AutoTrader SCORE
-
STYLING8.0/10
-
Safety6.5/10
-
PRACTICALITY7.0/10
-
USER-FRIENDLINESS7.0/10
-
FEATURES7.5/10
-
POWER7.5/10
-
COMFORT8.0/10
-
DRIVING FEEL7.0/10
-
FUEL ECONOMY7.0/10
-
VALUE8.0/10
That Volkswagen has not only kept building its likeable Jetta sedan but also subtly improved it for 2025 is worthy of applause.
In the current age of crossovers, sedans have become as rare as trustworthy politicians. And like those rarified public figures, the sedans that remain are to be celebrated.
Rarer still are cars with a manual transmission; VW has cancelled stick shifts for the sportier GTI and Golf R — but the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI carries on with the choice of a good old-fashioned six-speed manual. I’ve enjoyed the GLI with the stick shift before, but I’d never tried one with the dual-clutch until now.
Power: 7.5/10
The Jetta GLI’s 228 hp won’t drop anyone’s jaw, but its 258 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 to 4,400 rpm is ample, giving the Volkswagen plenty of grunt to pull away from a stop, or execute a passing manoeuvre with plenty of gusto. Having an extra gear to keep the engine in its admittedly broad sweet spot, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic helps improve on the stick-shift’s zero-to-100 km/h sprint time by about a half second, and keeps the GLI ahead of a competitor like the Honda Civic Si, and on par with the more powerful Mazda3 GT Turbo.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
Unsurprisingly, the GLI’s fuel consumption is in line with its performance. Rated at 9.5 L/100 km in the city, 6.7 on the highway, and 8.2 combined, the automatic fares better than the heavier, all-wheel-drive Mazda3 GT Turbo, but worse than the Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N-Line, and even the GLI with a manual transmission. Still, its 50-L fuel tank gives the sporty Jetta a theoretical range of a little more than 600 km, and during my test week with a mixture of highway and city driving (plus some back road shenanigans), the GLI showed a respectable average of 7.9 L/100 km. And despite being a performance-oriented machine, the GLI is happy with regular-grade gas.
Driving Feel: 7/10
Volkswagen fits the Jetta GLI with adaptive damping control and lets the driver choose between different drive modes that affect the stiffness, but also throttle response and shift speed. Switching between the modes, the differences in suspension feel aren’t overly pronounced, but the ride is always fairly taut, with body motions well-managed. The GLI is eager to play in twisty roads, but the Hankook Kinergy tires seem better-suited for touring than playing, giving up their grip quicker than expected.
The steering is nicely weighted, although more steering feel would help give a clearer sense when the three-season tires are about to give up the ghost. The brakes — 340-mm ventilated rotors up front, 300-mm rears — deliver strong stopping power with good pedal feel.
The GLI does a decent job as an everyday commuter, trundling along quietly and efficiently most of the time, but it falls short when looking for a sporty, engaging experience. A large part of that is this transmission that, even when in manual mode, upshifts well before the tachometer swings to redline. The gear changes are swift and crisp, but the car always seemed to upshift just before I clicked the paddle, resulting in two upshifts instead of one, and dropping the revs and bogging the power. The obvious solution here is to spec a GLI with the slick-shifting manual transmission instead.
Styling: 8/10
Now six years into this Jetta generation’s lifespan, a couple subtle refreshes have kept its looks up to date. The bumpers have been reshaped, and LED lights now span the width of the nose and tail. In a welcome counter to current trends, the grille is a simpler, smaller opening.
Pleasingly, the GLI stays relatively subdued in its styling without being littered with garish fins, wings, fake vents, or an unnecessary number of exhaust outlets. It’s this sort of restraint that has kept this porty Jetta handsome for six years so far, and will continue to look fresh for years to come. The one tacky add-on must be from someone in VW’s inventory department discovering an extra shipment of last year’s GLI tail badges that are now affixed to the front doors.
The interior is also an exercise in restraint. The otherwise black cockpit is accented with red stitching and trim, and the two-tone black-and-grey seats look decidedly upscale.
Features: 7.5/10
It’s a well-equipped cockpit, too. Those front seats not only look good, but they’re trimmed in perforated leather and offer both heat and cooling functions, and they’re power operated. The rear seats are heated, too. There’s a large sunroof, but unlike the useless panoramic ones found on many vehicles, this one actually opens to let in fresh air and vitamin D. There’s dual-zone climate control (although no rear vents other than under the front seats), wireless smartphone charging, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.
The sound system is disappointing with mediocre sound from the six speakers (plus subwoofer), and falls short of my recollection of the Fender-branded systems VW used to employ.
User-Friendliness: 7/10
Volkswagen has come under fire for some questionable choices in the layout of the controls in its recent models. With this being a refresh to the Jetta GLI rather than a complete redo, it (mostly) retains its sensible ergonomics. The one caveat is the switch from simple knobs for the climate control to slicker-looking — but more tedious to use — haptic slider switches. The glossy-black haptic buttons on the steering wheel carry over as well despite VW smartening up with other models like the Golf GTI that have returned to actual buttons.
Mercifully, the old eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system continues here, too. Giving up a massive screen and the flashy graphics for the simplicity and effectiveness of this one is an easy trade. It connected wirelessly to my iPhone and worked flawlessly throughout this test, and the separate volume and tuning dials are a welcome bit of classic functionality. The all-digital instrument display gives the Jetta GLI a premium look, especially with the embedded navigation.
Comfort: 8/10
While the ride varies between firm and firmer, depending on drive mode, it’s never punishing and manages to soften the sharpest impacts from the nastiest potholes. The front seats provide good support and comfort, balancing a reasonable amount of bolstering without being confining for larger occupants. On paper, the rear seat dimensions may not be class-leading in any measure, but the relatively squared off shape of the profile means the space is very accommodating.
Practicality: 7/10
Four adults can quite comfortably travel in the Jetta, while a fifth won’t be too cramped in the middle of the back seat. The trunk offers a generous 399 L of space, accessed by a wide opening, and expandable with the rear 60/40 split rear seat folded. The Jetta GLI can manage four-season weather just fine with a set of proper winter tires; however, in areas with lots of snow, drivers may prefer a vehicle with greater ground clearance and all-wheel drive, neither of which are found here.
Safety: 6.5/10
Volkswagen fits the Jetta with the expected contemporary safety features including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and pedestrian monitoring and alerts. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a top five-star rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) noted concerns with potential rear passenger head-, neck-, and chest injuries from its moderate overlap front test updated in 2023. The Jetta GLI also lacks any driver attention alert, parking sensors, or road sign-reading capability offered elsewhere in the segment.
Value: 8/10
The entire Jetta lineup represents a tremendous value, offering a comfortable, pleasant, and well-equipped car for a very reasonable sum. Stepping into the GLI gains the best of what the Jetta lineup has to offer, plus the higher performance mechanicals. The GLI is the only car in its class with an adaptive suspension, and given its standard leather seating, sunroof, and no-cost automatic transmission, it’s aggressively priced against its key competitors like the Honda Civic Si, Subaru WRX, and Mazda3 GT Turbo.
The Verdict
Volkswagen’s Jetta GLI is aging gracefully. Where the styling and tech trends have sometimes veered the competitors down strange lanes, Volkswagen’s sporty sedan endures as a competent, fun, and practical daily driver. The styling updates for 2025 have taken a handsome car and made it more so, and its aging technology is a boon thanks to its effectiveness and ease of use. That it’s a solid value makes the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI even more endearing, but drivers who opt for the stick shift will get the best out of this car.
| Engine Displacement | 2.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Turbo I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 9.5 / 6.7 / 8.2 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 399 L |
| Model Tested | 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn |
| Base Price | $34,995 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $1,950 |
| Price as Tested | $37,840 |
|
Optional Equipment
$795 — Black package, $500; Kings Red Metallic paint w/black roof, $295
|
|
You may also like
