The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta gets 33 to 34 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Jetta at 34 mpg.
In the Compact Cars class for 2026, the Jetta ranks 3rd of 17 for combined mileage (34 mpg), 3rd of 17 for yearly fuel cost ($1,850 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 3rd of 17 for tailpipe CO2 (265 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 30 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 294 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 31 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Jetta's best version, 1 other model gets the same and 202 get less. The 2026 Jetta's cheapest version costs $1,850 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 29 cost less, 1 the same and 195 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Toyota Corolla | 2026 Corolla Hybrid | 50 | $1,250 | 176 |
| 2 | 2026 Lexus UX | 2026 UX 300h (Automatic (AV-S6)) | 43 | $1,450 | 204 |
| 3 | 2026 Volkswagen JettaThis car | 2026 Jetta | 34 | $1,850 | 265 |
| 4 | 2026 Mini Cooper | 2026 Cooper C 4 Door | 32 | $2,400 | 276 |
| 4 | 2026 MINI Cooper | 2026 Cooper S 4 Door | 32 | $2,400 | 273 |
| 6 | 2026 BMW 2 Series | 2026 228 Gran Coupe | 31 | $2,500 | 279 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Jetta, 4-cyl 1.5 L: 29 mpg city, 40 highway, 34 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Jetta version is $1,850 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Compact Cars class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Jetta costs $584 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Jetta costs $2,920 less to fuel than the Cooper (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Jetta (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Jetta | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mini Cooper | 2026 Cooper C 4 Door | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 2 lower | $550 more a year | - |
| 2026 MINI Cooper | 2026 Cooper S 4 Door | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 2 lower | $550 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW 2 Series | 2026 228 Gran Coupe | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 3 lower | $650 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 29 | 40 | 34 | $1,850 | 265 | cheapest |
| 2026 Jetta Sport/SE/SEL | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 29 | 40 | 33 | $1,900 | 271 | +$50 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Jetta; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Jetta puts out 265 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 265 to 271.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Jetta: fuel economy score 6, greenhouse gas score 6.
Best combined figure of the Jetta gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 33 mpg | 44 mpg | 7 | 10 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 33 mpg | none | 5 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 33 mpg | none | 4 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 34 mpg | none | 4 | same as 2026 | |
| 2020 | 34 mpg | none | 4 | same as 2026 | |
| 2021 | 34 mpg | none | 4 | same as 2026 | |
| 2022 | 35 mpg | none | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 35 mpg | none | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 34 mpg | none | 3 | same as 2026 | |
| 2025 | 33 mpg | none | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 34 mpg | none | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 33 to 34 mpg (up 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 34 mpg | 33 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Jetta Sport/SE/SEL, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 33 mpg | 33 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 4 DR N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI 4 DR N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 6 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: JETTA, JETTA GLI.
6 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
0 of the 6 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: JETTA, JETTA GLI.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: JETTA, JETTA GLI.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Jetta itself is at 34 mpg.
More Volkswagen models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Jetta with 34 mpg combined (29 city, 40 highway).
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta costs between $1,850 and $1,900 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Jetta at $1,850; the dearest is the 2026 Jetta Sport/SE/SEL at $1,900. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is 3rd of 17 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla at 50 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 30 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Lexus UX at 43 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Mini Cooper at 32 mpg.
The 2025 model had 2 tested versions and the 2026 model has 2. The best figure went from 33 to 34 mpg (up 1).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 4 DR N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI 4 DR N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
6 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (3 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.