For those of us who believe driving should be an engaging and enjoyable experience, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI arrives as a breath of fresh air. In a world increasingly dominated by crossovers and automatic transmissions, the Jetta GLI stands firm as a sporty sedan that doesn’t compromise on driver involvement. This isn’t just another point A to point B car; it’s a machine designed to put a smile on your face, especially if you opt for the increasingly rare six-speed manual transmission. The refreshed 2025 Jetta Gli builds upon its legacy, offering updated styling and technology while retaining the core DNA that makes it a favorite among driving enthusiasts. Let’s dive into what makes the 2025 Jetta GLI a compelling choice in the sport compact segment.
What’s New for 2025?
Volkswagen has given the Jetta GLI a significant refresh for 2025, bringing its aesthetics and technology up to date. The most noticeable changes are to the exterior, with a redesigned front fascia that aligns it with Volkswagen’s modern design language. The front end is now sharper and more assertive, giving the GLI a more premium and contemporary look. Around back, the 2025 Jetta GLI sports a stylish full-width taillight bar, a feature becoming increasingly common in modern vehicles and adding a touch of sophistication.
Inside, the cabin receives a revamped dashboard design. A larger, tablet-style infotainment screen takes center stage, reflecting current trends in automotive interiors. While the larger screen enhances the tech appeal, the climate controls have transitioned to touch-sensitive sliders. For those who prefer physical buttons and knobs, this might be a slight step back in terms of usability, but the dedicated climate display is a plus compared to systems that bury everything within the infotainment system.
A vibrant Kings Red 2025 Jetta GLI showcases its updated side profile parked on a residential street, with a tall pine tree adding a touch of nature to the urban setting.
For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen has streamlined the Jetta GLI trim levels. It’s now exclusively available in the top-tier Autobahn trim. While simplification can sometimes be beneficial, it does mean the entry price for the GLI has increased. The 2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn starts at a reasonable $33,940, including destination charges. The price remains competitive within the sport compact segment, but the elimination of lower trims might deter budget-conscious buyers who previously had access to a more affordable GLI. Our test vehicle, finished in the optional Kings Red paint and equipped with the Black Package, which blacks out mirror caps and the roof, came to $35,045.
Unchanged Powertrain, Undiminished Fun
Under the hood, the 2025 Jetta GLI retains the beloved EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine. This engine is a staple in Volkswagen’s performance models, and for good reason. It delivers a punchy 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for spirited driving. The powertrain remains unchanged from the previous model year, which isn’t a drawback considering how well-regarded this engine is.
Drivers can choose between a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission or a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG). The availability of a manual transmission is a significant highlight for driving purists, as the 2025 Jetta GLI is currently the only Volkswagen model offered with a manual gearbox in the United States. This commitment to the manual is commendable and caters directly to enthusiasts who value driver engagement above all else. The GLI also carries over the independent rear suspension and limited-slip front differential from the outgoing model, crucial components that contribute to its agile handling and fun-to-drive nature.
The engine bay of the 2025 Jetta GLI is showcased with the hood open, revealing the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine, the heart of its sporty performance, while parked on a dirt surface.
Driving Experience: A Hoot on Wheels
Getting behind the wheel of the 2025 Jetta GLI is an inherently joyful experience. Whether you’re navigating city streets or carving through twisty backroads, the GLI delivers an engaging and entertaining drive. Engage Sport mode, and the GLI’s character sharpens noticeably. The steering becomes more weighted, the adaptive dampers firm up for improved body control, and the engine’s sound is amplified through the speakers, creating a more immersive driving experience.
The EA888 engine’s torque is readily available, providing strong acceleration throughout the rev range. The GLI pulls eagerly towards its 6,500 rpm redline, making it genuinely quick and responsive. The handling is playful and eager, encouraging you to explore the car’s limits. While the Jetta GLI can exhibit some torque steer, particularly on uneven surfaces or under hard acceleration, it adds to the car’s lively and engaging personality, rather than detracting from it. The exhaust note is pleasingly sporty without being overly loud or intrusive, providing a soundtrack that complements the driving experience.
A detailed shot focuses on the front passenger-side wheel of the Jetta GLI, highlighting the sporty wheel design and the prominent GLI badge, symbolizing its performance lineage.
The standard all-season tires, however, do hold back the GLI’s full potential, limiting front-end grip in more demanding driving scenarios. Upgrading to summer performance tires would undoubtedly unlock even more of the car’s handling prowess. The six-speed manual transmission is a delight to use, featuring a light clutch pedal and reasonably precise shifter, making it accessible for drivers of all skill levels while still providing the tactile feedback enthusiasts crave. The 2025 Jetta GLI continues to deliver on the fun factor that has defined the GLI lineage for decades, proving that sporty sedans still have a place in today’s automotive landscape.
City and Highway Manners
Beyond the backroads, the 2025 Jetta GLI proves to be a well-rounded daily driver. In urban environments, it feels solid and composed, effortlessly absorbing bumps and imperfections thanks to its independent rear suspension. The light clutch of the manual transmission is a boon in stop-and-go traffic, preventing leg fatigue. The engine’s power and the engaging manual gearbox make even mundane city commutes more enjoyable, tempting you to drive with a bit more enthusiasm.
A close-up of the iconic GLI badge on the 2025 Jetta, emphasizing the vehicle’s sporty identity and Volkswagen’s performance heritage.
On the highway, the Jetta GLI is a comfortable cruiser. While tire noise is noticeable at higher speeds, it’s a characteristic that some competitors have addressed more effectively. Impressively, all 2025 Jetta models, including the GLI, come standard with Volkswagen’s IQ Drive Level 2 driver assistance system. This system works surprisingly well even with the manual transmission, providing lane centering and adaptive cruise control. It’s an intriguing combination of analog and digital, allowing you to shift gears while the car manages lane keeping and speed. Fuel economy on the highway is commendable, with the manual GLI achieving mid-to-high 30s mpg when cruising around 75 mph. The manual transmission even slightly outperforms the automatic in fuel efficiency, rated at 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.
Interior and Technology: Hits and Misses
The interior of the 2025 Jetta GLI offers the same spaciousness and practicality as the standard Jetta. There’s ample room for passengers in both the front and rear seats, and the trunk provides generous cargo capacity. The infotainment system is typical Volkswagen, meaning it’s generally user-friendly but may require a bit of a learning curve for those unfamiliar with VW’s interface.
New for 2025 are standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a cooled wireless charging pad with increased output, and faster-charging USB-C ports, all welcome additions that enhance connectivity and convenience. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, though some may find them positioned a bit high. Ventilated front seats and heated outboard seats, front and rear, are standard, adding to the comfort features. One notable downside is the standard BeatsAudio system, which, for a car in this price range, delivers underwhelming sound quality.
A wide interior shot from the passenger side showcases the driver’s cockpit of the 2025 Jetta GLI, highlighting the new infotainment screen, dashboard layout, and sporty steering wheel design.
The steering wheel, while feeling good in hand, also incorporates touch-sensitive buttons. These touch controls can be finicky and less intuitive than traditional buttons, sometimes requiring multiple attempts to activate the desired function. For example, adjusting cruise control settings can be more cumbersome than it should be due to the touch-sensitive interface. The move to touch-sensitive climate controls, replacing physical knobs and buttons, also represents a slight ergonomic step back, requiring more attention to operate while driving.
Competition and Conclusion: Is the 2025 Jetta GLI Worth It?
The 2025 Jetta GLI enters a competitive segment with strong rivals. Its closest competitor might be the Hyundai Elantra N. With the GLI now only offered in the Autobahn trim, its price point overlaps with the Elantra N. The Elantra N offers even more performance and a more track-focused driving experience, but the Jetta GLI counters with a more refined and mature demeanor for everyday driving. The Elantra N is arguably the sharper tool for outright performance, but the GLI strikes a better balance between sporty driving and daily usability.
A dynamic rear three-quarter view of the Kings Red 2025 Jetta GLI parked on a dirt patch, with a scenic mountain range in the background, emphasizing its sporty stance and outdoor appeal.
The Jetta platform itself is starting to show its age compared to some newer competitors, but the GLI variant remains a compelling package. It offers genuine practicality with ample passenger and cargo space, while still providing a genuinely fun and engaging driving experience. For those who prioritize driving enjoyment and still need the versatility of a sedan, especially those who appreciate the dwindling availability of manual transmissions, the 2025 Jetta GLI is definitely worth considering. Before looking at another crossover, take the 2025 Jetta GLI for a test drive, and don’t be afraid to embrace the manual transmission – it’s part of what makes this car so special.
A wide angle shot looking into the cabin of the 2025 Jetta GLI showcases the spacious interior, highlighting both the front and rear seats and the overall comfortable passenger environment.
A close-up view of the 2025 Jetta GLI steering wheel, emphasizing its sporty design, leather wrapping, and the integrated touch controls and GLI badging.
Conclusion
The 2025 Jetta GLI successfully blends everyday practicality with genuine driving enjoyment. Its refreshed styling and updated technology keep it relevant, while the unchanged powertrain and available manual transmission ensure it remains a fun-to-drive sport compact sedan. In a market increasingly leaning towards crossovers and automatics, the 2025 Jetta GLI stands out as a testament to the enduring appeal of the sporty sedan, especially for driving enthusiasts who crave driver engagement and appreciate the tactile connection of a manual gearbox. If you value a car that’s both practical and genuinely fun to drive, the 2025 Jetta GLI deserves a spot on your shortlist.
