2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn - Review by David Colman

A Rather Great Car!

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

Most of the vehicles I review generate passing interest but no long-term commitment. The 2025 VW Jetta GLI Autobahn, however, is different. This spectacular little sleeper of a sports sedan belongs in my own garage real soon. End of story.

Why, you ask, would this rather inexpensive, subdued but handsome four-door VW generate that BUY NOW rating in my book? Because it's the best handling, quickest, five-seat "sports car" I've ever driven. Regardless of price. If you dressed this thing up with an Audi/BMW/Porsche name plate and charged twice as much for it, would you feel better about getting your money's worth? Probably not, and here's why: The GLI carries a base price of just $33,940! To put that number into perspective, you will pay $40-60,000 for any comparable Audi A3 or A4, and $45-60,000 for BMW's Gran Coupe. As for Porsche, don't make me laugh. The only sedan they make is the Taycan EV, which starts at $100,000 and runs to $240,000.

So what virtues vault the modest GLI into the upper tier of the entitled carriage class? Let's start with its sensationally low curb weight. This crucial performance barometer is something that has been completely overlooked today in the quest to pack more weight onto sagging springs and tire sidewalls. The fact that the GLI tips the scale at just 3,183 pounds is a minor miracle given today's wanton propensity for birthing three-ton vehicles. Couple the flyweight footprint of the GLI to its exceptionally responsive EA888G3 turbocharged inline 4, which makes 228hp and 258lb.-ft. of torque, and you end up with an exemplary power-to-weight ratio of 14.10 lb/hp. That number is within hailing distance of VW's legendary $40,000 GTI, which posts a marginally better P/W ratio of 13.20lb/hp.

Equipped with the no-extra-cost 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, the GLI blasts off the starting line to reach 60mph in just 5.5 seconds, and traverses the standing start quarter mile in 14.0 seconds at 102mph on its way to a governed top speed of 126mph. Now a lot of the "enthusiasts" at the buff books will tell you the reason to buy the GLI Jetta over the GTI is the fact that it's still available with a 5-speed manual transmission, which is no longer sold for the GTI. But I'm here to tell you that you don't want the 5-speed DIY manual because the 8-speed Tiptronic is infinitely superior to that old clutch-and-shift routine. Yeah, you can still pretend you're James Bond, doing a racing down-change with the manual tranny. But how many racers today at Le Mans or Indy swap gears the old-fashioned way? None.

Back in my Porsche evaluation days for Excellence Magazine, I tested a lot of early 911 Tiptronic offerings, and I found the first-generation automatic to be inferior to the still available stick shift manuals. All that has initial bias has evaporated with the advent of the 8-speed Tiptronic in the GLI. This transmission is so prescient about anticipating your upshifts and downshifts that it will have you wondering why you even considered opting for the available 5-speed manual. The prescient, instantly responsive Tiptronic becomes your best dance partner as you navigate the twists and turns the GLI was designed to conquer on your favorite back road.

I also have high praise for the 225/45R18 Hankook Kinergy GT tires which grace the Jetta's 7.5 x 18 inch black alloy rims. Despite the fact that these all-season radials carry a durable TW 500 treadwear rating, they proved the perfect dance partner for apex strafing the sinuous roads of coastal California. I found their exceptional level of grip to be remarkable, especially in view of their long-life treadwear rating. I can only imagine what an apex monster this Jetta would become if you slapped on a set of TW 200 autocross rubber.

VW touts the GLI as a "the GTI with a trunk." In view of the $7,000 price savings of the GLI over the GTI, I would also call it "the GTI with its own bank account." There's really very little reason to opt for the hatchback over the sedan when you consider performance, price or appearance. Our Kings Red Metallic (optional $455) Jetta looked especially snazzy with the $650 optional GLI Black Package that darkened the alloy rims, mirror caps, and roof. For 2025, the Jetta benefits from a restyled front fascia and grill conjoined by a new full-width front light bar. The tail also benefits from new full-width tail lights and a revised trunk lid. The subtle stylistic upgrades continue inside the spacious cabin, with very supportive front bucket seats upholstered in "Grigio and Titan Black Leather." Red stitching highlights the black and gray seats. The digital instrument binnacle is business-like and dazzlingly bright. In particular, we enjoyed the vivid red line illumination of the tachometer face. The dashboard has been honed to such a fine degree of simplicity that even the newly introduced haptic HVAC controls are easy to modulate. In sum, a 2025 GLI may soon be joining our collection of vintage Porsches.

2025 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN

• ENGINE: 2.0 liter inline-4, iron clock and aluminum head, turbocharged and intercooled, direct fuel injection
• HORSEPOWER: 228hp@6700rpm
• TORQUE: 258lb.-ft.@1700rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 29MPG City/40MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $35,045

HYPES: Enthusiast's Deal Of The Year

GRIPES: Annoying Open Door Buzzer

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman