2018 Volkswagen Jetta
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 4 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 27 to 33 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 to $2,400 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 27-33 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 33 / 27 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,950-$2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 271-326 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 3-7 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 Jetta costs about $1,950 to $2,400 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,175. Over five years that is about $10,875 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Jetta configuration saves about $1,750 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of compact cars in this dataset is about 29 MPG. The Jetta sits roughly 1 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 33 MPG | $1,950 |
| Jetta | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 32 MPG | $2,050 |
| Jetta | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Jetta | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,400 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 Jetta records tailpipe CO₂ of 271-326 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 3-7 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as compact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2018 Jetta up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.