For years, the Toyota Corolla has been one of the best-selling cars in America. There’s no denying that it’s a great car—it’s economical, affordable, and has plenty of desirable features. Does it deserve its reputation as one of the best compact sedans, though?
At Family Volkswagen of Burleson, we submit that the VW Jetta takes the cake for the best small car. It sits at the same price point as the Corolla, but it also provides a number of advantages that the plucky Toyota car just can’t match.
If you’re car shopping in or around Fort Worth, read on to discover why we think the Jetta surpasses the Corolla.
VW Jetta Vs. Corolla: Performance
The 2025 Jetta has a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which was recently refined to increase power and efficiency. It now cranks out 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and with this setup, the testers at Car and Driver say they were able to get it from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds; they also commented that it has a “nice blend of ride quality and handling.”
Meanwhile, the standard 2026 Corolla has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that puts out 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. With this setup, the folks at C&D got a 0 to 60 run in 8.3 seconds. They also described the Corolla’s driving demeanor as “unrefined,” with “bland handling.”
So, while the Corolla indeed has a few more horsepower, the Jetta has a lot more max torque, which translates to better acceleration and a smoother road demeanor.
VW Jetta Vs. Corolla: Interior Space
Both the Jetta and Corolla belong to the compact sedan class, meaning they’re on the smaller end of the size spectrum compared to some other four-door cars. Let’s check out how their interior dimensions compare side by side:
| 2025 Jetta | 2026 Corolla | |
| Passenger capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Head room (front/rear) | 38.5 / 37.2 in | 38.3 / 37.1 in |
| Shoulder room (front/rear) | 55.9 / 54.0 in | 54.0 / 51.7 in |
| Hip room (front/rear) | 53.0 / 51.4 in | 53.9 / 51.3 in |
| Legroom (front/rear) | 41.1 / 37.4 in | 42.0 / 34.8 in |
| Passenger volume | 94.7 cu ft | 88.6 cu ft |
| Trunk volume | 14.1 cu ft | 13.1 cu ft |
At first glance, they seem pretty close. They both have room for five people to ride, and they have similar head room and hip room. The Corolla also has a bit more legroom in the front row. However, the Jetta has far more room overall, with six more cubic feet of total passenger volume and more trunk space.
VW Jetta Vs. Corolla: Technology
The Jetta comes standard with an 8.0-inch VW Digital Cockpit display and an 8.0-inch center touch screen, along with standard App-Connect® for phone pairing, Bluetooth, MyVW+ connected services, and multiple USB ports. Upper-level trims get a larger 10.25 VW digital Cockpit, a native navigation system, wireless phone charging pad, and wireless App-Connect®.
On the other hand, the Corolla comes standard with an 8.0-inch center touch screen and a 7.0-inch driver information display, as well as Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™, Bluetooth, Toyota Connected Services, and a few USB ports. You can also upgrade to a 12.3-inch driver information center and wireless device charging.
All in all, both have a very similar selection of standard and available features, which seemingly puts them neck-and-neck. However, many shoppers and critics alike find that the Jetta’s control layout and infotainment software are more user friendly
VW Jetta Vs. Corolla: Safety
Both the Jetta and Corolla have five-star crash safety ratings from the NHTSA, making them two of the safest compact cars on the road for the current model year. They also come with their own suites of driver assistance technology.
The 2025 Jetta comes standard with IQ.DRIVE, which includes the following features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Go
- Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance)
- Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring)
- Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System)
- Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency)
- Active Blind Spot Monitor
- Rear Traffic Alert
The Corolla also has many of these features, but some don’t come standard, giving the Jetta the edge in terms of overall passenger safety.
Find the Volkswagen Jetta for Sale near Cleburne, TX
The Corolla may be among the most popular cars, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best. For our money, the VW Jetta is the king of small cars, but don’t just take our word for it—we encourage all of our customers to do their research and take a test drive before making a decision.
Visit Family Volkswagen of Burleson to browse our selection of new Jetta models, or if you’re looking for something with a little more oomph, check out the Jetta GLI. Call us at 682-349-1946 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
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