In the world of sedans, you have two main categories: The ho-hum, everyday drive vehicles that offer little excitement, and the sport sedans that promise thrills.

With its Jetta sedan (a staple for four decades in the VW lineup), Volkswagen offers both of these options — a standard version for those on a smaller budget who aren’t seeing power, and the Jetta GLI offering that will spruce up your everyday drive.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which only comes in one trim called Autobahn.

Battling against other fun vehicles like the Honda Civic Si and the Hyundai Elantra N, as well as VW’s own Golf GTI hatchback, the Jetta holds its own quite well and is one of the most affordable sporty compact sedans available.

Read on for a full review of this performance-focused VW offering. 

While the market for compact cars continues to shrink, there remains a dedicated fan base who keeps resisting the move toward SUVs as the default vehicle option.

Part of the reason they can remain so loyal to their vehicle of choice is because of the strong new options that continue to be pushed out each year by the manufacturers still working in this segment.

Take for example the Hyundai Elantra, a compact ride that’s been in the U.S. market for more than 30 years, and is now on its seventh generation.

I recently spent some time testing the 2023 Hyundai Elantra, which stands out in the segment due its bold design, including distinct creasing and angles, that make it stand out among compact sedans, along with some of the best technology in the segment.

Competing with popular vehicles such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Sentra is no picnic, but the Elantra does a strong job of holding up as an overall package — even if it may not lead the segment in all categories.

Read on for a full breakdown on this standout sedan that gives you a lot for a reasonable price.