2021 Volkswagen Jetta MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is rated 28 to 34 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Volkswagen Jetta · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

34MPG combined

30 city 41 highway

$1,900 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual

Best version saves $2,000 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 28, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,900 to $2,300 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

Every 2021 Jetta version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual Best EPA listing: Jetta	34 mpg	30 / 41	$1,900
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Jetta	33 mpg	29 / 39	$1,950
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Jetta GLI	28 mpg	24 / 33	$2,300
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual EPA listing: Jetta GLI	28 mpg	24 / 35	$2,300

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$1,906	$159	$9,529
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic	$1,964	$164	$9,818
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,314	$193	$11,571
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$2,314	$193	$11,571

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Volkswagen Jetta MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 33 to 35 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2022. Hybrid: 44 mpg (2016).

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2021: gas 34 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Volkswagen Jetta best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	33	44
2017	33	–
2018	33	–
2019	34	–
2020	34	–
2021	34	–
2022	35	–
2023	35	–
2024	34	–
2025	33	–
2026	34	–

How the 2021 Jetta compares

2021 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	56 mpg	–	$1,150
Hyundai Elantra Best: hybrid	54 mpg	37 mpg	$1,200
Toyota Corolla Best: hybrid	52 mpg	35 mpg	$1,250
Honda Civic Best: gas	36 mpg	36 mpg	$1,800
Kia Forte Best: gas	35 mpg	35 mpg	$1,850
Volkswagen Jetta This page Best: gas	34 mpg	34 mpg	$1,900
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,950
Mazda3 Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,100

2021 Jetta recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 69 owner complaints for the 2021 Jetta.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Volkswagen Jetta version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Jetta's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 34 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 29, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 28, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.