For 2019, the Jetta GLI sedan finally receives the same performance upgrades as the Golf GTI. And despite the improvements, the GLI can be had for much less now compared to last year. 26,890 with a six-speed manual transmission. 30,440 and came standard with a six-speed automatic. Only one trim was offered. The new model is available in three trims: S, 35th Anniversary Edition, and Autobahn. On the 35th Anniversary Edition, buyers get 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with red rim accents and a black roof. Special badging adorns the exterior as well as scuff plates, seat tags, and front floor mats. Volkswagen's DCC adaptive damping system is also standard. 28,690 with the DCT. 30,890 with the DCT. These models upgrade to leather seating, an 8-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, two USB ports, and ventilated front seats. The model also brings along an upgraded audio system with eight speakers and a subwoofer, as well as a panoramic sunroof.
Highlights include a more rounded nose and a hint of a coupe-like roofline. Six contoured ribs accent a longer hood and a wraparound chrome grille adds some bling. Setting the stage are a slightly wider track and longer wheelbase, which give the new Jetta a more road-ready stance. 100 less expensive than last year鈥檚 version, despite adding standard 16-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting and an electric parking brake. Upgraded with more soft-touch surfaces, the new 2019 Jetta maintains a simple, driver-oriented layout and ample interior space for five adults. Inside, the Jetta鈥檚 cockpit is completely redone for 2019, with an emphasis on upgraded materials and more soft-touch surfaces. The layout is clean and angular, more driver-oriented, and the basic elements that have worked so well in past Jettas are present and accounted for. They include firm, supportive seats that don鈥檛 turn into Iron Maidens after an hour or so behind the wheel, good outward visibility, and logical switch and control layouts that don鈥檛 use up eyes-off-the-road time to figure out and operate. Headroom and shoulder room increase a fraction of an inch, while legroom is down slightly compared to the 2018 model.
No worries, though, as the 2019 Jetta will easily transport five adults in reasonable comfort. The rear seat is split 60/40 and folds to expand the trunk鈥檚 14.1 cu.-ft. LED mood lighting in ten driver-selectable hues. 27,795) brings heated and ventilated front and heated rear seats, perforated leather all around, and a power driver鈥檚 seat with memory settings. On those same uplevel Jettas, there鈥檚 also a new, 10.25-inch configurable Digital Cockpit instrument panel display that allows the driver to select from five different gauge layouts. They range from a digital facsimile of the standard analog tach and speedometer to, on the SEL Premium, one that displays a full-width navigation map with small-font digital readouts of the gear selected and current speed along the lower border. Jetta SEL and SEL Premium add a Virtual Cockpit instrument display with five settings that also includes this full navigation map display. Despite the lower, entry pricing, all 2019 Jettas come standard with a Bluetooth-enabled touchscreen-display audio system with pinch, swipe and gesture control.
It measures 6.5 inches across on the Jetta S, SE and R-Line and spans 8 inches on SEL and SEL Premium trims. Also standard is VW鈥檚 Car-Net App Connect smartphone integration that enables Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. There鈥檚 even a smartwatch version of the system. While the standard 4-speaker AM/FM radio in the Jetta S, SE and R-Line gets the job done, the SEL and SEL Premium models receive a new 400-watt Beats Audio system. The digitally enhanced Beats system restores the CD player dropped from the base radio, adds a pair of USB inputs, includes both SiriusXM and HD Radio and belts out big sound via nine speakers including a built-in subwoofer. Volkswagen鈥檚 turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder sounds unimpressive at 147 horsepower, but with 184 lb.-ft. 1,400 rpm, the car delivers swift acceleration. Done. Last year鈥檚 170-hp, 1.8-liter turbo, which powered the midrange SE Sport and SEL models?
