2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI review: Hot hatch in sedan clothing

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The GLI is anything we enjoy about the GTI in a Jetta-shaped wrapper.


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The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is what occurs when a scorching hatch grows up. This sporty sedan has all the trappings of its rowdy GTI sibling, packaged in a handsome, mature wrapper.

Like

  • Fantastic managing
  • Effective turbo engine
  • Handsome design and style, if a little bit dull

Will not Like

  • Numb steering
  • Poor infotainment tech on the base trim

The GLI sets alone apart from the regular Jetta with greater air intakes, a reduced front spoiler and special facet skirts. The grille normally takes some styling cues from the GTI with its honeycomb pattern and classic pink accent stripe. The GLI sits .6 inches reduced to the floor than the regular Jetta and has a special rear bumper and diffuser, as very well as twin chrome exhaust tips. But even with these sporty touches, the GLI nevertheless slides beneath the radar.

The Jetta GLI is driven by a two.-liter turbocharged I4 engine pushing out 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque — the exact powertrain you are going to come across in the GTI. The GLI will come with front-wheel generate, and while you can get a seven-velocity twin-clutch automated transmission, my tester has the six-velocity manual. Rating.

My Autobahn trim will come comprehensive with the DCC adaptive damping technique, with modes for Normal, Activity and Eco, as very well as a Customized environment. DCC enables me to dial in that Customized configuration, with person solutions for the damping, steering, drivetrain, engine audio, front differential and even weather controls.

Nevertheless, I really don’t feel the Customized environment helps make considerably of a variance. Even with trying out a bunch of different setups for the duration of my week with the auto, the Normal and Activity modes perform just good. Considerably of my praise for the regular Activity environment is many thanks to the restricted-slip front differential that operates with the GLI’s electronic differential lock. Torque goes to the front wheel with the most grip, there is tiny to no understeer and wheelspin is nonexistent.

The two.-liter engine produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.


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The base Jetta receives an aged-college torsion-beam rear suspension, but the GLI updates that components to a multilink impartial setup. Merged with the GLI’s beefier roll bars and stiffer springs, this sedan is undoubtedly ready to enjoy. It swiftly settles immediately after pavement undulations, coming out of an off-camber turn with nary a hair out of place. The steering is brief, direct and weighty, while it could use a little bit extra in the way of feed-back. The 13.four-inch vented front brakes are lifted from the Golfing R hatchback, paired with 11.eight-inch diameter brakes in the rear. These stoppers are good, even though I want the pedal’s engagement point was just a tad larger.

The GLI is a blast on backroads, but it’s good for everyday commuting, much too. Typical on the GLI are superior driver’s aids this sort of as forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind-location monitoring and rear cross-targeted visitors alert. My top-level Autobahn trim goes more with lane-keeping aid and adaptive cruise manage. Of course, adaptive cruise manage operates with a manual transmission, even though only at larger speeds. There is just not any form of reduced-velocity stick to and after the GLI thinks it will stall, the technique disengages and the driver normally takes over.

The Jetta GLI’s fuel financial system is respectable, returning an EPA-approximated rating of 24 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. Even immediately after a week of decidedly aggressive driving, I am nevertheless capable to strike that 28-mpg regular.

The interior is generally good, but lacks visible aptitude.


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Inside, the GLI’s cabin tech is very simple and easy. The regular infotainment setup takes advantage of a very small 6.five-inch display screen, but the Autobahn bumps that up to a nicer eight.-inch screen operating VW’s newest MIB3 technologies. This technique can handle numerous Bluetooth mobile phone pairings at after, and I enjoy that the screen is angled towards the driver so it’s quick to see and arrive at. MIB3’s menus are laid out thoughtfully so there is just not a big studying curve, possibly. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Car are both equally regular, and in addition to a wireless charging pad, there are three USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet to keep your equipment juiced.

The Autobahn trim has Volkswagen’s Electronic Cockpit, a 10-inch customizable gauge cluster that provides the driver all kinds of information like auto data, driver-guidance attribute status and audio and mobile phone obtain. It can also be custom made with different styles, which include a whole-screen navigation see. It is really not really as extravagant-trousers as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, but it’s essentially the exact plan, and a single of my favourite auto interior capabilities.

The GLI Autobahn receives an eight-inch touchscreen.


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It is really a little bit of a bummer that the GLI is just not provided with any quirky interior design and style touches like the GTI hatchback’s plaid seats. All you are going to come across listed here is black cloth or optional leather-based with contrasting pink stitching. The Jetta at least has a 10-shade LED ambient lighting technique that coordinates with your picked driving mode: white for Normal, pink for Activity and blue for Eco. If that would not suit your mood, you can pick out your individual hues, as very well.

Like the regular Jetta, the GLI’s interior supplies are good but not fantastic. Some of my colleagues lament the less expensive plastics and much too-smooth seats, particularly due to the fact the GTI’s cabin feels extra high quality by comparison. The sedan’s trunk is relatively spacious at fourteen.one cubic feet, and my five-foot, nine-inch frame suits just good in the rear seat — my knees really don’t contact the front seatbacks and my head would not brush the roof.

As far as opponents go, you can nevertheless snag a Honda Civic Si, or the all-wheel-generate Mazda3 Turbo is a good selection, while it’s extra expensive. The new Hyundai Elantra N Line has a tiny a lot less electricity than the GLI, but it’s also provided with a manual transmission and has some very seriously cool design and style. The Subaru WRX is an additional choice, but it’s getting a tiny aged, and the Jetta is a nicer all-all around auto.

The GLI definitely flies beneath the radar.


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The 2021 Jetta GLI commences at $27,340 which include $995 for place. The Autobahn is a $four,000 upcharge, and while I really don’t feel the customizable DCC chassis helps make a big variance, the cabin tech is considerably far better. All in, an Autobahn with the six-velocity manual like this exam auto expenditures $32,335.

Of system, the GLI’s largest competitor is the GTI sitting following to it in the VW showroom, and the Jetta undercuts its Golfing equivalent by a couple of thousand bucks while nevertheless giving mainly the exact on-highway thrills. The GTI’s hatchback design and style is a good deal extra functional, but the GLI feels like an entirely extra developed-up deal — while it’s nevertheless extra than ready to get a tiny rowdy.