​​2025 Jetta GLI Keeps the Fun Alive​

At a time when discussions of electric vehicles often mention the concept of one-pedal driving, some among us still yearn for three times as many pedals. That’s one more pedal than feet to press them, resulting in a bit of a Texas two-step on the floorboard as you accelerate to cruising speed or shift up and down through the gears on an enjoyable road in hilly terrain. Among those of a certain age, many may have learned that dance in a floor-on-the-floor VW Beetle or, for those a decade or two younger, a 5-speed Golf. Volkswagen still produces one last vehicle with a do-it-yourself transmission, and it is a joy to drive. Bud Brown Volkswagen wishes to reintroduce you to the Jetta GLI. 

The first Jetta GLI appeared 41 years ago for those who wanted the fun of the Golf GTI and the security and sound insulation of a trunk.  It has soldiered on these four decades a bit in the shadow of its hatchback sibling, but its mission to provide Euro-style driving fun in a practical compact-sized sedan has never wavered.  

In fact, the Jetta received a mid-cycle update for 2025, which simply makes it more enticing than ever. The updates start with the exterior, where a new front end recalls the GTI and other recent VW models. A low-profile upper grille bridges the LED headlights, and a full-width LED light bar at the bottom edge connects the LED daytime driving lights on each side. Both the grille and lower intake are a deep black in the GLI.  At the rear, the taillights also span the entire width of the model with LED illumination. Black 18-inch wheels adorn the side of the GLI.  

Inside, the GLI, along with other Jetta models, features a new dashboard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen that supports wireless smartphone compatibility and sleek touch-sensitive climate controls and climate vents discreetly integrated into the dashboard trim.  Combined with a thick-rimmed, flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel, the GLI’s dashboard presents a smooth yet practical appearance. The GLI showcases new grey and black perforated heated and ventilated Vienna leather seating surfaces with red contrast stitching. Additional niceties that come with the GLI include: 

• Heated and ventilated front seats 
• Automatic headlights 
• Heated side mirrors and steering wheel 
• auto-dimming rearview mirror 
• Rain-sensing wipers  
• Dual-zone Climatronic with touch automatic climate controls   
• KESSY® keyless access with push-button start 
• Remote start 

Unchanged because it didn’t need any is the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine inline-4. The engine produces 225 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. VW has been refining this engine for quite a while now, and it features several innovations, including direct fuel injection, variable intake and exhaust timing, and variable valve lift.  Water-cooled exhaust gas routes through the cylinder head to the turbocharger to help reduce full-load fuel consumption. Its fully electronic coolant control system provides efficient thermal management with a short warm-up phase that helps reduce friction and decrease fuel consumption.   

The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the latter of which shifts faster than you will and can be controlled with sequential shifting.  With the automatic, the GLI has an EPA-city / highway / combined rating of 25 / 35 / 29. Still, the manual is great fun, though if you manage to behave yourself, the mileage bumps one mpg up across the board for 16 / 36 / 30.  But behaving yourself could be challenging because the manual linkage is precise, and the clutch has a light take-up, encouraging you to run up and down the gears more than you have to just to enjoy the fun of playing with gear selection and engine revs.  

The GLI further lets you explore the entertainment side of driving with an independent upper and lower control arm suspension featuring long-travel coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. The rear suspension is an independent multi-link arrangement with an anti-roll bar. Sport-tuned gas-filled shocks are all around, and the car sits 0.6 inches lower than the standard Jetta.   

The GLI’s standard XDS® Cross Differential System acts as an electronic limited-slip differential. In curves, it can apply braking to an unloaded inside wheel to help reduce understeer. This system delivers impressive handling and cornering performance and a generous helping of fun.  

On the practical side, there are 37.4 inches of legroom for rear passengers, so you never have to apologize to anyone sitting back there, and a little over 14 cubic feet in the trunk, which expands into the cabin with 60/40 split rear seats. It can’t quite swallow big things like a crossover, but if you already have access to one of those when you need it, this is the 4-door sedan to simply enjoy like a sports car every time you climb in.  

Whether you are a 3-pedal or 2-pedal driver, if you want to generate smiles with every drive, you should consider the Jetta GLI. Bud Brown Volkswagen is the place for the test drive because if you are smitten, you will have the Bud Brown Advantage Lifetime Limited Warranty to help keep those smiles coming for years to come.