2026 BMW 4 Series vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 86.3 to 65.6, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on performance.
2026 BMW 4 Series
The 2026 BMW 4 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact sedan with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 430i Coupe, is EPA-rated a…
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2026 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 34 …
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Clear winThe Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 86.3 to 65.6, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on performance.
| Category · weight | 2026 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 86.3 | 2026 BMW 4 Seriesoverall 65.6 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 79.5 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 77.7 | 71 | ||||||||||||
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 & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 62.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 21.4 | ||||||||||||
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 | 86.3 | 65.6 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Volkswagen Jetta: base trim S FWD · BMW 4 Series: base trim 430i Convertible RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins
- It lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (14 points against 3 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,650).
Where the 2026 BMW 4 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 255 hp against 158.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 85.
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
52 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $23,995 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,498 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI | 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | TSI | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 158 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 29 mpg | 27 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 34 mpg | 30 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 40 mpg | 35 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.24 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | — |
| Overall height | 57.7 in | — |
| Overall length | 187 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.8 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 51.2 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.1 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 94.7 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.5 in | 40.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.2 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 36.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.1 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 37.4 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,998 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,998 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,167 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 915 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | strut-type with lower control arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | torsion beam, coil springs, telescopic dampers | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | rack and pinion, electric power assist | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.8 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 287 mm | — |
| Front brake type | vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | electro-mechanical | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 272 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60 R16 92H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.8 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Volkswagen Car-Net | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | 57.7 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 46.2 in |
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
57 features · differences first, then sharedSafety17 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go | std | — |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Rear Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | std | — |
| Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor) | std | — |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | std | — |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | std | — |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | std | — |
| IQ.DRIVE (Travel Assist, Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, ACC Stop & Go, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist) | std | — |
| Rearview Camera | std | — |
| Stability Control | std | — |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | std | — |
Infotainment7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| 4-speaker sound system | std | — |
| Bluetooth connectivity | std | — |
| MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports) | std | — |
| steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters | — | std |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | std | — |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front comfort seats | std | — |
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | std | — |
Interior6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror | std | — |
| Center & door armrest stitching | std | — |
| Headroom front / rear: 40.6 in / 36.1 in (Convertible) | — | std |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | std | — |
| Shoulder room front / rear: 57.7 in / 46.2 in (Convertible) | — | std |
Exterior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| Body style: Convertible | — | std |
| Body-colored bumpers | std | — |
| Heated side mirrors | std | — |
| LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | std | — |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Power-adjustable, manual folding, side mirrors | std | — |
| Rain-sensing wipers | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
Powertrain13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | std | — |
| 0-60 mph: 6 s (430i Convertible) | — | std |
| 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder | — | std |
| 255 hp | — | std |
| 295 lb-ft torque | — | std |
| 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control | — | std |
| Displacement: 1998 cc | — | std |
| Fuel economy city: 27 MPG (430i Convertible) | — | std |
| Fuel economy combined: 30 MPG (430i Convertible) | — | std |
| Fuel economy highway: 35 MPG (430i Convertible) | — | std |
| Gasoline fuel type | — | std |
| Rear-wheel drive | — | std |
| Top speed: 130 mph | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase: 112.2 in (Convertible / Coupe) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPVolkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
BMW 4 Series
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 25V643000 · 4 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Volkswagen JettaS FWD | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,995 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $23,995 – $33,745 5 trims | — 12 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Jetta | 430i Coupe |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 34 | 31 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,950 | $2,650 |
| 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 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 BMW 4 Series?
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 86.3 to 65.6, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta scores 86.3 and the 2026 BMW 4 Series 65.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 BMW 4 Series?
2026 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 1 recall. 2026 BMW 4 Series: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 1 recall. 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 2026 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2026 BMW 4 Series?
Where the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (14 points against 3 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,650). Where the 2026 BMW 4 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA) and makes 255 hp against 158. What they share: a Safety Signal of 85.