Exterior view of the 2012 Jetta GLI. If you think this car鈥檚 unassuming appearance will translate into a dull driving experience, think again, writes our automotive editor Sally Miller Wyatt. You know the old adage that warns us against judging books by their covers? That adage applies to the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. You should not assume that this car鈥檚 demure size and somewhat unassuming appearance will translate into a dull and subdued driving experience. On the contrary, the 2012 Jetta GLI - a new member of the Jetta family - has a turbocharged engine lurking under the hood. Jettas are already performance-leaning cars, and when you add a turbocharged engine to the mix, now you鈥檙e taking it to a whole other level. The Jetta line-up is already a popular model for Volkswagen, in part because it offers German engineering at an accessible base price. In fact, Volkswagen notes that sales were up 54.5 percent at the end of 2011, compared with 2010 sales results.
The Jetta GLI adds a sporty, performance-focused model to the line-up. Interior view of the 2012 Jetta GLI. The Jetta GLI is the sportiest model, with its 2.0L TSI turbo-charged, four-cylinder engine that generates 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. A manual transmission is standard, but the DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifts, is optional. The Jetta GLI has a track-tuned independent performance suspension that is matched quite nicely with the turbo-charged engine. A sporty-looking honeycomb front grille, vertical fog lamps, smoked tail lights, dual exhaust tips and red-painted brake calipers hint at the car鈥檚 sporty DNA. Exterior view of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Also seen is the old Volkswagen Beetle. The interior keeps the theme going. Aluminum pedals catch your eye as you sit behind the wheel, and the bolstered sport bucket seats for the driver and front passenger seats have red stitching, as does the leather-wrapped steering wheel and hand brake, and the rear seats.
25,795, adds 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, dual zone climate control, heated V-Tex leatherette seats and a snazzy Fender Premium Audio System. Behind the wheel you will find a nicely organized dashboard, great visibility to front, sides and rear, and firm seating. The leatherette interior had an off-putting scent at first, but we did get used to it eventually. Exterior view of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. The Jetta GLI has a 104.4 inch wheelbase, so there is a good amount of leg room here, especially for four passengers. The rear middle position has to share foot room with the center console, and a stiff backrest because of a fold-down armrest. Safety features include Electronic Stability Control, which is nice to have since the turbocharged engine may lure you into pushing the edges of gravity on tight turns and freeway on ramps. The cars also have a full complement of air bags, as well as anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake-pressure distribution, and Hydraulic Brake Assist, all standard. Volkswagen also has an Intelligent Crash Response System that reacts instantly following an accident where air bags are deployed. Doors are unlocked, the fuel pump is turned off and the car鈥檚 hazard lights are activated. The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a very fun car to drive. It has plenty of room for four passengers and is accommodating for five, has a generously sized trunk and a great sound system. Just don鈥檛 think that because it is small and somewhat unassuming-looking that it is also an unassuming, boring ride.
The 2002 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What is the base engine size of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2002 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.0 L base engine size. What size engine does the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What size engine does the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What size engine does the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2007 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 5 engine. What size engine does the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What size engine does the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What size engine does the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2008 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 5 engine. What size engine does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 5 engine.
What size engine does the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta have? The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta has an inline 4 engine. What is the base engine size of the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.5 L base engine size. What is the base engine size of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.5 L base engine size. What is the base engine size of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.0 L base engine size. What is the base engine size of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.5 L base engine size. What is the base engine size of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2008 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.5 L base engine size. What is the base engine size of the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2005 Volkswagen Jetta has a 2.0 L base engine size.
