Words by: Adam Allen
If that GTI you covet is just out of reach, you need to read this
I mean, the GLI looks OK, but give me the GTI body style any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Your Carpages editorial crew is divided on this one, too. We’re split into two nearly equal camps where one side swears they would never consider anything but a GTI, that it’s the iconic hot hatch and so forth. The others say that they prefer the sedan, correctly pointing out that there are not many of ‘em to be had these days and that its march towards the dustbin of history continues unabated so get one while you can. Whatever your opinion, you must applaud VW for wringing out the excellence of this platform with the additional model owing to the philosophy that there is something for everyone. For those of you about to suggest a GTI/GLI based crossover as another opportunity to add to the model family, please show yourselves out.
Right. Just wondering though- why the price difference between the two? The GLI costs less. Don’t they have the same stuff?
They share the parts that really count- the perennially excellent 2.0 turbo, the shifty DSG gearbox, and suspension and brakes as well. Where they differentiate most is inside, and the first thing you notice inside the GLI is the seats. For one, they lack the aggressive side bolsters of the GTI; Volkswagen’s focus groups said they didn’t find the idea of clambering over them each time they headed out for a drive in a their sedan that appealing so they are much less aggressive (and to some degree, less comfortable) than the GTI thrones. They are trimmed in the same leather as the GTI which is nice, but if you are a Clark tartan fan like we are you are unfortunately out of luck spec’ing your GLI thusly. Also, while by no means cheap or ugly, the interior overall just doesn’t have the same Audi-esque levels of fit and finish. Witness the GLI’s dashboard, whose French stitching rendered in injection molded black rubber doesn’t exactly convey a sense of luxury. Nor do the door panels, which feature materials that would look more at home in a base Jetta rather than the flagship GLI. There are many people for whom these matters will not even register a blip on their radar- they will be too enthralled with the cheaper price of entry coupled with the same driving dynamics they would otherwise enjoy in a GTI. Plus, the GLI has is hot hatch brother beat on the practicality front.
There is still lots to like inside, however.
VW’s infotainment has finally caught up with the rest if the industry, meaning its very good but not perfect. The graphics are not as sharp as the ones in the fully digitized instrument panel and the response to commands could use a little work but it is vastly better than it has ever been. And just because the GLI didn’t get some of the upgraded kit as its sibling, it is still a comfortable and refined place to while away the kilometers. We were reminded of the GLI’s exemplary highway manners on a short jaunt out of town, and there is still nothing else that can dance a boogie as easily and then whisk you home in coddled comfort.
Good to know. To the backroads!
Indeed. While the Jetta GLI does excel as a companion to long days in the saddle, its true goodness comes alive when you seek out tarmac that has as many bends, kinks, and elevation changes as possible. It is there that the brilliance of this car reveals itself, something you can immediately feel once you throw it into the first corner you encounter. The steering is scalpel sharp and while not as feelsome as we’d like it more than makes up for in precision. The suspension shrugs off mid-apex lumps like they aren’t even there and grips appreciably in turns both low speed and fast. The brakes- the fronts are cribbed from the Golf R- scrub off speed with confidence and if there is a scenario where you might experience any fade, we couldn’t find it. The DSG gearbox, which steadily gets better each passing generation can shuffle ratios faster than you ever could, leaving more of your mental faculties available for keeping the 2.0 litre’s power on boil and letting its substantial 258 pounds feet of torque pull you around convincingly, with help from the trick electronical differential. When you have burned enough gas and rubber to satiate your cravings, point the GLI’s prow in the direction of home and it becomes the mature, refined cruiser you want after a day in the twisties.
What might go wrong?
Some of you out there just cannot imagine a sedan version of the vaunted GTI, and that’s OK. Some of you can’t imagine asking for, despite its inherent genius, the DSG transmission when a truly superb manual can be had (and you save yourself some money opting for the DIY shifter as well.) Others still might be miffed that VW did not see fit to give the GLI some of the interior flash and quality that comes standard on all GTIs. When you factor in the less dear price of admission and the enhanced practicality of the GLI, these issues seem to be but minor annoyances.
Should I buy a Jetta GLI?
Remember what we said about the line the GLI straddles? Some people will be very into it and others not. It’s a personal preference, but the key thing to remember is no matter which model you ultimately choose know that you are getting into one of the best cars in the segment and one of the best cars, period.
2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – Specifications
- Price as tested: $33,345
- Body Type: 5-door, 5 passenger sedan
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/front-wheel drive
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbo inline four, DOHC, 16 valves
- Horsepower: 228 @ 4,500 rpm
- Torque (lbs.-ft.): 258 @ 1,500 rpm
- Transmission: 7-speed Dual Clutch automatic
- Curb weight: 1,442kg (3,178 lbs.)
- Observed Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100 km (27mpg)
