The Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R have never been the hot hatchbacks I’ve pined after. That would go to the Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla. These hatchbacks, though, are far too expensive for this lowly journalist – no one told me journalism would die out with a big puff of smoke. VW’s hatchbacks, more importantly, have also lost the option to be equipped with a manual transmission, which means they won’t scratch the itch for journalists.
Shoppers looking to get into a fun, affordable, and peppy car from Volkswagen have another option to choose from – the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. With a manual transmission, a starting price tag south of $33,000, and a feel that’s fun and grownup, the Jetta GLI not only keeps the sport compact car alive, but manages to have a character that’s uniquely its own.
What The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Gets Right
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is fun and enjoyable to drive, but it’s not as fun as the aforementioned Toyota and Honda. Still, the Jetta GLI has other strengths. It’s spacious, comfortable, relatively affordable, and has a manual transmission. These qualities should put it high up on a list of candidates for any enthusiast on a budget.
Affordable And Fun Can Live In Harmony
Apologies if I’ve griped about the price of vehicles recently, but it’s a trend that’s only getting worse. The cost of wages has remained stagnant and high-paying jobs have disappeared because of nepotism, but cars are consistently going up. With a starting price tag of nearly $33,000, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is actually affordable. And it’s fun to drive. For decades, enthusiasts have had to choose between performance and affordability, leading the Mazda MX-5 Miata to be the leading choice. The Jetta GLI doesn’t force you to choose and everyone can appreciate that.
With a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that’s rated at 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the Jetta GLI feels plenty quick in a straight line. The manual transmission is easy to use and engaging, while the sedan features an impressive amount of grip.
Comfortable Enough For The Daily Drive
Baltimore is notorious for having poor roads. Like roads that will kill your car and fill you with hate. As far as performance cars go, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is better than average when it comes to ride quality. Adaptive dampers keep the Jetta GLI’s ride comfortable when you’re just heading around town and firm when you want to open things up. It’s this blend of athleticism and comfort that really makes the Jetta GLI special.
More Midsize Than Compact
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be labeled a compact car, but it’s nearly as spacious as a midsize sedan. The sedan has two rows of roomy seats for adults and a generously sized trunk. Together, the Jetta GLI’s cabin is large enough to use as a commuter car to pick up slugs in or as a family vehicle. The Jetta GLI’s trunk can swallow up to 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space, making it plenty large enough for everyone’s bags on a family road trip.
What The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Doesn’t Do Well
When it comes to outright performance, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI leaves a lot of room compared to its competitors. The Hyundai Elantra N is more raucous and the Honda Civic Si is the more sharper handling option. Spend more money, and the doors open up to the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla, both of which offer far more performance.
Interior Doesn’t Feel Special
Volkswagen offers the 2025 Jetta GLI in one interior color – dark gray. Beyond some red trim, the Jetta GLI’s cabin is dark and gloomy. Some people may hate the Civic Type R’s red seats, but at least the Honda has some color. In addition to having an all-black cabin, the Jetta GLI has some low-quality interior materials that are hard to overlook.
Enraging Touch-Capacitive Controls
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI doesn’t come with the brand’s latest infotainment system, but has a decently sized 8-inch touchscreen and a large 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen is relatively intuitive thanks to a few physical controls that surround the display. Unfortunately, the rest of the cabin has touch-capacitive controls that are maddening to use. The ones on the steering wheel are especially irritating.
The Verdict
There are compact cars on sale that have more power, sharper handling, more memorable designs, and nicer cabins, but the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI excels at being a polished performance car. It’s comfortable, fun, affordable, and spacious. It’s also VW’s last car to be offered with a manual. It might be a tad boring, but the trade-off is extra versatility.
