The Volkswagen Jetta has long been a notable mainstream compact sedan but recently has gone the way of blending into the background with other comparable sedans as the crossover/SUV segment has taken over the foreground. With that, Volkswagen attempts to keep the Jetta relevant with it receiving a refresh for the 2025 model year.
This week, I got my hands on the 2025 VW Jetta GLI Autobahn, the performance-oriented version of the German sedan that only comes in the one Autobahn trim. The major updates for the model year refreshing include a revised front fascia and rear bumper, a reworking of some interior elements, and an upgrade of a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Moreover, Volkswagen attempts to make a play on the looks of the Jetta GLI with new colors like my test vehicle’s attractive Monument Gray paint. Other touches include the red trim in the lower front splitter and red-painted brake calipers. Otherwise, the Jetta GLI really doesn’t tip the scale of being in-your-face styling-wise, even though it is a decent-looking and almost contemporary-looking vehicle.
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Powering the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque directed to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic DSG (direct-shift gearbox) transmission. The powertrain feels that it has much more power than on paper and has a delightful growing sound if you enact the Sport drive mode or set up the Custom mode to have a Sport setting for the engine. Combined with the quick-shifting DSG transmission, the engine is eager to lay down decent power and often breaks the all-season tires loose where they beg for traction if you disable the traction control. Here, while in the full Sport mode, you can enact a launch control where the transmission slips its automated clutch, lights up the front wheels, and even barks into second gear at times. Doing such on an ideal surface will get you up to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.
The Jetta GLI handles itself well, but most of the handling is at the mercy of the struggling Hankook all-season tires, which are the only ones offered by the factory. The balance for a front wheel-drive vehicle is good as is its ride quality thanks to the adaptive dampers that are adjustable through the drive modes. The comfort mode is even good as it feels just at home on back roads at highway speeds soaking up road imperfections but not upsetting the overall balance of the body.
Fuel economy is decent for how the Jetta GLI feels having a robust amount of power, often getting its EPA estimates in the real world of 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.
There’s a lot to appreciate in the new Jetta GLI, but there’s also a lot of room for improvement, which would start with a better selection of tires to really bring out the qualities of the Jetta GLI because that German-engineered drivetrain is begging for just a little more to work with apart from still having the option of a 6-speed manual transmission.
The interior of the new 2025 Volkswagen Jetta has been refreshed somewhat, and the welcoming cabin is still very adjustable in seating positions. However, there are still several hard plastic surfaces that keep it from feeling premium inside. The front seats offer heating and ventilation on the Jetta GLI, and there is a heated steering wheel. Overall, the interior proves to be straightforward for the use of its switch gear, offering knobs and buttons for the dual-zone automatic climate control and also having knobs for volume and audio station adjustments. The new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unknit is also straightforward in its use and has a short learning curve. Most of the system is familiar, but now, it is Google-based and has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The wireless smartphone charging pad is convenient, and the proper rubber stops keep our device in place.
The back seats have a good amount of space but lack any climate vents. The cargo room looks large but comes in around 14 cubic feet of space.
Pricing for the new VW Jetta GLI comes to right at $35K, which isn’t all that bad of a deal for all that you get. Not to mention, the DSG transmission is a no-cost selection over the 6-speed manual version.
