Volkswagen Jetta vs Honda Civic

    By Autolist Editorial | October 19 2018

    2018 Volkswagen Jetta

    2018 Honda Civic

    Our User's Take

    What owners think


    100%

    Would Buy Again

    3 Ratings

    88%

    Would Buy Again

    24 Ratings


    What’s better about the Jetta?

    Refinement. VW has long been known for sprinkling a refreshing dose of European refinement into its mainstream vehicles and this Jetta is no different. You’ll find the Jetta’s build quality and interior noise levels to be a touch more upscale than the Civic’s.

    Space. Technically the Jetta is in a different segment than the Civic because it has more interior space. This is a win for buyers who will appreciate the extra headroom and legroom throughout the Jetta’s interior.


    What’s better about the Civic?

    Reliability. Consumer Reports gave the 2018 Civic a 3/5 for reliability while the organization gave the 2018 Jetta a 2/5. That gives you extra peace of mind if you choose the Honda.

    Body styles. Coupe? Hatchback? Sedan? No matter what shape you’d like your compact car to come in, Honda has you covered. It’s one of the few automakers in this segment to offer all three variants, each with its own strengths (utility for the hatch, style and sportiness for the coupe, everyday practicality for the sedan). The Jetta is sedan-only.

    It’s newer. This generation of Civic was introduced in 2016 while this generation of Jetta was introduced in 2011. That means the Civic will be a more modern vehicle, with better amenities and safety features.

    Efficient. The Civic with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that’s on most models is rated by the EPA at 32/42/36 MPG city/highway/combined. That’s quite a bit higher than the most common Jetta powertrain (1.8-liter turbo), which the EPA rates at 24/33/28.


    Autolist’s take:

    The 2018 Jetta is a perfectly capable and refined model and its added space over the Civic would be appreciated by anyone. But it’s aging; an entirely new generation went on sale for the 2019 model year with substantial updates. Meanwhile the 2018 Civic is relatively new and it has everything you’re looking for in a compact car: efficiency, safety and reliability. Therefore we say Buy the Civic.


    Cost of Ownership

    2018 Volkswagen Jetta

    2018 Honda Civic

    Annual Fuel Costs

    $1,888
    15k miles at $3.399/gal
    $2,039
    15k miles at $3.399/gal
    Fuel Economy

    24 mpg (miles per gallon)
    City
    22 mpg (miles per gallon)
    City
    33 mpg (miles per gallon)
    Highway
    28 mpg (miles per gallon)
    Highway

    Safety

    2018 Volkswagen Jetta

    2018 Honda Civic

    NHTSA Crash Test Results

    5 star
    Overall
    Overall
    Safety Features

    Available
    Autonomous Braking
    Available
    Autonomous Braking
    Available
    Blind-Spot Warnings
    -
    Blind-Spot Warnings
    Standard
    Adaptive Cruise Control
    Standard
    Adaptive Cruise Control
    -
    Lane-Keep Assist
    Available
    Lane-Keep Assist
    Available
    Cross-Traffic Alert
    -
    Cross-Traffic Alert

    Interior

    2018 Volkswagen Jetta

    2018 Honda Civic

    Interior Features

    Available
    Leather
    -
    Leather
    Available
    Moonroof
    Available
    Moonroof
    Available
    Heated Seats
    Available
    Heated Seats
    Available
    Keyless Entry
    Available
    Keyless Entry
    Available
    Climate Control
    Standard
    Climate Control
    Technology

    Available
    Apple Carplay
    Available
    Apple Carplay
    Available
    Android Auto
    Available
    Android Auto
    Available
    Satellite Radio
    Available
    Satellite Radio
    Standard
    Bluetooth
    Standard
    Bluetooth
    Available
    Navigation System
    Available
    Navigation System

    Under the Hood

    2018 Volkswagen Jetta

    2018 Honda Civic

    Powertrain

    5-Speed Manual
    Transmission
    6-Speed Manual
    Transmission
    FWD
    Drivetrain
    FWD
    Drivetrain
    Drivetrain

    150+ HP @ 5000 RPM
    Horsepower
    158+ HP @ 6500 RPM
    Horsepower
    184+ lb-ft @ 1400 RPM
    Torque
    138+ lb-ft @ 4200 RPM
    Torque
    I4
    Cylinders
    I4
    Cylinders