The Volkswagen Jetta Is Falling Behind Its Biggest Rivals
The Volkswagen Jetta is still one of the best sedans on the market. However, it sold far less units in 2023 than the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. The three cars offer many of the same features, but it seems people are less likely to buy the Jetta than options from Honda or Toyota. The Volkswagen Jetta has faced declining sales for several years now.
Here’s a look into why.
The Volkswagen Jetta isn’t among the best sedans for sales
The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta and the new model are both beloved cars. However, it seems this long-running sedan can’t catch the 2024 Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic in sales. According to GoodCarBadCar, the Volkswagen Jetta sold about 47,407 units in the US in 2023. However, the iconic Honda Civic managed 200,381 for 2023. Additionally, it’s already sold 36,677 units in 2024.
Regarding the Toyota Corolla, it moved 232,369 units in 2023. 2024 has also been a great year for the compact sedan, as 36,743 people have bought it. Buyers should note that the Volkswagen Jetta hasn’t sold over 100,000 units in a year since 2019. However, neither the Toyota Corolla nor the Honda Civic has had any problem reaching and surpassing that milestone.
The Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic have higher ratings
There could be any number of reasons why the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic sold so many more units than the Volkswagen Jetta in 2023. However, given that they offer similar features, the problem has to be related to ratings and reputation. For starters, J.D. Power considers the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta to be an overall ‘average’ vehicle. It’s only ‘great’ when it comes to reliability.
However, the marketing research firm considers the 2024 Honda Civic an overall ‘great’ vehicle. It has an 83 out of 100, whereas the new Volkswagen Jetta only has a 79. Buyers should note that the 2024 Toyota Corolla also doesn’t have the highest ratings. It only has a 77 out of 100. Still, people seem to trust the Corolla name.
There might be one other reason fewer people bought the Volkswagen Jetta in 2023 than its rivals. According to a study from Consumer Reports, Volkswagen ranks near the bottom for brand reputation. In fact, it came in at number 28 out of the 29 automakers surveyed. It scored a two out of five, and only 51% of buyers would get another Volkswagen.
Though sales for the Volkswagen Jetta are a far cry from what they were, it’s still a popular car. However, the warning signs are here that this could change. Additionally, there have been rumors over the years that Volkswagen could discontinue the Jetta. However, it seems only time will tell.
