Affordable, fun and frugal; the GLI has been fitting that bill now for a number of years. And even though this model is all-new the GLI continues to deliver on that heritage.
Perhaps more so than any other brand, Volkswagen has an instantly recognizable character, particularly from behind the wheel. Whether you’re in a Golf, Jetta or Passat the family lineage is palpable; from the slightly astringent new car smell to the squared off windshield, VWs possess a set of personality traits that convey exactly who they are.
Priced at over $7,000 more than the Jetta from which it is based, the GLI sits lower upon a specifically tuned stiffer, sport suspension with Golf R front brakes, a torque vectoring electronic limited slip differential vastly improving handling and cornering performance, variable ratio steering for speed appropriate turning effort, and Driving Mode Selection with Normal, Sport, Eco and Custom settings that affect a number of variables including exhaust note.
You also get the GLI look with red accents, more aggressive styling and dual exhaust tips and inside there are comfort sport seats in the front and very thoughtful contoured seats in the rear so your passengers can enjoy your spirited driving without sliding around. Oh, and of course there’s a power upgrade where the Jetta’s 1.4-liter turbo is swapped for the GTI’s 2.0-liter turbo with considerably more output than the previous GLI; 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. And ironically, I find that VW’s fuel economy estimates are more accurate than most and as you can see I’ve averaged about 30mpg this week with lots of sporty driving. Again, the GLI offers a coveted balance of performance and efficiency, and that’s with this standard 6-speed manual that actually returns the same mileage as the optional 7-speed auto…you don’t see that much anymore.
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