Surely you don’t need a reminder that, with most car companies moving towards SUVs and crossovers in a number of electrified flavours, enthusiast cars aren’t what they used to be. Volkswagen is one of the few that still care, but with the GTI and Golf R losing the three-pedal option for 2025, we don’t blame you for losing a bit of hope. Fortunately, for those who still want to row their own gears, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI restores that hope.
For 2025, the Jetta GLI has gone through a mid-cycle refresh inside and out. These small touches make the GLI easier to live with and feel more modern, especially with competitors like the Hyundai Elantra N getting getting recent updates of their own. The Jetta’s overall shape remains the same, but the changes include restyled front and rear fascias, new LED lighting designs—the headlights and tail lights are now connected by a lightbar—and wheel options that previously weren’t available on the GLI. One aspect I’m not a fan of is the placement on the GLI lettering on the front doors; to me, it messes up an otherwise clean design. Still, despite the subtle changes overall, the GLI remains good-looking.
Most Volkswagen enthusiasts fondly remember when the Jetta punched well above its weight in terms of interior quality, from the late 1990s through to the mid 2000s. Those days are long gone; the 2025 Jetta GLI’s cabin doesn’t feel quite as premium as past VWs, but the touch points that matter feel good, and overall it’s well-built and attractive. The revised dash design now includes an eight-inch touchscreen for the infotainment—up from 6.5 inches, but still too small by today’s standards. Still, it’s crisp-looking, responsive, and easy-to-use, and it works with a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, and Volkswagen still includes physical knobs for volume and tuning.
One interior update we’re not so fond of are the climate controls; it’s now a capacitive touch panel finished in gloss black. Sigh. At least Volkswagen hasn’t messed with what works; the Jetta GLI is as spacious as ever no matter where you sit. And with just about 400 litres of trunk space, it’s more than accommodating for long drives.
The Jetta GLI still uses Volkswagen’s ubiquitous 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Although it doesn’t see the same sort of power gains we did with the new GTI, the Jetta does quite well with the power on tap. It puts out 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, falling behind the Elantra N and Subaru WRX, but outgunning the Honda Civic Si. The GLI feels very punchy—expect a zero-to-100 km/h run in just over six seconds—and can still be had with a six-speed manual. For those who prefer two pedals, our tester had the smooth and snappy seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Regardless of the transmission you pick, all Jetta GLIs come with a proper limited-slip differential.
Where the Jetta GLI shines is ride comfort. Unlike the updated Elantra N, which is much improved but still stiff, the GLI stays comfortable and composed even over potholes that make you grit your teeth. There’s a level of confidence and compliance here missing from its competitors, the chassis is well-tuned, and the steering provides a decent bit of feedback. Our tester rolled on winter tires; GLIs otherwise come standard with all-season tires, but proper summer tires would be more appropriate considering its sporting intent.
Even fuel economy is pretty good for what the Jetta GLI is. It’s rated at 9.5 L/100 kilometres city, 5.7 highway, and 8.2 combined. During our chilly test week, with a fairly even split of city and highway driving—and making regular use of the remote starter—we achieved 9.0 L/100 km. This is higher than the combined rating, but on one particularly long highway run, we saw the numbers dip to 6.7 L/100 km and we weren’t even trying. Thankfully, the GLI also happily takes regular-grade fuel for its 50-litre tank.
The 2025 Jetta GLI starts at $34,995 regardless of the transmission you pick. Loaded up with our tester’s options—$295 for red paint and $500 for the Black Package—it works out to $35,790 as-tested. By comparison, a Civic Si will run you at least $36,100, and if you want an automatic Elantra N or WRX, you’re spending at least $40,000 before fees and taxes. Considering the balance between performance, refinement, and creature comforts, the Jetta GLI is one of the best value propositions out there.
Even with SUVs and electrification taking over, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI not only survives, but thrives. Its updates for 2025 make it feel fresh, its price tag makes it a great value proposition, and the fact that VW still lets you row your own gears here means it should be celebrated. No matter you pick two pedals or three, you can’t argue you don’t get your money’s worth here.
