While manufacturers work on the elusive, $25,000 electric car, the internal combustion engine market has gotten a shot in the arm with new, more affordable, more content-rich $25,000 models.

The latest is from Volkswagen, which cut the price on its base, $23k Jetta compact sedan while bringing in more standard safety features. Reskinned for the 2025, the Jetta boasts an impressive 528 miles of gas range.

The Jetta follows the $21,495 Chevrolet Trax, $22,775 Hyundai Elantra and $22,320 Nissan Sentra as recently-introduced entry-level vehicles with significant upgrades.

While Detroit automakers have abandoned sedans for all-SUV lineups, foreign automakers like VW continue to offer compact sedans Like many automakers, VW says it is transitioning to an all-electric lineup and has discontinued development on internal-combustion drivetrains. But VW’s EV lineup in the United States is focused on premium customers, starting with the ID.4 SUV at over $41,000 selling just 28,031 vehicles.

ICE vehicles remain the entrée to the brand and the Jetta easily outsells the ID.4. It aims to continue its job of attracting new buyers with 2025 model year upgrades.

Standard on all Jettas, including the S base trim, is the so-called IQ.Drive system, which uses a suite of hardware – front and rear radar, front camera, and several ultrasound sensors – to equip the sedan with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, forward collision warning, auto emergency braking, pedestrian monitoring, rear backup traffic alert and lane-keep assist.

A floating, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system anchors the horizontal dash and its so-called “three-bar” design. Upper-trim models starting with the SE (likely priced around $27k) now include features like SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, wireless charging and smartphone connect for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Such high-tech goo-gaws were once the domain of luxury vehicles like Mercedes and Tesla, but now are increasingly standard on the market’s most affordable vehicles. This tech is embedded in a new Jetta dash display that mimics the smartphone tablets that define tech culture.

Equipped with a eight-speed automatic transmission, the Jetta starts at $23,220 – $240 less than the 2024 model with an automatic transmission. A cheaper, manual transmission car has been discontinued.

The Jetta’s new interior is wrapped in a sleek, more athletic exterior that echoes the brand’s GTI hot hatch. The front grille has been slimmed and the taillight is a single, horizontal piece.

Under the hood, the Jetta retains its 1.5-liter, 158-horsepower turbo-4 engine. The 528 miles of range remains one of ICE vehicles’ significant advantages over EV peers. The cheapest EV on the market today is the $29k Nissan Leaf with just 150 miles of range. Batteries cost money.

The $41k VW ID.4 has range of 263, miles, or about half the Jetta, and can add 60 miles of charge in 10 minutes at a DC fast charger. The Jetta can fill up its 13.2-gallon tank in about two minutes.

The Jetta saves the manual for its performance version, the GLI – aka the “GTI with a trunk.” The sporty GLI packs a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that ups power to 228 horses. Other performance upgrades include larger brakes and limited-slip differential. Expect the GLI to start at about $30k.

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