We got behind the wheel of the all-new Volkswagen GLI on one of the best roads in America to do it. A perfect place to test a sports coupe, fast motorbike or, in this case, a brand new compact sedan that wants to be different in a world of compact trucks. Building sedans that people will choose over SUVs in 2019 is a tall order. Volkswagen鈥檚 success in North America is palpable, thanks to the Atlas and the Tiguan SUVs who made a killing in 2018. Still, the German car manufacturer clings to the four-door dream, launching the Arteon, Jetta GLI and Passat this year. The Volkswagen Jetta has always been a staple in the people-and-cargo-conscious driving enthusiast鈥檚 eye, delivering both space, driving dynamics and a hint of performance to go with it. The 2019 Jetta GLI is bigger and badder on paper, and we couldn鈥檛 wait to see if it could perform to our expectations. The new GLI has a 30 mm longer wheelbase and an is 81 mm longer than the outgoing model. On the Canadian side, two variants are available for purchase.
995 and will add Light Assist (Automatic High-Beam control), Blind Spot Detection with Rear Traffic, Alert and Lane Assist, Front Assist - Autonomous Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control (auto trans only). The GTI鈥檚 2.0 liter turbocharged powerplant now takes place under the 2019 Jetta GLI鈥檚 hood. It boasts 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, giving it 18 horsepower and 51 horsepower more than the previous generation. Both models get front wheel drive. So it鈥檚 pretty much like a GTI with a trunk? There are a few differences. Upon stepping into the 2019 GLI, you鈥檒l notice that everything in the dashboard is focused on the person at the wheel. The 10.25-inch screen is at an angle, inspired by the Audi Q3 and other interiors in the VW empire. Although very comfortable and ergonomic, this interior doesn鈥檛 have the GTI feel. Trim-wise, it has a bit too much plastic where it should have aluminium, and finishings are a bit more budget-friendly.
However, comfort for the driver is spectacular, room for passengers in the rear is ample and it has plenty of cargo space. Endeavouring on the Tail Of The Dragon on a Monday morning has a major advantage: there is little to no traffic. Getting into the curves of the Tail, the steering showed great feedback paired with a pleasant weight to it. The Jetta GLI stayed gripped to the ground with no body roll, providing the necessary predictability to confidently throw it around from curve to curve. If tempers flared and corners were coming too quickly, braking proved to be phenomenal. Throwing the gears on your own with the 6-speed is the way to go on this type of terrain. Although the shift stick is a little long for this type of driving, the tranny under it is well staged and you never feel 鈥渙ut of the band鈥? One weird detail about the manual gearbox: getting out of the electronic parking brake proved to be puzzling. Upon depressing the clutch pedal, the car would literally squat and almost stall to disengage the brake, maybe some adjustment is required there. Overall, Volkswagen sprinkled a lot more glitter on the GLI to make it more successful. 3,300 cheaper than the previous generation. Will it sell more? It鈥檚 tough to say. Volkswagen has always been about discreet performance, the refinement without the show - and has a following to back up the success of the recipe. But this is a double-edged sword in itself; there is a lot of competition out there with bolder-looking cars AND trucks. The GLI will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. And for the price, it is definitely a choice to consider if you鈥檙e in the market for a sporty four-banger.
The new Digital Cockpit instrument cluster is optional on the base model and standard on SEL and SEL Premium trims. It comes with a reconfigurable display and the possibility to position navigation data in front of the driver. Features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink integration, as well as the 400-watt Beats Audio sound system are optional. The latter makes the Jetta the first Volkswagen in the U.S. There鈥檚 bigger news in the driver assistance department, with new technology available. The rearview camera is standard on every model, while the options list includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Control, and Lane Departure Warning. Volkswagen didn鈥檛 have much to say about the drivetrain, but it did confirm that the new compact uses a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. The unit cranks out 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. That鈥檚 a three horsepower decrease compared to the outgoing 1.4-liter mill, but it keeps the Jetta at the top of the compact class output-wise.
But while the engine didn鈥檛 change much, it mates to a new six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic is offered optionally on the base model and standard on the higher trims and includes a start/stop system for improved fuel economy. There aren鈥檛 any EPA estimates yet, but the new platform, the revised engine, and the new transmissions should make the new Jetta more efficient that the previous model. The outgoing sedan returns 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, so it鈥檚 safe to assume that the redesigned model will surpass the 40-mpg mark on the highway. 100 drop compared to the outgoing model. For the minimum amount, you get the Jetta S model with the manual transmission. 800 and you can upgrade to the eight-speed automatic gearbox. 26,945 before options. Each trim comes with the new People First Warranty with 6-years/72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) coverage. The world鈥檚 best selling nameplate since the 1990s, the Toyota Corolla is the car to beat in this segment.
