An understated alternative to the Golf GTI hatchback
It’s a thin market for sedans of any stripe these days, as utility vehicles rule the road. But in terms of sleek style, four-door cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta are tough to beat.
The 2019 Jetta GLI is essentially the sports-sedan offshoot of the Golf GTI. The pair has a history that dates back six generations and over many decades.
Visually, the GLI closely mirrors the basic Jetta that is all new for 2019. No longer considered a small car, the Jetta’s aerodynamic sheetmetal, with its tautly drawn lines, might convince you it’s larger than it actually is. Exclusive to the GLI is a unique front end with red trim, a black honeycomb-style grille, larger lower air intake, added side skirts, a rear spoiler and unique 18-inch wheels (16-inchers are standard on non- GLI Jettas).
Compared with the previous Jetta, there are slight gains in all key dimensions. An increase in interior volume is particularly noticeable in the rear-seat area.
The Jetta is constructed using Volkswagen’s latestMBQ platform, which is also the foundation for a number of other VW and Audi models. It’s stiffer than the outgoing platform, which is important for overall driving quality, comfort and a quiet ride.
The regular-strength Jetta has a fairly compliant suspension that uses a torsion-beam (solid) rear axle in place of the previous independent multilink setup. The latter sticks around, however, for the GLI, lowering the car’s stance by 0.6 of an inch. The result is more precise turning along with significantly less thumping over rough surfaces. The GLI also has a limited-slip differential plus larger-diameter brake rotors (13.4 inches), of the same type found on the GTI and sportier Golf R.
Key to the GLI’s performance is a premium-fuel-sipping 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That’s an increase of 18 horsepower and 51 pound-feet over the previous GLI, and 81/74 more than the base Jetta.
Mated to a six-speed manual transmission (a seven-speed automated manual is available), the GLI’s turbo engine has plenty of thrust, while producing a pleasing rumble in the lower rev range. There’s sufficient cabin insulation to keep the sound from becoming annoying, however. There’s plenty of punch to break tires free and generous application of the throttle yields a bird-like chirp from the turbocharger system.
Fuel economy with either transmission is pegged at 25 mpg in the city, 32 on the highway and 28 combined.
All GLI models come with Driving Mode Selection with Normal, Sport, Eco and Custom settings. A Comfort mode is optional. The Sport mode is particularly satisfying as it sharpens the throttle, firms up the steering feel and increases the twin-exhaust symphony.
One of the few GLI complaints had to do with a driver’s-seat bottom that doesn’t tilt down, thereby getting in the way of leg operation of the clutch.
GLI prices start at $26,900 (including destination charges) for the S trim, which comes with dual-zone climate control, 6.5-inch touchscreen, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and a six-speaker sound system.
Opting for the Autobahn adds about $3,200 to the base MSRP, but gets you a panoramic power sunroof, leather-covered seats (eight-way power-operated for the driver), 400-watt Beats Audio-brand package and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with customizable 10.25inch Digital Cockpit display.
A 35th anniversary GLI has unique wheels and an adaptive suspension that constantly adjusts the ride and handling to varying road conditions.
All trims come with a number of dynamic-safety technologies, however pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning are noticeably absent.
As a real sports sedan, the GLI performs its role competently and it delivers plenty of driving enjoyment that rivals German-engineered models costing much more. If all its competitors were similarly outfitted — and looked this clean and sharp — the sedan segment would doubtless be more vibrant than it is.