2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

　　

2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

byReese CountsVehicle 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.

　　Like VW's GTI hatchback, the 2021 Jetta GLI offers a great combination of performance and practicality at a relatively affordable price. Compared to a regular Jetta, you get a more powerful turbocharged engine, the choice of a manual or a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a sport-tuned suspension. The GLI is a fun and quick small sedan, but it's also comfortable and easy to drive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI S 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

　　$168/mo  for Jetta GLI S

　　Jetta GLI S

　　S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $26,345 MSRPS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $27,145 MSRPAutobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $30,745 MSRPAutobahn 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) (Most Popular) - $31,545 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　There are a few other small performance sedans around for 2021. A mainstay of the class, the Honda Civic Si, has been discontinued for 2021, but Hyundai has come out with a dramatically improved 2021 Elantra that's pretty compelling in its 201-horsepower N Line or 275-hp N guise. There's also the Mazda 3 sedan, which has a new 250-hp turbocharged engine on tap for this year. Should you get the Jetta GLI? Read our Expert Rating to get our in-depth take and help inform your buying decision.

　　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

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Jetta GLI drive? This is an impressive car for daily driving. There's a little delay in power delivery as the engine gets up to speed, but it pulls with satisfying grunt from about 2,700 rpm. We tested the GLI with the manual transmission, and it covered 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. That's a bit quicker than the Honda Civic Si. There is noticeable rev hang between shifts, however, which saps some of the fun from sporty driving.

　　The GLI's handling and steering shine and make the car fun to drive around turns. The torque-vectoring front differential helps pull the car through turns with almost uncanny grip. The steering is naturally weighted, and there's a bit of feedback from the road.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Jetta GLI? Perhaps the most surprising feature of the GLI is its ride, which is exceptionally smooth for a sporty small sedan. The cloth seats are comfortable and supportive, although the front seats don't have quite as much side bolstering as we'd like.

　　There's some wind noise from the roof pillars at freeway speed and some road noise when driving over bumps. But on the whole, the car is pleasantly quiet for a sporty sedan. The climate control system is easy to use and regulates the cabin temp well, though the center vents are placed a little too low for our tastes.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? There's lots of seat adjustability and steering-wheel telescoping range, although the low-hanging column may interfere with some drivers' knees. The GLI's manual shifter is well placed except that the cupholders are directly aft, which is an issue if you have tall drinks. Otherwise, the controls are generally well marked and easy to find.

　　Interior space is excellent with enough rear-seat head- and legroom for adults, although the deep-set rear outboard seats require a bit of effort to get out of. As for visibility, the GLI's high rear trunk deck creates rear visibility issues, and the side mirrors are small.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The base touchscreen system, which is what we tested, is simple and easy to use. The large physical button shortcuts are useful for switching between functions and menus. But it's a relatively limited system, lacking even native voice controls. Fortunately, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration is standard and works well enough. You can also get the upgraded 8-inch touchscreen on the Autobahn trim.

　　Blind-spot monitoring works well, but the backup camera display is grainy and unsophisticated.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? By the numbers, the Jetta's 14.1-cubic-foot trunk falls in the middle of the pack. But in practice it's sufficiently accommodating, with a large, flat load floor and generous trunk opening. The trunklid has a tendency to fall closed if not opened securely all the way. The folding seats create a nice, wide pass-through.

　　The door pockets on all four doors are quite large, and there's a good-size tray in front of the shifter. The cupholders will accommodate larger containers. The console box under the center armrest isn't as big as some others, and some competitors have more options to organize your small items, but there's plenty of room around the Jetta's cabin for your things.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? In today's class of small performance cars, the GLI is below average for fuel economy. The EPA estimates the GLI gets 28 mpg combined with either transmission, but we never came close to achieving that in our time with the car. Driving it the way it wants to be driven incurs serious mileage penalties.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Jetta GLI a good value? Stacked up against similar small, sporty mainstream sedans, the GLI is an interesting proposition. In routine driving, it feels like a more refined vehicle, and it offers a lot of practicality. It's solidly put together, even if the materials quality is just typical for the class. Unfortunately, the price gets high if you want extra features that some competitors offer for less, though the highest trim has cool extras no one else offers in this class.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　We're fans of the GLI. It's a refined and comfortable daily driver with plenty of turbocharged punch and a satisfying manual transmission. It irons out potholes at a near luxury level and is engaging in the turns. Sure, it's a bit more Dr. Jekyll than Mr. Hyde, with a few foibles that keep it from greatness when it's really pushed, but we wouldn't trade its daily driver strengths for more edge.

　　

Which Jetta GLI does zzdcar recommend?

Of the two trims, we suggest going with the Autobahn. Yes, the base S trim offers the same level of performance, but part of the Jetta GLI's appeal is its day-to-day usability. The Autobahn comes with way more features, and, for 2021, that includes a set of standard driver aids such as adaptive cruise control. If you live in warmer climates, we also suggest opting for the no-cost summer performance tires since they noticeably enhance the car's braking and handling performance.

　　

2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI models

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is available in just two trim levels: S and Autobahn. Both come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It's paired to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (Volkswagen calls it DSG) that sends power to the front wheels. Feature highlights include:

　　S

　　Comes fairly well equipped with:

　　18-inch alloy wheels (standard all-season or optional summer tires) Performance brakes Limited-slip differential for improved traction Leather-wrapped steering wheel (includes shift paddles with DSG transmission) Cloth upholstery Manually adjustable sport seats Heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Keyless entry with push-button start Rain-sensing wipers 6.5-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Two USB ports Six-speaker audio system Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)Autobahn

　　The top-level Autobahn trim builds off the base trim. Performance remains the same, but you get additional features including:

　　Adaptive suspension for improved ride and handling Panoramic sunroof Power-adjustable driver's seat Leather upholstery Ventilated front seats Remote start (DSG only) 8-inch touchscreen display with Volkswagen's latest infotainment system Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless charging pad Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Volkswagen and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Automatic high beamsThe Autobahn is available with two options:

　　Summer tires Black package Black 18-inch wheels Black mirror caps, roof and spoiler

　　

2021 Jetta GLI Highlights

Trim: SAutobahnS

　　

Base MSRP	$26,345
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$168/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles