In 2024, I drove some 30-odd automobiles, sufficient for many of them to mix collectively right into a hazy mush. There are exceptions, in fact, however the infinite sea of grey SUVs is sort of indistinguishable in my reminiscence. However as a metropolis dweller, they nearly all undergo from the identical issues: They’re too massive for Seattle’s slim streets, troublesome to parallel park, and have poor visibility (particularly for pedestrians). To not point out they’re typically fairly boring to drive.

So when a vivid blue 2025 Volkswagen Jetta ended up in my parking spot for every week, it was an instantaneous standout. It isn’t the proper automotive, however it’s a automotive, and that alone made it one in every of my favourite drives of final yr.

The Jetta is mildly refreshed for 2025, though underneath the pores and skin it’s nonetheless the identical MK7 platform that debuted in 2018. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder nonetheless places out 158 horsepower, and the eight-speed computerized is the one transmission. VW killed the handbook on all Jetta trims outdoors of the sporty GLI.

The Jetta is remarkably environment friendly, with 33 mixed metropolis/freeway miles per gallon; I hit this quantity simply in my top-trim SEL take a look at automotive. Base consumers get this drivetrain, too, and for a beginning worth of simply $23,220—which makes the Jetta one of many most cost-effective vehicles on sale in 2025—it’s incredible.

Professionals: It is An Precise Sedan, It is Painted In An Precise Colour, Nonetheless Extra Pleasing To Drive Than Most SUVs

Nearly as spectacular because the Jetta’s worth is how vigorous the turbo motor feels when it’s not lugging 4 thousand kilos of steel. A curb weight of only a contact over 3,000 kilos makes it really feel markedly extra thrilling than lots of the bigger automobiles I’ve pushed just lately. Sixy miles per hour occurs in simply over 7 seconds, which isn’t essentially fast, however the low trip peak makes that journey off the road a lot livelier than an equal SUV.

Regardless of the torsion-bar rear suspension, the trip is snug sufficient for the value level and doesn’t really feel fully numb or floaty when hucking the Jetta by an off-ramp. The steering is extra relaxed, however once more—it seems low-strung steering in a automotive is extra participating than tensed-up, twitch-reflexes in a crossover.

Let’s be trustworthy: The Jetta is about as mundane a sedan because it will get, and I discovered myself having real enjoyable in it. Why?

I’m satisfied many of the Jetta’s enjoyable issue comes all the way down to seating place and cabin design. The driving force is low to the bottom—thanks, sedan trip peak—and can also be low relative to the cabin flooring. Your legs are outstretched, your heels sit in entrance, and your arms nearer to chin stage. It feels dynamic at relaxation—like many efficiency sedans of yore. Throw within the Jetta’s massive, ethereal greenhouse, and when in movement, you see extra: extra pavement, extra movement blur. The feeling of pace is heightened.

With all of those sedan elements effectively performed up, the Jetta feels vigorous even at low speeds. And, once I was confronted with parallel parking in Seattle, it felt simpler than it has in any automotive I’ve had in ages. Certain, the Jetta has a comparatively quick 105.7-inch wheelbase and a good 35.8-foot turning circle, however I might additionally see out of it. Rear-view cameras and 360-degree shows are useful, however nothing matches having the ability to intuit the dimensions and form of a automobile simply. The quickest path to that’s merely visibility.

Cons: Ponderous Eight-Velocity Automated, Horrible Contact-Capacitive Controls, Awkwardly Positioned Infotainment Display

The Jetta nonetheless has all the fashionable conveniences that make life really simpler, thoughts you. An 8.0-inch touchscreen and CarPlay/Android Auto are customary; the SEL mannequin I examined had heated and ventilated entrance seats and a bass-heavy however fulfilling Beats-branded 9-speaker sound system. It’s nonetheless acquired comforts; it’s simply not a crossover.

The remainder of the Jetta has some outstanding traits for the small sedan class (cargo quantity is superb for a small sedan, at 14.1 cubic ft of trunk capability) in addition to some disappointing ones (the brand new capacitive-touch HVAC controls are finicky and vastly worse than final yr’s buttons), however at its core, it’s a very well-executed sedan.

Photograph by: Victoria Scott / Motor1

Throw in the truth that the new-for-2025 Monterey Blue Pearl end (seen on my take a look at automotive) is a no-cost possibility accessible on all trims, and it’s an precise reasonably priced automotive that may come painted in an precise honest-to-God shade.

For me, that’s rattling memorable.