VolkswagenJetta GLI

　　

2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the more powerful and sportier version of the Jetta sedan. In a way, you can think of it as the Jetta version of the Golf GTI. It comes with a 228-horsepower engine (compared to the regular Jetta's 158 hp), a revised suspension for sportier handling, and a few other performance and cosmetic revisions. This year, a new entry-level 40th Anniversary Edition trim debuts, giving shoppers a less expensive alternative to the returning Autobahn trim level.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$163/mo  for Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition

　　Jetta GLI 40th Anniversary Edition

　　40th Anniversary Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) (Most Popular) - $28,085 MSRP40th Anniversary Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $28,885 MSRPAutobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $31,785 MSRPAutobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $32,585 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Comfortable but compromised

One of the Jetta GLI's greatest attributes is comfort. There's ample room in any of the well-cushioned seats, and the smooth-riding suspension and quiet cabin help reduce fatigue on long drives. This current model is more lively to drive than the standard Jetta, but this GLI isn't nearly as sporty or entertaining as rival sport sedans. The interior is also rather disappointing with its liberal use of hard plastics and other downmarket materials. In the end, it just doesn't feel as special as many of its rivals, as pointed out in our Expert Rating below.

　　

Competitors to consider

As the performance upgrade to the Jetta, the GLI competes against other midrange variants among compact sedans. These include the Honda Civic Si, Kia Forte GT and Mazda 3 Turbo. The Honda Civic leads the class and remains an zzdcar Top Rated pick for its overall excellence. The Kia Forte GT isn't as powerful or sporty as the GLI, but it will save you several thousands with few other sacrifices. The Mazda 3 is a stout performer and looks great, but it's the priciest choice in the bunch.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Jetta GLI drive? The GLI is heavier and less powerful than VW's GTI, as well as sedans like the Hyundai Elantra N, Subaru WRX and Honda Civic Si. The GLI's 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds sits near the bottom of the class, too, and that's with the quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic. Manual-equipped models will be even slower. The transmission can be lazy to downshift to pass on the street or highway. We used the shift paddles more than usual. Braking is not up to the standards set by some of the class leaders. The brake pedal required more effort than we would like and the brakes faded more quickly compared to the systems on other sport sedans.

　　One of the main causes for poor braking figures is the standard all-season tires. These tires hurt handling and steering too. Neither is bad. The steering is quick and weighted well, but it lacks feedback. The standard adaptive dampers do an effective job of controlling body roll, but the tires give up before the chassis reaches its limit. They simply don't have the grip of summer tires, even with the standard electronic limited-slip differential managing traction.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Jetta GLI? The GLI is one of the more refined sport compacts on the market. Its adaptive dampers do a lot of the work here. There's a distinct difference between the Sport and Comfort suspension, though even the stiffest setting won't break your back. The well-padded seats help too. There's not a lot of adjustment, but they provide plenty of lateral support. They have a sporty shape that doesn't feel too confining. The GLI is quiet on the road, with only a mild amount of wind noise on the highway. The exhaust has a bit of a growl, but it doesn't roar as loudly as other compacts.

　　The climate control system is fairly straightforward, with dedicated buttons and knobs for temperature, fan adjustment and more. The controls are mounted a bit low on the center stack, but they're still easy to reach. The standard heated and cooled seats work well, and the automatic climate control operates quickly and evenly without being overly loud. Unfortunately, the GLI doesn't have vents for rear occupants, a bit of an oversight in a modern sedan.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below