I’m a simple person who likes simple things, and the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the kind of car that tickles every part of my lizard brain. Driving the updated GLI for the past week, I’ve had to remember that there are drive modes other than Sport—especially with a passenger in the car.
With VW’s turbocharged EA888 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, the GLI still produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque—the same as last year. That’s enough power to activate the car’s stability control at launch or traction control when cornering, with a limited-slip differential helping to sort it all out.
| Brief Specifications | 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLi |
| Machine | 2.0 liter turbocharged I4 engine |
| Output | 228 Horsepower / 258 Pound-Feet |
| Transmission | Seven Speed Dual Clutch |
| Heavy | 3,311 pounds |
| Base Price / As Tested | Rp. 33,940/Rp. 34,590 |
The 2025 GLI is the only Jetta available with a six-speed manual transmission. My test car had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters, which is nice. That’s the transmission that about 70 percent of GLI customers choose.
Sport mode revs up the throttle response, stiffens the standard Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers, increases the exhaust note inside the cabin, and keeps the revs high in anticipation of your right foot. I never felt like the transmission was upshifting too quickly, and it was always willing to downshift when needed. It also amps up all the sounds I want to hear—sorry, neighbors.
Normal, Comfort, and Eco modes still work as advertised, taming the suspension, throttle response, and exhaust note. Your passengers will appreciate it, but I barely remember the time I was on the gas, absorbing the turbo and waiting for the pop and gurgle from the exhaust. While the engine sound is a little raspy, it’s still awesome.
Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
Pros: Powerful Turbocharged engine, Awesome Sport Mode, Practical
VW has made only minor updates to the exterior of the Jetta line, including the GLI, for 2025. It gets a revised look and some new wheel options, with the GLI getting a fresh 18-inch wheel design and a grille with turn signals. The most significant changes are on the inside.
Climatronic Touch automatic climate control is now standard across the Jetta lineup. The lack of touch buttons or switches forces you to take your eyes off the road when adjusting the HVAC, and while there are indentations for temperature and fan speed controls, they’re not obvious enough to feel confident reaching for them.
Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
And even if you put your finger in the right place, it’s hard to tell what you’re doing without looking at the slider. Still, I don’t hate using it as much as I thought I would. Being able to slide your finger across a capacitive touch surface is cool, but taking your eyes off the road to do it is not.
The shiny buttons on the steering wheel aren’t too annoying to use, but Volkswagen has moved away from that steering wheel design on the GLI. The Jetta also features a standalone 8.0-inch infotainment screen on the redesigned instrument panel, which is large enough for a sedan, but I found myself accidentally moving between screens when reaching for the smallish volume knob. The revamped interior is nice, but the cabin is starting to feel dated in this competitive segment.
Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
Cons: Clunky touch controls, no rear vents, starting to feel dated
Volkswagen isn’t rewriting the Jetta formula for 2025. Not that it needs to. This is the seventh-generation sedan’s second refresh since 2018, and the GLI remains an engaging and practical sedan with a turbocharged engine tuned for affordable fun.
It seats five, has a spacious trunk (compared to the Mustang my family fills up every week for grocery shopping), and comes with a variety of driving modes your mom will love, all for just $33,940 with a $1,225 delivery fee. No need to spend $50,000 on a boring crossover if you can, and you can cruise around suburban streets without paying a fine.
Buyers will have just two choices when purchasing a new GLI: Choose a transmission and decide whether to add the $650 Black Package. Both manual- and automatic-equipped GLIs have the same starting price. The regular Jetta is cheaper to start in 2025, at $23,220. The updated Jetta and Jetta GLI will go on sale toward the end of the third quarter of this year.
Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
