoy the road

Compact sedans remain a major concern for automakers and their popularity has remained stable over the years. Within the compact segment are numerous cars that have a long-established reputation and are quite popular with their respective owners. Two prime examples are the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2021 Toyota Corolla.

These two vehicles are among the best-selling in the world and are two of the oldest nameplates in the segment. They have earned an enviable reputation that other automakers can only be jealous of, and they remain two of the most popular options in the Canadian compact sedan segment. They are, however, two very distinct vehicles with two very distinct personalities.

The Corolla is known for reliability and comfort while the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is known for offering German-engineered driving pleasure and performance, the most advanced technologies in the segment, plenty of interior space, and impressive comfort in its own right. Choosing between the Jetta and Corolla comes down to identifying your needs, and determining what matters most to you.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offers more performance and better fuel economy

Here is an overview of how the 2021 Jetta compares to the 2021 Corolla in terms of specs.

	2021 Volkswagen Jetta	2021 Toyota Corolla
Base Engine (HP/Torque)	147/184	139/126
Optional Engine (HP/Torque)	-	169/151
Base Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	7.8/5.9 l/100 km	8.1/6.3 l/100 km

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that offers more torque than any other engine in the segment, and more torque than any engine option in the Corolla lineup.

The Jetta is much more powerful than the Corolla, regardless of the engine that powers the latter. The 2021 Toyota Corolla comes standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 139 horsepower, while a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 169 horsepower is also offered. The latter develops 151 lb-ft of torque, which means that on the road, the Jetta is still faster.

It also remains more fuel efficient with an average fuel consumption of just 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers in the city and 5.9 liters per 100 kilometers on the highway. This is much more interesting than the 1.8-liter engine in the Corolla, which averages 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers in the city and 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers on the highway. The optional engine in the 2021 Corolla family is even less efficient.