2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review: Outperforming the GTI

      JAMES LIPMAN

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      At first sight, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI might seem unremarkable. It lacks the standout styling present in some competitors, and in an era where family crossovers can reach 60 mph in under 6 seconds, it doesn’t offer jaw-dropping performance.

      We are in a time when expectations for horsepower and size have become quite unrealistic. The GLI contradicts this trend. However, it doesn’t force you to compromise. Instead, it compellingly illustrates what a versatile, sporty everyday driver ought to be.

      Initially, I had rather lukewarm impressions of this vehicle. I found myself questioning, “Who is this aimed at? If I’m looking for a sporty commute, wouldn’t it make more sense to pay a bit more for something more powerful? And if I need to transport people or cargo, wouldn’t I be looking for something larger?” Nevertheless, the more I drove the GLI, the more I understood its appeal. By the end of the week, it had completely won me over simply because, in many respects, the GLI feels more like a GTI than the actual GTI, which no longer offers a manual transmission.

      **VW**

      **Overview**

      The 2025 Jetta GLI is a sports sedan that stands at the pinnacle of Volkswagen’s Jetta lineup and is the sedan counterpart of the Golf GTI. While the standard Jetta is a typical compact sedan, the GLI (which stands for Grand Luxury Injection) enhances the daily driver formula of the regular Jetta. It features a stiffer suspension, sporty visual upgrades, and VW’s dependable 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine.

      In 2025, the Jetta undergoes its first major redesign in seven years. The most noticeable changes are found at the front. The previous model's prominent grille is now smaller and asymmetrical. This alteration, complemented by shorter, wider headlights, paradoxically gives the car a sportier yet more subtle look. The overall silhouette remains largely unchanged, preserving the unique red accents associated with the GLI line. On many colors, the small red highlights stand out nicely, but they tend to blend in with our press vehicle’s King’s Red Metallic paint.

      It’s notable that the Jetta GLI is labeled as a compact, highlighting how much larger vehicles have become over the past decade. Don't be misled by the term "compact"—there's plenty of room for four adults along with their luggage in this vehicle. Even though VW stopped producing near-Audi quality interiors for their more affordable models years ago, the interior still boasts a well-designed layout and quality materials. You’ll find soft-touch plastics and leather in the most noticeable areas, while hard plastics are relegated to spots out of regular sightlines. The GLI also incorporates piano-black surfaces that can be challenging to keep clean. While it’s not a significant drawback, especially since the infotainment screen—the most notorious smudge magnet in modern cars—is particularly difficult to keep tidy.

      **Audrey Holden**

      **Driving the VW Jetta GLI**

      The GLI’s EA888 engine has been in production since 2009 for good reason. The version powering this model generates 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque at just 1,700 rpm, providing an excellent power band. The six-speed manual transmission is a pleasure to operate, featuring mechanical throws and a light yet responsive clutch.

      Despite its reputation as a fun car to drive, the GLI excels as a commuter and highway vehicle. It operates much more quietly at highway speeds compared to the Civic Si or Acura Integra A-Spec, and it smoothly absorbs most of the bumps present on LA roads.

      The infotainment screen in the GLI is the same one used in various VW vehicles dating back to 2018. While it feels dated, it is user-friendly. My main criticism concerns the poorly functioning capacitive touch controls that have been a longstanding issue for VW models. Discussing them in 2025 feels almost redundant. Although VW is gradually introducing physical controls in many of its cars, inexplicably, the 2025 GLI retains these frustrating touch features.

      As someone who frequently drives VWs, I have the button layout memorized. However, despite my familiarity, I struggled to adjust to the GLI's touch controls. Certain controls like the stereo volume and cruise control, which should be easy to access by feel, display noticeable delays and sometimes require multiple touches to respond. Other functions, such as climate controls, are equally cumbersome and difficult to locate without taking your eyes off the road. It’s less a system you get adept at using and more one you learn to accept.

      **VW JAMES LIPMAN**

      On the bright side, certain controls feature physical buttons, including one