2026 BMW i4 vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 75.5 to 62.3, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance.
2026 BMW i4
The 2026 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 7 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 …
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, 75.5 to 62.3, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW i4overall 62.3 | 2026 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 75.5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 41.4 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 31.8 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 80 | 77.7 | ||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 50.8 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 3.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
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 | 62.3 | 75.5 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive40 RWD · Volkswagen Jetta: base trim S FWD. 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 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $33,905 lower ($23,995 against $57,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 118 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
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
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $57,900 | $23,995 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Single all-electric motor | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI |
| Fuel injection system | — | TSI |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 335 hp | 158 hp |
| Torque | 317 lb-ft | 184 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 118 mpg | 34 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 40 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.24 |
| Transmission speeds | 1 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.5 in |
| Overall height | — | 57.7 in |
| Overall length | — | 187 in |
| Overall width | — | 70.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 106 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 |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | 36.6 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 |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 54 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
45 features · differences first, then sharedSafety18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Drive Recorder (added to Parking Assistant Professional package) | opt | — |
| 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 |
Infotainment6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | — | std |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front comfort seats | — | std |
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
Interior5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror | — | std |
| Center & door armrest stitching | — | std |
| Glass Controls | opt | — |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | — | std |
Exterior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | — | 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 |
| Seal & Drive Tire Kit | std | — |
| Shadowline package (Black mirror caps and M Sport brakes with blue callipers) | opt | — |
| Automatic headlights | — | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | — | std |
| Silicon carbide (SiC) inverters | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW i4
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Volkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $57,900 (base trim) | $23,995 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $57,900 – $70,700 3 trims | $23,995 – $33,745 5 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) | Jetta |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 118 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $1,950 |
| EV range | 333 mi | — |
| 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 BMW i4 or the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 75.5 to 62.3, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta scores 75.5 and the 2026 BMW i4 62.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 BMW i4 or the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower — $23,995 against $57,900, a gap of $33,905 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW i4 or the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
2026 BMW i4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 NHTSA stars, 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 BMW i4 and the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
Where the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (14 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $33,905 lower ($23,995 against $57,900 base MSRP). Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA) and is rated 118 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe).