2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Road Test and Review

2020 VW Jetta hero ・ Photo by Volkswagen

Last year, VW completely redesigned the popular Jetta. This year, it has turned it into a sports sedan with the new 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. It’s the hot one — the one with the extra horsepower and the sport-tuned suspension. It’s the Jetta for folks who want real performance along with four doors, room for five, and considerable gas mileage.

Now in its seventh generation, the Jetta is the German brand’s smallest and least expensive sedan. It’s also one of VW’s most successful nameplates. It’s basically a sedan version of the VW Golf hatchback, and the Jetta GLI shares much of its hardware with the legendary Golf GTI, including its powerful turbocharged engine. Both are built on the company’s versatile new MQB platform, which also underpins its new Atlas and Tiguan SUVs. The GLI competes with other compact performance sedans like the Honda Civic Si, Kia Forte GT, Subaru WRX, and Hyundai Elantra Sport.

Less Expensive Than the GTI

As we mentioned, the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI sedan shares many components with the Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback. Both are even built at the same assembly plant in Mexico for the American market. But the Jetta GLI is less expensive than its more popular sibling. With a base price of $26,915, including a $920 destination fee, the Jetta GLI costs $1,600 less than the GTI.

For 2020, the VW Jetta GLI sedan is available in three trim levels: S, the 35th Anniversary Edition, which costs $1000 more, and the top-of-the-line Autobahn, like our test vehicle. All three are powered by a smooth 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 228 horsepower, which is very strong for this class. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is available for an additional $800. It’s worth it. Unlike the all-wheel drive Subaru WRX, every Jetta GLI is front-wheel drive, but an electronically controlled limited-slip differential is standard. And to improve its ride and handling over the other Jetta models, which use a less sophisticated suspension design, the GLI has an independent rear suspension.

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An Excellent Performer With Quick Acceleration

The 2020 VW Jetta GLI is quick. We expected that. With 228 hp, it’s one of the most powerful cars in its class with 23 more horsepower than a Honda Civic Si. The fact that the Jetta weighs nearly 300 lbs more than the Honda doesn’t seem to matter. The Volkswagen is considerably quicker, hitting 60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds and running the quarter-mile in under 14.5 seconds. Since a Golf GTI has the same horsepower and weighs about the same as the GLI, the two cars accelerate in a dead heat.

The Jetta GLI is quicker when equipped with the optional dual-clutch automatic transmission than the standard manual. The seven-speed gearbox is perfectly matched the VW’s smooth turbocharged engine, which provides good acceleration off the line once its turbocharger “spools up” and starts feeding the engine boost. Above 2,000 rpm, the four-cylinder is a real powerhouse with 258 lb-ft of torque that seems to last forever.

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Athletic Handling

With its limited-slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, and beefy 18-inch wheels and tires, the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI isn’t just quick — it’s a true sports sedan, with athletic handling, quick reflexes, and strong brakes.

The GLI is one of the best-driving cars in its class. Refined and precise, it feels substantial and expensive from behind the wheel. The ride is comfortable, but you can feel the road, which gives the car a lively and youthful character. The steering is quick and offers plenty of feel, both in Normal and the Sport mode. The latter adds a bit of additional weight to its effort, boosts throttle and shift responsiveness, and increases the sound of the engine. The GLI is fun in the curves, with very little body roll and an impressive amount of grip. Although nose-heavy, which is the norm for front-wheel drive cars, it’s nicely balanced when tossed into a corner.

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Impressive Fuel Economy

Despite the GLI’s big horsepower and strong performance, its fuel economy is strong for its class. The GLI is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway with the six-speed manual transmission, and 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with the automatic. That’s considerably better mileage than you get in the Subaru WRX.

Although it’s only packing 201 hp, the Kia Forte GT is rated higher, as is the Honda Civic Si, which is only offered with a manual transmission. Its ratings are 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. During a week with the GLI around Los Angeles, we used the Jetta’s smooth start/stop feature most of the time. It shuts off the engine at idle to save fuel. Over a few hundred miles of mixed driving, we averaged 27 mpg.

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Handsome, Understated Design

The exterior design of the 2020 VW GLI isn’t the most radical shape in the compact sedan class, but it is one of the more refined and elegant. Clean and attractive, it still looks like a Jetta, but the GLI is about half an inch lower than a regular Jetta, giving it a more aggressive stance.

Full LED lighting front and rear are also standard, and the GLI gets a unique and sportier front bumper with a lower spoiler and larger air intakes. Its grill is wide and filled with a honeycomb pattern like the grill of the Golf GTI. It also features a cool red accent stripe, while the sedan's lower side skirts are also unique as is its more shapely rear bumper, dual chrome exhaust tips, black window trim, and tasteful rear spoiler. Its 18-inch alloy wheels have a diamond-turned surface, which looks great, and its larger front brakes are shared with the Golf R and feature red-painted calipers. For a more sinister look, you can add the Black Package to Autobahn models; it includes black wheels, a black roof, black mirror caps, and a black spoiler.

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Comfortable, Sophisticated Interior

The GLI’s interior isn’t quite up to the standard set by Golf GTI’s, but overall the design is sophisticated and sporty with high-quality materials. Thanks to the Jetta’s large glass and thin pillars, outward visibility is excellent. Its heated front seats are firm but comfortable, and red stitching, which adds a sporty flair to its black upholstery.

Ergonomics are simple with three large dials that control the heat and air conditioning, and there’s a 6.5-inch touchscreen, which grows to 8 inches on the Autobahn trim levels. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard, and onboard Wi-Fi is available. Other cool features on our GLI Autobahn test vehicle include a digital gauge cluster that is configurable just like you can get on an Audi and wireless phone charging. Interior storage is another high point. The sedan’s center console bin is huge, big enough to swallow an iPad. Its door pockets are also large and have slots for water bottles, and there’s a huge open bin ahead of the shifter. The Jetta’s cupholders are also large and well-placed.

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Generous Rear Seat and Cargo Space

The Jetta's rear seat is spacious. There’s room for five, and the GLI seats four comfortably. There’s plenty of headroom, even for tall passengers, and the backseat is nicely shaped and its seatback is reclined a bit, so you’re not sitting bolt upright like at a dining room table. Legroom is about average for the class. If rear seat space is a high priority, check out the Honda Civic Si, which offers the most rear legroom in this class.

The Honda Civic also has a larger trunk than the Jetta, but the VW's 14.1 cubic feet of space should be plenty. It’s more than you get in Subaru WRX, and to expand the space, the Jetta’s rear seat is split 60/40 and easily folds flat.

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Strong Crash Test Scores and Many High-Tech Safety Features

In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2020 VW Jetta scored the highest rating of Good in every evaluation, including the organization's challenging small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The Jetta is also rated five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Every GLI gets a forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic post-collision braking, which attempts to keep the car from dangerous secondary impacts. VW’s standard Intelligent Crash Response system also automatically unlocks all doors, shuts off the fuel pump, and turns on the hazard lights in the event of a collision.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is an inspired mix of performance, practicality, safety, and value. It’s comfortable, fun-to-drive, and attractive inside and out. Unlike some cars in this class that try too hard to look racy and just come off looking too Fast and Furious, the Jetta GLI is cool but tasteful. It’s a bit more mature than some of its rivals, and its turbocharged engine, dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport-tuned suspension are among the best in this class.

It’s also a heck of a value at under $30,000. If you can, spring for the Autobahn trim level. It adds leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, and the digital gauge cluster, and its sophisticated DCC adaptive damping system allows the driver to adjust the firmness of the suspension.

Photo by Volkswagen