Jetta M6 2026: price, specs and range of FAW-Volkswagen's first electric sedan

© A. Krivonosov / SPEEDME

The Jetta M6 made its first public appearance at the Chengdu auto show — the model with which Chinese brand FAW-Volkswagen Jetta begins its shift to electric cars. SPEEDME journalists got a close look at the newcomer: the stand displayed cars in several colors, including an unusual lilac-gray and light green.

The M6 is positioned as a mid-size family electric sedan. On August 21, alongside its debut at the Chengdu Motor Show 2026, Jetta opened pre-orders. A full market launch is expected this fall; earlier the brand had pointed to mid-October as a target.

Jetta M6 2026: nearly 4.8 meters long with a 2.82-meter wheelbase

The Jetta M6 measures 4,806 mm in length, 1,868 mm or 1,895 mm in width, and 1,500 mm in height. The wheelbase is 2,820 mm. That makes it noticeably larger than the compact European sedans Volkswagen buyers are used to.

SPEEDME's photos show off the new proportions clearly. The M6 has a long, sloping roofline, a short front end, flush door handles and narrow headlights. At the rear, a dark strip connects the taillights, with a large JETTA lettering across it.

The automaker calls the styling “bamboo aesthetics” — designers say they aimed to combine minimalism, aerodynamics and visual lightness.

Up to 197 hp and two range options

The M6 is electric only. Certification filings list two powertrains. The base front motor makes 113 kW, or 154 hp, while the more powerful version delivers 145 kW, or 197 hp. Top speed is 166 km/h and 172 km/h respectively.

Buyers will get a choice of two battery packs, rated at 465 km and 555 km on the CLTC cycle. These are the versions that appear on China's list of EVs eligible for tax incentives.

CALB supplies the battery cells, while FAW-Volkswagen assembles the battery pack itself. Depending on trim, the car rides on 17- or 18-inch wheels.

Inside, it doesn't look like an old Volkswagen anymore

The M6's cabin has also fully broken away from previous Jetta models. It gets a standalone digital instrument cluster and a large central tablet screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof.

The front seats fold flat and combine with the rear bench to create what the brand calls a “bed mode.” That says a lot about the target audience: Jetta describes the M6 outright as an electric car for young families.

The interior looks noticeably more upscale than you'd expect from a budget FAW-Volkswagen brand: light-colored trim, few physical buttons and a wide center console bring the M6 closer to the many new Chinese EVs on the market.

Jetta is keeping the price under wraps for now

The big question is price. Jetta hasn't announced final pricing yet. To open pre-orders, the brand asked customers for a refundable deposit of 66 yuan (about $9), which counts toward 2,000 yuan (about $280) off the final price, plus a trade-in subsidy of at least 4,000 yuan (about $560) for owners who scrap an old car.

Pricing will matter enormously for the Jetta M6. The brand has traditionally occupied a more affordable segment in China than Volkswagen's core lineup, so the new electric sedan will have to compete less with pricier European EVs and more with the many Chinese models from BYD, Geely, Changan and Leapmotor.

Jetta doesn't mean what it used to

For many Western car buyers, the name still evokes a plain Volkswagen sedan — but in China, Jetta has been its own brand under FAW-Volkswagen for years. Now it's taking the next step, launching its own line of electric vehicles.

The M6 becomes Jetta's first mass-produced, fully electric car. It's also literally Chinese-made: the model is built in Chengdu, home to FAW-Volkswagen's production base.

An official launch for the Jetta M6 outside China hasn't been confirmed. Given how competitive the entry-level EV segment has become globally, its eventual appeal beyond China will depend above all on final pricing and how it stacks up against rivals already fighting for the same buyers.