CarCostCheck

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (2018)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 40 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,587

£132/month

MOT Pass Rate

90%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1400cc Petrol

Great Choice

90% pass rate, £1587/year to run. 8 points above average.

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Petrol1400cc8 years old40 tests62k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1400cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200
Total per year£1,587
Per month£132/mo
Per week£31/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

90% MOT pass rate(Excellent)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 8 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the VOLKSWAGEN brand average of 85%.

At 8 years old, 90% of VOLKSWAGEN JETTAs from 2018 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 40 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 62,425 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2018 cars377th of 649(top 58%)
Rank among VOLKSWAGEN models471th of 1,118(top 42%)
vs national average+8%(82% avg)
vs 2018 cars average+1%(89% avg)
vs VOLKSWAGEN average+5%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

62,425

Average miles

vs

59,200

Expected for age

The average 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA has 62,425 miles on the clock, which is in line with the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 1991 model with a 87% MOT pass rate, while the 2005 model has the lowest at 62%. The 2018 sits between the two at 90%.

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201890%4062,425 mi
201781%59359,639 mi
201682%1,32175,513 mi
201580%2,02183,208 mi
201478%1,75496,885 mi
201377%1,876100,152 mi
201278%2,074113,174 mi
201178%1,645116,779 mi
201079%1,138113,968 mi
200977%1,967118,308 mi
200872%3,010130,113 mi
200774%3,885133,468 mi
200674%3,004135,613 mi
200562%66148,664 mi
199187%217126,890 mi
199082%157126,764 mi

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About the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

The 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA is a small family car with a 1400cc petrol engine. 40 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. Among all cars from 2018, the average MOT pass rate is 89%, and this model beats that benchmark.

With an average of 62,425 miles at 8 years old, VOLKSWAGEN JETTA owners drive about as much as the UK average.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Fuel Costs

The 1400cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,587 132/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 90% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Reliability Trend

Newer VOLKSWAGEN JETTAs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 4 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

At 8 years old, this is a solid used buy if you find one with good service history. Depreciation has levelled off, so you won't lose much more value. Focus on condition over mileage. If you're flexible on year, the 1991 model has the highest pass rate at 87%. Note: with only 40 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Suspension Wear

Medium risk

Shock absorbers, springs, and anti-roll bar links typically need attention around this age. Listen for clunks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA(2018)90%£1137£195Grp 8-20£1587
FORD FIESTA(2016)81%£955£30Grp 1-8£1390-£197
VAUXHALL CORSA(2016)81%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1572-£15
FORD FOCUS(2016)87%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1677+£90
NISSAN QASHQAI(2017)86%£955£190Grp 5-15£1550-£37

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Volkswagen Models

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