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The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is like dessert: You know it's going to be good even before you start, and it's always just a bit better than you remember. But unlike dessert, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is more than an occasional treat. It handles day-to-day life as well as any compact or mid-size sedan. What makes the VW Jetta GLI so good? Read on. $24,750 base, $28,895 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 23-25 MPG city, 32 highway.
First Glance: A Jetta and a GTI stepped out one night…
Larger exterior photos: Front - rear
If you're not familiar with the Jetta GLI, think of it as a Volkswagen GTI with a trunk. Despite being more than a foot longer than VW's legendary hot hatchback, the Jetta GLI weighs only about 120 lbs more, and interior space is about the same (the Jetta GLI is actually a tad smaller inside than the 4-door GTI). The Jetta GLI offers the same stellar 200 horsepower turbocharged engine and same choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions (the latter being VW's awesome Direct Shift Gearbox; read more about it here). According to Volkswagen, the Jetta GLI is only about two-tenths of a second slower to 60 MPH. The biggest difference is price: The Jetta GLI costs $1,390 more than a 4-door GTI.
I tested the 2007 Fahrenheit edition, production of which will be limited to 1200 examples; each car's number is stamped on a plate (link goes to photo) attached to the flat-bottom steering wheel. The Fahrenheit edition adds exclusive yellow paint, yellow interior trim and stitching, leather upholstery, unique 18" wheels, heated front sport seats, a sunroof, and a stiffer suspension. The only options are satellite radio ($375) and all-season tires in place of the stock "summer" tires (no charge). The Fahrenheit edition adds $3,810 to the GLI's price, though it's difficult to compare feature-by-feature as the Fahrenheit's configuration can't be mimicked on the regular GLI -- for example the GLI doesn't offer leather seats without dual-zone climate control or a sunroof without upgraded stereo.
In the Driver's Seat: Jetta gets it all right
Larger interior photos: Left - right - dash
I'm not a big fan of the all-black interior color, which is the only choice on the GLI. But everything else works so well that I can pretty much forgive that. The front seats are wonderfully comfortable and supportive, though the big side bolsters could make them a bit of a squeeze for heavier folks. The combination of a seat height adjuster and a steering column that tilts up and down and telescopes in and out makes for a fantastic as-you-like-it driving position. And the secondary controls are just the way I like 'em: Dials for the air conditioning, knobs and big, clearly-labeled buttons for the stereo.
The back seat is roomy for a car this size, and the trunk is a work of art. It's got a big lid that opens to reveal a big aperture, which makes it easy to load bulky items. The floor is flat and the sides are squared off, with divided cubbies at the sides to hold small items. The back seat splits and folds down, and while the seatback doesn't drop perfectly flat, it yields a huge opening. And the trunk uses articulated hinges and struts, so you can pack it to the rafters and shut the lid without crushing your stuff.
No less impressive is the Jetta GLI's commitment to safety. Front-seat-mounted side airbags, two-row side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control are standard. Rear-seat-mounted side airbags are optional; get them if you plan to haul adults but skip them if you have children young enough to ride in car seats.
On the Road: Stellar engine, but front-wheel-drive limits the fun
The 2.0T engine is one of my favorite four-cylinders. It produces gobs and gobs of power provided you keep the revs up. Floor it below 2000 RPM and nothing happens -- it's as if your right foot doesn't even exist. But that's why Volkswagen gives you six nicely-spaced gears in both the manual and DSG transmissions. Keep the engine on the boil and the Jetta GLI is incredibly fast. It's not the most economical, though; I averaged 22.5 MPG on the requisite premium fuel.
Handling is quite good within the limits inherent in front-wheel-drive performance cars. Powerful front-drive cars have two primary problems. The first is torque steer, a tendency to pull to one side under hard acceleration. Volkswagen's pretty much eliminated that in the Jetta GLI (good job, guys).
The second comes when accelerating out of a corner, which shifts weight to the back wheels and lightens the fronts. With the turbo engine beltin' out the torque, the inside front wheel tends to break loose and spin, causing the front end to lose traction and run wide (understeer). There's not much to do except get off the gas -- and if you don't, the traction control system will cut the power for you. Too bad the GLI doesn’t offer a limited-slip differential, a device that that shifts power to the wheel with better traction. Other than that, the GLI's handling is wonderful, with excellent steering, good body-motion control and lots of grip. The Fahrenheit gets a stiffer suspension than the normal GLI, which reduces body lean to nearly-non-existent but makes the GLI's firm ride even firmer.
Journey's End: Fun for the whole family
The Jetta GLI's best rival is the Honda Civic Si sedan. The Civic is lighter, cheaper, and a bit more agile in the corners, plus its non-turbo engine and limited-slip differential make it nearly immune to the GLI's corner-exit problems. But what the Civic Si isn't good at is driving slow -- it's always chomping at the bit, begging you to go faster. The GLI has a more relaxed attitude towards everyday driving. And when it comes time to give the boss a ride to lunch, the GLI presents a more professional image (except, of course, for the Fahrenheit's yellow paint).
The Nissan Sentra SE-R is another car to consider, though its handling and fun-to-drive factor are an order of magnitude beneath the GLI's. The Mazdaspeed 3 is an excellent alternative, though it's only available as a hatchback, and if you wanted a hatch you'd be looking at the GTI, not the Jetta GLI… OK, forget I mentioned the Mazdaspeed 3.
And what of the Fahrenheit edition? The stiffer suspension is nice to have, provided you don't mind a firm ride, but the yellow paint makes it an easy target for cops, especially if you drive it the way it's meant to be driven. The regular GLI's paint palette offers plenty of colors better suited to stealth speeding.
Bottom line: If your plans include organized competition -- say, autocrossing -- the GLI may not be the best choice. But it's a great car if you just like to go fast -- and if you happen to have a family, it's brilliant. No -- it's delicious. -- Aaron Gold
