On the Road With Volkswagen Jetta – Where Comfort Meets Power
The regular Volkswagen Jetta is useful and easy to drive, but if you want to heat things you, you’ll want to drive the GLI version.
The performance-oriented version of the Volkswagen compact sedan makes it easy to experience the driving fun built into this German sedan. Very few performance models are made as FWD cars, but the Jetta GLI is one of them. This car comes fully loaded with the desired features and impressive personality required to make this car fun and active on any road.
Could this be the performance sedan you love to drive? Let’s see what it’s got.
One of the few remaining fun sedans in the market
Most sedans aren’t made to be fun, and the market has been dwindling ever since SUVs surpassed sedans in overall sales years ago. The Jetta GLI isn’t a high-powered sedan, but it makes excellent use of what it does offer. Some of the pros and cons of this performance-oriented sedan are:
Pros
- Confident handling, making it easy to carve up the curves
- Impressive ride on any road
- Still offered with a manual transmission
Cons
- Does not come with a summer tire option
- Seats could use more support
- Long-throw manual shifter
Is there anything new for this VW sedan?
The 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI remains mostly the same as it was for 2023, but this version receives a new 40th Anniversary model to celebrate its time in the market. Only 1,984 versions of this special car will be made to match the first year the GLI hit the market. This new anniversary model receives additional badging and comes standard with specially designed cloth seats. Even this special edition model is meant to be an affordable sports sedan.
Go Autobahn and get it all
If you want to experience everything the Jetta GLI can offer, the Autobahn trim is the version you’ll want to drive. This trim comes with a strong list of standard features that used to be options for this car. At this trim level, you’ll enjoy:
- Adaptive dampers
- Digital gauge cluster
- Leather upholstery
- An improved audio system
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated and ventilated power front seats
- Wireless charging
Where does the Jetta GLI get its power?
The modern Volkswagen Jetta GLI uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that sends 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. This engine pairs with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
This version of the VW Jetta is much quicker than the standard model, which only has a 158-hp engine. The GLI can hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, which is pretty good for a FWD performance sedan. In fact, this time is 0.7 seconds less than a similarly-equipped Honda Civic Si.
As expected, the steering, braking, and cornering are impressive on winding roads. This is where the Jetta GLI truly shines, making it a great car to drive when you love to carve up some twisting canyon runs.
Excellent efficiency for miles of driving pleasure
In addition to being a fun and active performance sedan, the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is efficient. This makes it a great car for daily driving and for your future road trips. Versions equipped with the standard manual transmission return 26 city/37 hwy mpg while those with the automatic provide 26 city/36 hwy mpg of fuel mileage for the drive. These impressive efficiency figures make the GLI useful for nearly all of your driving needs.
A slightly spicier cabin for your pleasure
The only drawback to the driving fun offered in the Jetta GLI is the cabin layout, which is basically the same as the standard Jetta. You’ll see some red trim pieces to give it a spicier look, which makes this car look sporty and fun. At the price point of this VW sedan, you should expect some hard plastics, which appear on the doors.
The GLI includes an impressive 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which is customizable to your needs. An 8.0-inch touchscreen is located in the center of the dashboard, offering useful connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This sportier version of the VW Jetta features a large trunk, which makes it a great car for road trips when you want to take your luggage on your adventure.
Could the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI become the ideal car for you? This small VW sedan is sporty, fun to drive, and comes with a manual transmission, which translates to a lot of fun on any road.