Volkswagen · Compact cars · Gasoline
Volkswagen Jetta: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
The Volkswagen Jetta has 2 rated versions for 2026, from 33 to 34 MPG combined; its most efficient version is 11th of 21 compact cars, in the upper half, ahead of 50% of the others.
- 34MPG combined11th of 21 in class
- $1,950a year in fuel11th of 21 in class
- 265g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is 2nd of 9 gasoline compact cars, in the top quarter, ahead of 88% of the others. The median of that narrower group is 26 MPG, against 34 MPG for all compact cars together.
Across every class it is 4th of 180 gasoline models, in the top quarter, ahead of 98% of the others.
Volkswagen has 7 models in the 2026 data. This one ranks 2nd of them on combined rating, against a make median of 29 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Toyota Corolla at 35 MPG and just behind it is the Mini Cooper at 32 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
The file prices the fuel for its most efficient version at about $1,950 a year, assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon. That is level with the compact cars median of $1,950.
Tailpipe CO2 is 265 g/mile, about level with the compact cars median of 265 g/mile.
Rated versions
In the city the most efficient version is rated 29 and on the highway 40, 11 better on the open road. 2 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, Jetta: 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD, gets 34 MPG; the least efficient listed, Jetta Sport/SE/SEL: 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD, gets 33 MPG, a gap of 1 MPG. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $100 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta: 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD | 34 | 29 | 40 | $1,950 | 265 |
| Jetta Sport/SE/SEL: 1.5 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD | 33 | 29 | 40 | $2,050 | 271 |
Year by year
The Volkswagen Jetta is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Its best combined rating is 34 MPG in both 2019 and 2026. The highest figure came in 2022, at 35. The number of rated versions shrank from 4 to 2.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 34 | 33 | $1,950 | 265 | 34 |
| 2025 | 2 | 33 | 33 | $2,050 | 271 | 30.5 |
| 2024 | 3 | 34 | 33 | $1,950 | 263 | 30 |
| 2023 | 3 | 35 | 33 | $1,900 | 256 | 29 |
| 2022 | 3 | 35 | 33 | $1,900 | 256 | 30 |
| 2021 | 4 | 34 | 28 | $1,950 | 260 | 30 |
| 2020 | 4 | 34 | 28 | $1,950 | 263 | 30 |
| 2019 | 4 | 34 | 28 | $1,950 | 262 | 30.5 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | Gasoline | 35 | $1,900 | 2026 |
| Mini Cooper | Gasoline | 32 | $2,550 | 2026 |
| BMW 3 Series Hybrid | Hybrid | 31 | $2,650 | 2026 |
| Volkswagen GLI | Gasoline | 29 | $2,300 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 29 | $2,850 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Compact cars, Gasoline, Volkswagen, Gasoline compact cars.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.