2020 Volkswagen Jetta SE

The Jetta is Volkswagen's compact sedan, competing with the Civic and Corolla but with a more grown-up feel. The cabin is comfortable and well-built, though rear legroom can be tight for taller passengers and cloth seats stain easily. Standard tech includes a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, and higher trims add digital cockpit and advanced driver aids. This SE sits between the base S and the SEL, adding leatherette seats, a sunroof, and keyless start without the SEL's digital cockpit. The 1.4L I4 makes 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and the eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly enough that you'll rarely think about it. The torsion-beam rear suspension keeps the ride composed on most roads, though you'll feel sharper bumps more than in the GLI's multilink setup.