2025 BMW 3 Series vs 2025 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta edges it, 88.1 to 84.2, on price, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and tech & comfort. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 4 and it flips.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at…
2025 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 33 …
2025 Volkswagen Jetta
Slight edgeThe Volkswagen Jetta edges it, 88.1 to 84.2, on price, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and tech & comfort. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 4 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2025 BMW 3 Seriesoverall 84.2 | 2025 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 88.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 50.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 82.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 91.4 | 82.4 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 88.9 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 65.3 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 82.4 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 84.2 | 88.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
BMW 3 Series: base trim 330i RWD · Volkswagen Jetta: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 4 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta wins
- It starts $22,505 lower ($22,995 against $45,500 base MSRP).
- It lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 13.
- It costs $600 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,050 against $2,650).
Where the 2025 BMW 3 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 32 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 255 hp against 158.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
40 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $45,500 | $22,995 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,998 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L Inline-4 TwinPower Turbo 48V MHEV | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI |
| Fuel injection system | High Precision Injection | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | 16V |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 158 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 184 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 39 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.81 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | 8-speed Steptronic | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.7 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.8 in | 57.7 in |
| Overall length | 186 in | 187 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 70.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 113 in | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 16.9 cu-ft | 14.1 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,644 lbs | 3,012 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,644 lbs | 3,012 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,718 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Double-joint spring strut axle, lightweight aluminum-steel, hydraulically damped torque strut bearing | strut-type with lower control arms |
| Rear suspension type | Five-link axle, lightweight aluminum-steel construction | torsion beam |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | EPS with Servotronic | electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 37.4 ft | 35.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 287 mm |
| Front brake type | Vented, single-piston floating calipers | vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 272 mm |
| Rear brake type | Vented, single-piston floating calipers | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | alloy |
| Wheel width | 7.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/45 R18 | 205/60 R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | BMW ConnectedDrive | Car-Net |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
76 features · differences first, then sharedSafety20 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection (Front Assist) | — | std |
| Airbags for driver and front passenger | std | — |
| Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera | — | std |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | — | std |
| Active Blind Spot Monitor | — | std |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | — | std |
| CBC (Cornering Brake Control) | std | — |
| Crash-active front head restraints | std | — |
| DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) | std | — |
| Dry Braking function | std | — |
| Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency) | — | std |
| Fading Compensation | std | — |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | — | std |
| Iq.drive | — | std |
| Performance Control | std | — |
| Rear Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Start-Off Assistant | std | — |
| Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance) | — | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | std |
| Iq.drive | std | std |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Head-Up Display (part of optional BMW Live Cockpit Professional) | opt | — |
| BMW Maps navigation system forming part of the standard BMW Live Cockpit Plus | std | — |
| 4-speaker sound system | — | std |
| App-Connect | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | std | — |
| Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| BMW Curved Display with iDrive 8.5 and QuickSelect (BMW Operating System 8.5) | std | — |
| BMW ID personal user profile linking via QR code | std | — |
| BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant voice command | std | — |
| BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Augmented View (optional) | opt | — |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with touch control (DSG w/ shift paddles) | std | — |
| MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports) | — | std |
| My BMW App integration (vehicle status, remote services, ConnectedDrive Store) | std | — |
| Personal eSIM with 5G mobile communications standard (standard) | std | — |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | — | std |
| Car-Net | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| Front comfort seats | — | std |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
Interior14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | opt | — |
| Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror | — | std |
| Aluminum Fine Brushed interior trim (optional all models) | opt | — |
| Ash Grey open-pored fine-wood trim (optional all models) | opt | — |
| Cascade interior ambient lighting with 9 selectable colors and Welcome/Goodbye Animation | std | — |
| Center & door armrest stitching | — | std |
| Fineline Light open-pored fine-wood interior trim (standard on 330i) | std | — |
| Galvanic controls (window switches, door lock button, air vent stalks) – optional | opt | — |
| Illuminated multifunction steering wheel buttons | std | — |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | — | std |
| New three-spoke flat-bottomed M steering wheel (standard on M340i and 330i M Sport) | opt | — |
| New two-spoke steering wheel with polygonal rim (standard on 330i without M Sport) | std | — |
| Sensatec dashboard with refined surface and contrasting decorative stitching (optional) | opt | — |
Exterior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | — | std |
| 19-inch M alloy wheels double-spoke Style 995M (bi-color or Jet Black) – with M Sport package | opt | — |
| BMW Individual 19-inch alloy wheels Y-spoke Style 1038i bi-color (optional all models) | opt | — |
| Body-colored bumpers | — | std |
| Heated side mirrors | — | std |
| LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| M Sport package (optional on 330i models, standard on M340i models) | opt | — |
| Rain-sensing wipers | — | std |
| Automatic headlights | — | std |
Powertrain3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 48V mild hybrid (MHEV) technology | std | — |
| 8-speed Steptronic transmission (330i) | std | — |
| VAQ limited-slip differential | opt | — |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive M Suspension (optional) | opt | — |
| EPS with Servotronic steering (330i) | std | — |
| M Sport Suspension (optional) | opt | — |
| Variable sport steering (optional on 330i) | opt | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW 3 Series
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 25V202000 · 4,557 vehicles · filed unfixed
Volkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V185000 · 75,323 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW 3 Series330i RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $45,500 (base trim) | $22,995 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $45,500 – $61,600 4 trims | $22,995 – $33,215 5 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 330i Sedan | Jetta |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 31 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,650 | $2,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | 3 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 BMW 3 Series or the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
The Volkswagen Jetta edges it, 88.1 to 84.2, on price, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and tech & comfort. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 4 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta scores 88.1 and the 2025 BMW 3 Series 84.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 BMW 3 Series or the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower — $22,995 against $45,500, a gap of $22,505 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 BMW 3 Series or the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
2025 BMW 3 Series: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 1 recall (1 filed with no repair available). 2025 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 BMW 3 Series and the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta?
Where the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it starts $22,505 lower ($22,995 against $45,500 base MSRP), lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 13, and costs $600 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,050 against $2,650). Where the 2025 BMW 3 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 32 filed with NHTSA) and makes 255 hp against 158. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.