The Volkswagen Jetta isn’t just the leader of Volkswagen’s Lilliputian lineup—it’s also one of the most well-regarded, highly praised, and downright affordable compact cars in the world.

Still, the Jetta is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Volkswagen’s compact vehicles. From the tiny Taos to the wee Golf, you’ll have a tough choice to make if you’re thinking about buying one of VW’s smaller cars.

No big deal, though, because

Jerry

can help you decide! As experts on

car insurance

, we put together this handy guide on Volkswagen’s compact car catalog. We’ll go over the individual strengths and weaknesses of these micro-machines, tell you about Volkswagen’s smallest cars, and even give you a few tips on how to lower your

Volkswagen insurance costs

2022 Volkswagen compact and subcompact car models

There are six compact/subcompact vehicles currently offered in Volkswagen’s lineup—four sedans and two SUVs.

2022 Volkswagen Jetta ($21,460 MSRP)

It’s certainly not the flashiest or most powerful car you can buy, but the 2022

Volkswagen Jetta

is still a reliable, affordable, and surprisingly spacious vehicle.

The Jetta’s review scores reflect this “jack of all trades, master of none” orientation. Edmunds awarded it an average 7.4/10—commenting that it’s very practical but not exceptional—while Car and Driver ranked the Jetta slightly higher at 8.5/10. It also landed 10th place in J.D. Power’s list of Best Compact and Small Cars of 2022, falling behind other small cars like the

Nissan Sentra

Subaru Impreza

, and

Honda Insight

So, what exactly is the major appeal of a 2022 Jetta? It comes down to a lot of minor features that start to add up over time, like affordability, ride quality, and storage space.

Highlights of the Jetta include:

Standard advanced driver’s aids, including blind-spot monitoring and forward collision mitigation

5-star safety rating from the NHTSA

Estimated 31/41 mpg (city/highway)

Price ranges from $24,160-$29,190, depending on model

Drawbacks include:

Braking feels uncomfortable at low speeds

Confusing steering wheel controls

Use of low-quality plastic materials in cabin

Not particularly fun to drive

MORE:

2022 Volkswagen Jetta S insurance cost

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2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI ($32,390 MSRP)

If you’re interested in a Jetta but you find the standard model to be a little, well, dull, then we’d suggest the slightly more tricked out

Jetta GLI

. It still retains some of the downsides as the standard Jetta, but the turbocharged engine, sport suspension, and bigger brakes make the GLI much more fun to drive.

The GLI is only offered in a single “Autobahn” trim level, which makes sense considering it’s basically a specialized Jetta. The GLI also received similar review scores to its tamer sibling, with a 7.7/10 from Edmunds and an 8.5/10 from Car and Driver. Nevertheless, if you’re trying to bridge the gap between “practical” and “fun to drive,” the Jetta GLI would be a great choice.

Highlights of the Golf GLI include:

Efficient turbocharged engine

Ample interior storage

Comfortable front seats

Estimated 26/37 mpg (city/highway)

5-star safety rating from the NHTSA

Drawbacks include:

Slower and less engaging than many competitors

Use of low-quality plastic materials in the cabin

Sometimes hesitates when downshifting

Still feels like a Jetta, when all is said and done

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI ($30,975 MSRP)

We’re moving on from sedans and into hatchback territory with the

Volkswagen Golf

GTI. This thing is no grocery-getter, though, thanks to its nimble handling, re-tuned suspension, and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Of course, if you wanted to get groceries in your Golf GTI, you’d be more than equipped to do so, no matter how long your list is. That’s because the GTI is classified as a “hot hatch,” which means that it’s a high performance hatchback. Not only is this thing fast—able to go from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds—it also has a class-leading amount of storage space (19.9 cubic feet with all seats up)!

Highlights of the Golf GTI include:

Three available trim levels

Price range from $30,975-$39,425

High-quality interior materials

5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA

Estimated 25/34 mpg (city/highway)

Weaknesses include:

Confusing infotainment system

Not quite as powerful as other competing hot hatches

2022 Volkswagen Golf R ($45,185 MSRP)

Just like the Jetta, there is also a tuned-up performance version of the Golf—the R.

The

Volkswagen Golf R

is just about the hottest hatch you can get your hands on. It’s decked out with an adaptive suspension, all-wheel drive, and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can race from 0-60 in just 4.3 seconds. Furthermore, it retains that class-leading 19.9 cubic feet of storage space offered by the GLI. This thing has accolades, too, taking the #1 hot hatch spot on Edmunds and earning a 9.5/10 on Car and Driver.

Highlights of the Golf R include:

Extremely fun to drive

Well-stocked with standard features

Estimated 23/30 mpg (city/highway)

Choice between standard six-speed manual transmission and optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic

Weaknesses include:

Frustrating touch-sensitive controls

Fairly pricey

MORE:

2022 Volkswagen Golf R insurance cost

2022 Volkswagen Taos ($24,790 MSRP)

We’re moving into SUV territory, starting with the almost microscopic Taos. The

Volkswagen Taos

originally debuted in China, but was introduced into the US market in 2020, where it immediately started to make waves as a tiny SUV with big potential.

Seriously, this thing is comfortable, unexpectedly spacious, and downright affordable. It’s decently equipped with useful tech features and a full suite of advanced driver’s aids come standard on all models. The acceleration is a little lacking, and it unfortunately has the same interior quality issues as other VWs we’ve discussed, but the Taos does so many things right that you might not notice these shortcomings after a while.

Highlights of the Taos include:

Three available trim levels

Price ranges from $24,790-$33,385

Estimated 28/36 mpg (city/highway)

27.9 cubic feet of storage (with seats up)

Ranked #1 extra-small SUV by Edmunds

Weaknesses include:

Use of low-quality plastic materials in the cabin

Audible road noise at highway speeds

Transmission sometimes reluctant to downshift

MORE: Everything you need to know about Volkswagen electric cars

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2022 ID.4 ($42,525 MSRP)

We’re still in SUV territory, but now we’ve reached the final VW compact car and the only electric vehicle on our list—the

ID.4

The ID.4 was the first electric SUV offered by Volkswagen, offering drivers plenty of cargo space, excellent tech and driver’s aid features, and an estimated 249 miles of driving range. Unfortunately, the last few years have seen the ID.4’s competitors surpass it in many significant ways, from maximum driving range to performance specifications. Nevertheless, the ID.4 would still be a good choice for anyone interested in the burgeoning realm of all-electric vehicles.

Highlights of the ID.4 include:

Wealth of standard tech and safety features

5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA

EPA-estimated driving range of 240-260 miles, depending on model

Four available trims

Price ranges from $42,525-$50,705

Weaknesses include:

Use of low-quality plastic materials in the cabin

Some controls are confusing and difficult to operate

Uninspired handling

Other small Volkswagen models

The six vehicles we just went over are the current compact and subcompact models offered by Volkswagen, but they don’t really represent the entirety of VW’s small car lineup. Other diminutive VW vehicles include:

Volkswagen Tiguan

($27,699): This one is up for debate, because sometimes the Tiguan is classified as a midsize and other times a compact. Either way, it’s a great SUV that even comes with a third row!

Volkswagen Beetle

($23,000-$34,000): You know it, you love it, and if you’re like us, you miss it. Despite being one of the most instantly-recognizable small cars in the world, Volkswagen discontinued the iconic Beetle in 2019. You can still find them on the secondhand market, though!

MORE:

Volkswagen’s 2024 ID.Buzz Microbus

What is Volkswagen’s smallest car?

The Jetta GLI is the smallest car that VW makes, beating out the Jetta by barely an inch!

VW Jetta GLI wheelbase: 105.6 inches

VW Jetta GLI passenger volume: 94.7 cubic feet

What is Volkswagen’s cheapest car?

If you want the best bang for your buck, look no further than the Jetta, which starts at a very affordable $21,450.

MORE: The best used Volkswagen to buy

How to save on Volkswagen insurance

No matter which tiny little Volkswagen you decide on, you’ll still have to make sure it’s protected by a good car insurance policy. This can sometimes get pretty expensive for smaller cars, since they’re at a much higher risk than larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks.

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Volkswagen insurance costs

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