Compare the2025 Volkswagen JettaVS 2024 Lexus ES

Safety
Warranty
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta has standard Rear Traffic Alert with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the Jetta and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Lexus ES:

	Jetta	ES
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	315	319
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	159 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	308/63 lbs.	473/518 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Lexus ES:

	Jetta	ES
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	239	326

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the ES:

	Jetta	ES
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	226	403
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	379 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1205 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Jetta’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the ES’ (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Jetta’s warranty.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta gets better mileage than the ES:

			MPG
Jetta
	FWD	Sport/SE/SEL 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/40 hwy
		S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/39 hwy
ES
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy

Both the Jetta Automatic and the ES Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Jetta Automatics have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus ES (5 to 7). This means the Jetta produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ES every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Jetta stops shorter than the ES:

	Jetta	ES
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

For better maneuverability, the Jetta’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the ES’ (35.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Jetta may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 pounds less than the Lexus ES.

The Jetta is 9.4 inches shorter than the ES, making the Jetta easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volkswagen Jetta amounts to more than styling. The Jetta has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is lower than the ES (.26 to .29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Jetta get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Jetta uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

The Jetta’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Ergonomics

The Jetta’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The ES doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Both the Jetta and the ES offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Jetta owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Jetta will cost $35 to $7035 less than the ES over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Jetta is less expensive to operate than the ES because typical repairs cost much less on the Jetta than the ES, including $22 less for front brake pads, $48 less for front struts, $928 less for a timing belt/chain and $693 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Jetta will be $16478 to $19349 less than for the Lexus ES.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Lexus ES by 21% during 2023.