2015 Volkswagen Golf Vs 2015 Volkswagen Jetta

A lot of compact cars can be had as either a sedan or a hatchback.

To distinguish between the two, manufactures usually alter a vehicle’s model name with something like Sport, GT, 5-Door, etc. Volkswagen though does things differently. The company doesn’t just take it a step further; it leaps forward twenty paces. Not only do VW’s compact sedan and hatchback have different names, they’re built on two completely different platforms.

That’s not to say the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta don’t share a lot in common, but there are a lot of differences. Some are obvious, others not. To see which compact is the better all-around package, we gathered similarly equipped versions of the Jetta and Golf for a head to head comparison.

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The Jetta is still based on the aging PQ35 platform while the Golf uses VW’s new MQB architecture. In plain English, it means the Golf has more modern, rigid and accommodating underpinnings. Even in the front seat, the Golf feels more spacious than the Jetta despite being shorter nose to tail.

For better or worse, Volkswagen vehicles tend not to be aesthetically exciting. Despite being built on different chassis structures, the far newer Golf doesn’t distinguish itself all that much from the older Jetta. Nevertheless, it’s hard to criticize either car from a design standpoint. They both have the sort of reserved German styling that lends to their mature appearance.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Nissan Sentra vs 2015 Volkswagen Golf

It isn’t until they are really pushed hard into a corner that the differences start to show. The Jetta drives well, but the new Golf a blast – for a regular compact. It feels more nimble and precise when maneuvered quickly.

That’s partially because of the structure, but it’s also because the new Golf comes with the same XDS differential system from the previous generation GTI that helps it better carry speed through corners by slowing the inside wheel.

The Jetta comes with the largest trunk in the compact car segment, offering 15.7 cubic feet. But it can’t match the storage capacity of a hatchback like the Golf, which offers 22.8 cubic feet. That’s roughly 45 percent more capacity. Yeah, it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison, but it’s still important to keep in mind exactly how much capacity you give up or gain on one side or the other.

There are a lot of choices with the Golf and Jetta. Both can be had with a turbocharged diesel engine in addition to the gasoline engine equipped in our test cars. The Jetta takes things a few steps further by offering an old as dirt entry level 2.0-liter four-cylinder as well as a hybrid drivetrain – neither of which would land on our recommended list. The Golf counters with a choice of body styles.

A four door Golf equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission starts at $21,815. That’s pretty much the same as the Jetta when opting for the same powertrain. But load up the 1.8-liter turbo model and the Golf will crest the $28,000 mark. That’s a big increase over a fully loaded turbocharged gasoline Jetta that tops out $26,200. But that extra cash for the Golf does include a real panoramic sunroof and some niceties like automatic headlights.