The Jetta GLI and the Stick Shift Compact Sedan Battle

The first vehicle owned by the humble writer of this piece was a 1969 VW Beetle, which he promptly cut in half and transformed into a flatbed pickup truck. The second car was a 1969 Karmann Ghia that was mostly left untouched. Among all the things those vehicles had in common, what left the most lasting impression was their manual transmissions. Over many decades, your writer has owned more vehicles with manual transmissions than automatics and still drives a manual today. If you’re of a certain age or outlook, you just prefer manual transmissions. And it helps if you don’t have to commute through an hour of stop-and-go big-city traffic.  

For three-pedal enthusiasts, manual transmissions have become an endangered species, especially if you need the practicality of a sedan. This led to a question posed to an editor of the TFLCar website about what options are available for a manual transmission sedan under $37,000. The response involved comparing and contrasting the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, Honda Civic Si, and Hyundai Elantra N, with highlights summarized in this Bud Brown Volkswagen post. 

The poser of the question referenced the Subaru WRX, but it didn’t meet his $37,000 ceiling, so the comparison was among these three compact front-wheel-drive sport sedans. In terms of starting MSRP, the $33,215 Jetta GLI is priced in the middle, with the Elantra N at $34,250 and the Civic Si at $30,250 on the lower end. All three models have turbocharged inline-4 engines and are available with 6-speed manual transmissions, although the Civic offers no choice in that regard. 

The TFLCar editor quickly notes that all three vehicles are very fun to drive. Power aligns with the price, making the least expensive Civic also the least powerful at 200 hp. He also mentions that the suspension is the least sophisticated, resulting in a ride and handling that favors the latter over the former, though it doesn’t punish the driver. They conclude that it is the most youthful of the three, though some may find it too youthful. 

On the other side of things is the Elantra N. With 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, it is the power leader of the group, featuring a button that even adds an extra 10 hp for a few seconds. Even more than the Civic, the Elantra N is overt about its boy-racer status with its exterior and interior trim choices. 

The Jetta GLI would be Goldilocks’ choice. He describes the suspension as very well-tuned, and its 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque make it “the most sophisticated ride here, and it’s a hoot to drive aggressively.” He praises both its power and fuel economy, which, with an EPA estimate of 26 city, 36 highway, and 30 combined, each number is just one MPG behind the Civic Si and several above the Elantra N.  

He sums up by stating, “Prefer a premium feel with strong performance and comfort? Get the Volkswagen GLI.“ If you’re a fellow traveler who likes to select your own gears and get your left foot in on the action, but needs a bit more usefulness than a 2-seat sports car, check out the fun but refined Jetta GLI at Bud Brown Volkswagen.