Which 2026 Volkswagen Jetta trim should you buy?
$23,995 to $33,745. What each step up the ladder costs and what becomes standard for the money, cheapest first, from Volkswagen's own press kit — so you can see where the price goes before a dealer walks you up it.
Most standard equipment per dollar: S FWD → Sport FWD, +$1,310 for 13 features made standard.
Sport $25,305
+$1,310 over the S FWD.
Standard here, not on the S FWD: 17-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels (different designs per trim), Black headliner, Black mirror caps, Black window trim, Front accent lights, Front sport comfort seats, Heated front seats, Light bar in grille, Lowered sport suspension (-0.6 inches vs base car), Molekular cloth seating surfaces, Rear seat center armrest with cup holders, Stainless steel pedal caps, XDS differential
MPG comb 34 mpg → 33 mpg · Wheels 16 in → 17 in
SE $26,985
+$1,680 over the Sport FWD.
Standard here, not on the Sport FWD: 6-speaker sound system, 6-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, KESSY keyless access with push-button start, MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports, 1 charge-only port), SiriusXM with 360L (3-mo Platinum Plan trial), voice control, MicroCloud leatherette seating surfaces, Panoramic power tilt-and-slide sunroof, Remote start, Steering wheel & gearshift stitching, Wireless charging
SEL $29,995
+$3,010 over the SE FWD.
Standard here, not on the SE FWD: 10-color ambient lighting, 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels (different designs per trim), 3-line door card stitching, 8-speaker Volkswagen Premium Audio system, 8-way power adjustable driver's seat with memory and lumbar support, Center & door armrest stitching w/ contrast stitching, Front accent lights, Heated front washer nozzles and windshield wiper park, Heated rear seats, Heated steering wheel, High Beam Control (Light Assist), LED projector headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), Leather seating surfaces, Light bar in grille and 4 more
Wheels 17 in → 18 in
GLI Autobahn $33,745
+$3,750 over the SEL FWD.
Standard here, not on the SEL FWD: Aluminum gearshift knob/handle, Black headliner, DCC adaptive damping system, Drive Mode Selection, Honeycomb lower front grille with red accent line, Illuminated door sills, Interior contrast stitching in red, Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with touch control (DSG w/ shift paddles), MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports, 1 charge-only port), SiriusXM with 360L (3-mo Platinum Plan trial), voice control, Mk7 Golf R front brakes, Multi-link independent rear suspension, Stainless steel pedal caps, VAQ limited-slip differential, Variable-ratio steering and 1 more
HP 158 hp → 228 hp · Torque 184 lb-ft → 258 lb-ft · MPG comb 33 mpg → 29 mpg
Each trim is measured against the nearest cheaper trim with the same drivetrain and powertrain, so a step shows equipment rather than the price of all-wheel drive. "Standard here" means the press kit lists it as standard on this trim and not as standard on the one below — it may have been an option there. MSRP excludes destination. Confirm a specific car against its window sticker.
Compare two trims side by side → Back to the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Common questions about the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta trims
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich 2026 Volkswagen Jetta trim is the best value?
On standard equipment per dollar, the step from the S FWD to the Sport FWD: $1,310 more for 13 features the press kit lists as standard on the Sport FWD and not on the S FWD. Whether those features are worth it to you is the real answer — the list is on this page.
How much do the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta trims cost?
5 trims, from $23,995 for the S FWD to $33,745 for the GLI Autobahn FWD. Manufacturer MSRP, excluding destination, options, taxes and dealer fees.