How many Civic-versus-Jetta races do you reckon have taken place over the years? These old rivals in the front-wheel-drive world have battled for 40 years, and in 2022 that rivalry is alive and well. The current-generation Civic Si is only available in sedan format, as is the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Both feature turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Both turn just the front wheels. Both are billed as performance models. And both are priced near $30,000.
Do they have similar performance? A quick look at the stats suggests the Jetta holds an advantage. Its boosted 2.0-liter engine dishes up 228 horsepower (170 kilowatts) compared to 200 hp (149 hp) in the Civic. The torque difference is even greater, with the VeeDub generating 258 pound-feet (350 Newton-meters) versus 192 lb-ft (260 Nm). Furthermore, the Jetta GLI for this race features a quick-shifting DSG transmission compared to the Honda's six-speed manual. The only on-paper statistic in the Civic Si's favor is weight, checking in approximately 200 pounds lighter.
