The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are small car champs with sedans and hatchbacks—and available hybrid powertrains.
The Civic’s a little busy, the Corolla is a little boring, but both are solid compacts in a dwindling field.
The Mazda 3 is the fashionable one in the set; its price and materials are a half-step higher than the Jetta.
The Elantra is new for 2021 and sharp, with an available hybrid.
The Kia Forte has a new turbo-4 and crisp styling, not to mention a big warranty.
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 2021 Volkswagen Jetta#24 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Honda Civic#4 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Hyundai Elantra#2 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Mazda MAZDA3#4 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Toyota Corolla#4 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2020 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is a no-frills compact with good value. Saving money never goes out of style. |
The 2021 Honda Civic doesn’t let social responsibility get in the way of a good time. |
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has big style, big available tech, and big range from a hybrid powertrain. |
The 2021 Mazda 3 straddles the mainstream and upscale markets with a quality cabin, power that ranges from pedestrian to plentiful, and available all-wheel drive. |
With the 2021 Corolla, Toyota has almost excised all the bland from its diet. |
The 2020 Kia Forte has the style and now the GT power to slot into any compact-car shopping list. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $18,995 | $21,250 | $19,650 | $20,500 | $20,025 | $17,890 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 24 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 28 MPG City / 52 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Compact Cars | Large Cars | Midsize Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| S Manual | LX CVT | SE IVT *Ltd Avail* | 2.0 FWD | L CVT (SE) | FE Manual |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sedan | Hatchback | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | CVT w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs. 2021 Honda Civic | 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs. 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs. 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 | 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs. 2021 Toyota Corolla | 2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs. 2020 Kia Forte | |
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