There are some great active safety features in today’s vehicles. Up until recently, some affordable vehicles didn’t offer features like automatic emergency braking at all. But recently, U.S. News put together a list of affordable vehicles that offer auto emergency braking. One car on that list is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. Can you get automatic emergency braking with the latest Jetta? Let’s dig into the U.S. News data.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned in 2019 and the basics haven’t changed much since then. It offers recent safety and tech features. One really great thing about Jetta’s current generation according to Kelley Blue Book is its athletic and refined driving chops. 

For a compact car, it’s surprisingly roomy with an appealing, comfortable cabin. While the VW Jetta is designed for the U.S., it very much has a sophisticated European vibe. That it offers standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard is a plus.

Jetta’s base 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine gets an impressive 40 mpg on the highway. While VW no longer offers the 6-year/72,0000-mile warranty for its vehicles, you still get a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.

New for 2021, the S models get two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels. The SE models received contrast stitching on the shifter and steering wheel along with a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The GLI Autobahn models get adaptive cruise control while the SEL models get the MIB3 infotainment system.

Automatic emergency braking in the Volkswagen Jetta

Automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems are popular as a safety feature on today’s market. These systems are able to detect imminent forward collisions with other vehicles in a timely manner. They help the driver avoid or minimize the impact of the crash.

The systems usually first make the driver aware through visual or audio cues of a potential crash. Some systems automatically apply the brakes for the driver from the start. Other systems apply the brakes if action isn’t taken by the driver within a specified period of time. 

Statistics show these systems are highly effective. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers the safety feature to be the next generation of significant vehicle safety advances according to Safercar.gov. They’ve determined lives can be saved through the use of AEB, dynamic brake support, crash imminent braking, and more. These features can also reduce the number of accidents on our highways.

The driver assistance package

When it comes to the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, the AEB feature is standard on all but the base S models which starts at $18,995. You can get AEB for the S models if you add the Driver Assistance package for $500. The package includes AEB, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Is it worth it?

It all depends on your needs. The standard Jetta has a lot of popular features like Wi-Fi, standard Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and LED headlights and taillights. It also offers a six-speed manual transmission. You have to move up to the higher SE trim to get an automatic transmission which is an eight-speed transmission plus overdrive. That model already has AEB standard and costs $22,895.

The SE model gives you some nice-to-have extras like a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry, keyless ignition, and dual-zone automatic climate control along with heated front seats and side mirrors. The SE models also have everything in the driver assistance package.

If the manual transmission and lack of convenience features isn’t an issue for you, the extra $500 on top of the base price for the driver assistance package is a pretty good deal. If an automatic transmission is a deal-breaker or you’d like to have the extra conveniences, the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta SE model and other trims still offer good value.