Don’t confuse the GLI for your standard Jetta. This up-powered sport sedan fancies itself a VW GTI with a trunk. Competing against the likes of the Honda Civic Si and the Subaru WRX, the GLI delivers good power (and plenty of torque) in a comfortable and sophisticated package.
- What’s New for the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Volkswagen has updated the 2025 Jetta GLI with a new front end, stylish new wheel designs, and a redesigned rear. Inside, GLI buyers all get a “floating” 8-inch touchscreen and new Vienna leather seats. Under the hood, the same potent and torquey powerplant returns.
Design
Unlike some competitors, notably the Hyundai Elantra N and Subaru WRX, the Jetta GLI applies a sophisticated and subdued design language. Just enough character lines crease the bodywork, and the three-box dimensions continue to prove the timelessness of the sedan shape. For 2025, Volkswagen has redesigned the GLI’s front and rear ends, with the front flaunting a stylish light bar and the rear boasting a full-width taillight bar broken in the middle by the letters “GLI.” Newly designed 18-inch wheels also arrive for the 2025 model year, and red brake calipers still peek out from behind them.
Powertrain
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI employs the same EA888 engine as previous model years. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. While many shoppers will opt for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Volkswagen is keeping its six-speed manual transmission available to those drivers who like to shift their own gears.
Underneath the metal, the GLI sits on Volkswagen’s MQB chassis. While the standard Jetta uses a torsion-beam rear suspension, the GLI upgrades to a multi-link rear suspension. A VAQ electronically controlled limited-slip differential is also included with the GLI.
Interior
Every Jetta, including the 2025 GLI, gets an interior refresh, but we’re particularly impressed with the GLI’s new touchpoints. New, perforated Vienna leather in a Grey/Red Crust/Titan Black contrasting configuration brings an appropriate amount of sportiness to this quick sedan. A touch-capacitive steering wheel is also standard on the GLI.
Technology
Volkswagen includes an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display in every 2025 Jetta. In the GL, the software supports SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, and it pairs with an eight-speaker Beats premium audio system. Volkswagen also includes a 15-watt wireless charging pad with an integrated cooling system in the GLI.
Safety
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI has not yet undergone evaluation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nevertheless, it is built on the same MQB platform as the 2024 Jetta model, which received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not achieve a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.
For 2025, Volkswagen has made IQ.Drive a standard feature. This advanced suite includes typical features such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Additionally, it features Emergency Assist, a rarer technology that offers semi-automated driving assistance if the Jetta GLI detects a medical emergency.
Pricing and Release Date
The GLI is a bit of a niche player in the compact sedan marketplace, and it represented between 10 and 12 percent of all Jettas sold in 2024. As of this writing, Volkswagen has not announced a starting price for the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. While we expect its price tag to remain in the same ballpark as the 2024 model, we do know that the destination fee is increasing from $1,225 to $1,300. A Black Package will be available in 2025, bringing with it a black roof, black mirror caps, and black wheels.
Volkswagen plans to assemble the 2025 GLI at its plant in Puebla, Mexico, and it is expected to go on sale during the late summer or early fall of 2024.