Volkswagen’s Last Sedan In Trouble As Sales Plummet

VW passenger cars saw an overall decline in Q3 2025

• VW Jetta sales decline by 42% in Q3
• Most major rivals are outselling the Jetta in 2025
• VW’s compact sedan is aging, having been on sale since 2018

Since the departure of the Passat and stylish Arteon, Volkswagen is down to just a single sedan in its lineup, that being the trusty Jetta. It’s still around today, serving as a solid alternative to rivals like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Honda Civic.

But if the Jetta’s latest sales figures are anything to go by, the compact sedan is in danger. Volkswagen just reported its sales figures for the third quarter, and while SUV sales are up year-on-year, the same can’t be said for the Jetta.

Jetta’s 2026 Changes Don’t Go Far Enough

For Q3 2025, VW’s passenger car sales—made up of the Jetta, Golf GTI, and Golf R—declined by 41% to just 14,259 units. The Jetta sold 11,287 units in the last quarter across the country, down by 42% from Q3 2024’s figure of 19,379 units.

Only minor changes were made mid-year to the 2026 Jetta, such as the addition of a sunroof on the SE and a better sound system for SEL models. That follows a more comprehensive refresh last year, when the sedan got revised styling and an upgraded infotainment system. 

Over the first three quarters of the year, VW has sold 43,610 Jettas, placing it behind only the Atlas and Tiguan in the company’s lineup. But it’s not been enough to keep up with direct competitors.

Related: Volkswagen’s 2026 Model Updates Are Small But One SUV Gets A Nice Power Boost

Rivals Easily Outselling Jetta

The current generation of the Jetta has been around since early 2018, and its age may now be counting against it. VW has also seen profits tumble since tariffs were introduced, another hurdle for the automaker to overcome.

Looking at rivals, the Jetta is far behind a few of them. Honda, for instance, has sold 185,225 Civics in 2025 so far, while Toyota has moved 179,983 Corollas. Those totals include hatchback versions of each, which the Jetta obviously doesn’t offer. 

It’s not only the Japanese juggernauts that are outselling the Jetta, though. Hyundai has sold 116,212 units of the Elantra for the first three quarters, and Kia has sold 107,643 units of the K4/Forte.

The Jetta’s lack of a hybrid or all-wheel drive option holds it back, too.

Related: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta First Drive Review: Get the GLI

No Sign Of A New Jetta

A completely new Jetta generation is needed to properly compete with high-tech rivals like the new Kia K4, but the current one may stick around as late as 2027. Last year, VW told CarBuzz that high interest rates and rising costs have contributed to the decision to keep the current Jetta around, as the company doesn’t want to alienate price-sensitive shoppers in the compact sedan segment. That conversation took place before the burden of tariffs began impacting the company this year, of course.

If sales continue declining at this rate, it may be difficult for VW to justify keeping the Jetta around in its current form.