Nice to see such a positive review, the GLI is such an underrated vehicle at its price. Nissan is much better at selling its crap yet the GLI for $10 more is a leap ahead.
This review is very interesting because of 1.High performance car that can be used in everyday life in the low price 2.Narration by John Davis 3.Number of performance 4.Important topic in the car industry such as "History certainly seems to repeat itself" John Davis of MotorWeek and Matt Watson of CarWow are the best car reviewers for me. Matt Watson has more fun and more details about interior but he doesn't have the number of performance while John Davis give you in just 6.33 minutes with his small test track. More than that you can get an important topic in the car industry while others say only "how good or bad of that car".
Totally agree about John Davis. He's been doing this show for 30 years plus. I prefer his concise reviews over the 35 minute documentaries that seem to be all over RUclips.
Just bought a 2020 GLI in Pure Gray in December - love it. 228 HP is underrated...maybe it's the torque, but it feels like more. No 6 speed manuals anywhere in a 150 mile radius so went with the DSG. Already taken it on a long road trip and averaged 36-37 mpg on the highway. Very smooth, very comfortable and I have the base model, not the Autobahn model. VW bug hit me good - at 1,800 miles, I had a total wiper system failure where the moisture sensor and wiper motor had to be replaced under warranty. Hopefully that's the last gremlin for a while!!! I get a lot of compliments on the color and the Audi A3/S3 styling. The Pure Gray looks wet all of the time and it is visually striking. If you want the power of the GTI but the cargo security and extra room of a sedan, and can live with the non-GTI seats and some low rent plastic in parts of the interior, you cannot go wrong with the GLI. Plus it looks and feels more mature than a Civic Si or a Veloster N.
@@Zeesneakyninja According to VW's website the S and 35th Anniversary both come with 18" wheels standard. These guys have been doing this since the 1980s. They have a very good reputation for getting the info correct.
I just purchased a 2016 GLI after test driving other brands but fall in love at the first paddle. I looked for a manual only and this had it all. I love it every time I drive it!
This 35th anniversary package with those Hankook evos set the fastest lap at VIR for a VW. It beat the Golf R. Too bad it doesn't have the GTI seats and interior. My 1995 Firebird Formula V8 6 speed ran 14.1 at 101!!!
I love my 2021, this review was spot on, great bang for the buck. Added a better exhaust, tires, and now a Cobb stage 1 tune and wow this car is perfect.
Consider the Golf SportWagen. The S 4-Motion version comes with a 1.8 liter engine and the same transmissions as the GLI and GTI. All Golfs have independent rear suspension.
It’s a shame BMW, Audi, Benz, Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are unwilling to offer manuals any more. The only competition is the Hyundai Elantra Sport with Leather seats, the Manual Honda Accord with 192 or 252 hp, and the turbocharged Honda Civic Si. Styling wise, I preferred the older 2018 Hyundai Elantra Sport, but I genuinely enjoyed the engine response and the smooth shifting from Honda’s manual transmission. The sound from the Hyundai and Volkswagon exhaust is slightly louder on the highway too.
-bought the same red gli 35 anniversary model shown here but in Canada it comes with all the bell and whistles i.e your autobahn package plus leather,8 inch screen, etc. Also got the 7 speed twin clutch and addition safety package for all of 34000$. Great value, drives great and is a step above the civic, madza 3, Honda accord,Altima in content value and looks (especially against the civic). Very happy with it so far.; only negative is we only get the 4 year/80 km warranty.
I love my 2019 GLI and believe it or not I get better fuel economy than the 2017 Golf I had thanks to start/stop and the eco option as well. Drives amazing with plenty of power and handling is exceptional but the stock tires is a major disappointment. If you're looking at a top of the line Jetta, splurge a few more grand and get the GLI instead. You won't be disappointed.
The interior design is old school (70s/80s) Mercedes/BMW. That's good thing IMO and one of the things I really like about this car. No frills Teutonic.
The 101 mph trap speed just goes to show this car is fully capable of breaking into the mid 5 second 0-60 range and under 14 sec in the 1/4 mile with a good launch. Car and Driver had the DSG model running on summer tires and it did 5.6 sec to 60 mph with a 104 mph trap in the 1/4 mile..
I like the GLI Autobahn. The only thing besides the cheap looking interior that I do not like is that there are no front & rear parking sensors on the GLI Autobahn. I live in NYC and the parking situation is critical. I sometimes have to squeeze into small parking spaces and I would hate to ding up the awesome bumpers. I also, have a parking/ bumper guard that I keep in my trunk while I drive and after I park I put down so that others don't scuff up my bumpers. I think VW needs to offer parking sensors on the upper trim GLI's and I don't mind paying extra for them either.
At $26,890 this has to be the best bang for the buck out there. And you make no compromises as a daily driver since it’s basically 75-80% of an Audi S3 at about half the price. The Civic Si is dynamically a formidable competitor but it’s ugly and doesn’t have the refinement of a high end German car like the GLI. It’s not “hardcore” but at this price, who cares!
It's good for the price. I wouldn't say the build is cheap but it's definitely not Audi-level luxury, nor should it be. After all, Volkswagen literally means "people's car".
@@SilverScarletSpider AWD is nice but the WRX is already an ancient platform and not very civilized. The ride is harsh and the car feels rough all around. It's not a very good daily driver.
Test drove a 35th Anniversary manual the other day. Pretty sure it's going to be my next car. Only thing I'm not sure about is whether the DSG would be any faster.
it easier to match the 5.9 0-60 time in the DSG. I currently drive a 2002 Mazda Protege5 with a 5spd and when it comes to maintaining manuals its important to check the transaxle oil level after around 90, 000 especially if you drive the vehicle hard. Outside of that manual transmissions are nice because you can work the clutch and moderate the on set of power to the wheels prior to launch and as you are down shifting make use of engine braking. Lastly, if you ever run into a situation where the battery is low on power there is always the option of starting the car by putting it in neutral, rolling it down a hill, making sure the ignition key is turned to the on position, and then placing it in 2nd or 1st gear and letting out the clutch to get the motor running.
Looks like one hell of a deal! Looks good (grille is a bit on the big side though but at least it isn’t as big as some others) Interior seems well designed (a little nicer materials wouldn’t hurt though) And power/price seem great! And thank god there is a proper manual!!! (I give absolutely no shits if the manual is a few tenths slower on paper, manuals are waaaay more fun to drive!)
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now. Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
I went down to the dealer to look at it, and they gave me a pretty decent price. But after negotiations, it was so shady that I had to walk away. The only way I could get that price was if I financed through them. They would not let me finance with my own bank and get the same price.
David Weber Um, no, that is a VASTLY more expensive car. The GLI comes with the eLSD at $26k.... and you cant forget the aftermarket... ea888 engine can produce insane amounts of power from an ecu flash.... $600 stage 1 tune will eat veloster n for lunch
@@thegoodguysteve I'm confused how a Veloster N priced the same as the GLi shown here (5:42 min) is vastly more expensive. The Veloster N costs $26,900 in base trim (same as S GLi) and $29,400 in top trim (cheaper than Autobahn GLi). It has substantially more power, less weight, and was essentially conceived by BMW per se.
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now. Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
woohoo! manual, irs! screw the cuv auto lovers. 5.9 seconds is pretty respectable, 100 ft stopping is GREAT, and corner stability is great. LOL @ all the Accord comments. Take your accord on a touge, and you'll see why its not comparable. I am not even a vw fan.
Nobody takes fwd volkwagens on togues either =_= in fact nobody goes on togues outside of high school drop outs in Nissan’s, fords, mazda’s and Initial D anime weebs.
@@SilverScarletSpider One day when you visit say mulholland dr, you will see how stupid you sound, where even Ferraris and Mclarens go screaming by. Hint, no one there watches anime. Hell, even some dude was Toguing his accord v6, tho, as mentioned before it was slow as shit, because it couldn't corner.
It's literally a mid-size sedan. This thing is a Jetta in name only. How is a bloated and longer version of an iconic compact car, the best version ever made? It's not.
@@ak_zombie No question there :) These cars all have to go on a diet and get smaller. My Jetta S is nice enough, but it really feels like I stole my Aunt's Chrysler Imperial!
They rebadged the Jetta to Bora back here in Germany because nobody bought it.....nobody bought the Bora because nobody wanted a Golf sedan either :D And that Jetta looks like an Audi from behind..........i wonder why.
@@gr8tmuzic11 No it isn't. The Jetta is on the MQB platform and shares it with the Golf among other cars, the A4 has a completely different platform and drivetrain layout.
If it drives as well as a Mk7 GTI, and you like it, buy it. I really liked previous GTIs/GLIs, but there's no denying VW went to another level with the Mk7 Golf platform. The MQB parts bin makes some really nice cars when they pay attention, and they've been paying attention to Golf/GTI/R REALLY well for several years now. Hopefully that includes the latest GLI!
Keep this is mind about the prices on the screen. The DEALER can ask a lot more--and if they can get it forget the numbers they put on the screen. Turn it around, if the damn things so not sell, they may have to sell them for LESS than those numbers; generally speaking, Dealers seem to understand the first rule, and tell you, you are way out of line if you think the second rule might apply-even if the car has sat there two years, with no one buying it.
I am in the market for a new vehicle in this price range and like the vehicle but its a mixed bag. Big positive is a manual transmission, sadly no fog lights and pretty poor fuel economy for the engine size.
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now. Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
@@99SVTBolt try a three hour commute to and back from the bay area. Not fun, did that for years and and have owned two stick shifts from 87 up until about 2010. In this case it also cost more.
@@PS987654321PS Fine, I will clarify: 1. the steering is too soft 2. the seats are not comfortable 3. the styling is ugly and looks like a common Ford 4. the suspension likes to bounce two times when going over speed bumps 5. and it's slower! ....Without any improvement in fuel economy OK? Also I am a huge VW fanboy...I just want them to do better. The newer GTI us ugly af! Everybody agrees with that. Maybe the ID3 and ID4 will kill Tesla, but probably not...
Half these tests are so old school and don’t really relate to a true everyday experience with the car. Why not show it from a true driving perspective; on the road with direct comparisons to competitors
Gotta hand to this guy to still have a job. Hey I don’t know how, but I watched your tv shows in the 90s yet I find you a video in 2019. Pretty amazing really. Absolutely still irrelevant. Enjoy your retirement when ever you’re able to enjoy it.
Incredible. VW finally listened, and created an awesome AFFORDABLE sports sedan. It still has that garbage steering system, but john said its heavy, giving a nod to cars of old, meaning I can actually drive the thing. Id have to order it without all that safety garbage, and id want a cd player. But $25k for a car that does 14.3 in the 1/4 these days is one hell of a bargain. I NEED to test drive one of these.
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now. Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
@@SilverScarletSpider Hyundai just dropped the manual option for the 2020 Elantra Sport so if someone is looking for a manual that's off the list. Not sure if sister brand Kia is going to make the Forte GT with the 1.6t available with a manual.
3 name changes allowed every 90 days. Im not saying this is the best car ever made. I am saying that this is the first new car to make me raise my eyebrows a bit in VWs direction.
@@Legend-lc9bv I don't disagree with you but like I said it's not up to the manufacturers anymore. You can't make a VR6 with the EPA fuel consumption score of that of a 2 liter turbo. Look all around you. It's not just the VW but Civic Si and BMW ditching their hallowed VTEC and inline 6 for turbo 4
Tim Joo that's what I was telling people if toyota wanted to make a super car they could or even they wanted to make a fast supra with 400 or 500hp but this god damn laws are runing the car scene into extinction
Get a stage 1 tune and an intake and it will have more HP and TQ than an S4. From a stop you will get a lot of wheelspin because the GLI is fwd vs quattro in the s4
It’s really refreshing to me to hear the media say good things about a VW.
Especially after that humiliating engine emissions scandal that Volkswagon was caught being involved with cheating just like Harley Davidson
Kit Kefner id rather take software tweak rather than the possible fact that my car is a liability safety..... so dumb.....
When I saw the video was by motor week, I thought to myself "I wounder if it's still that one guy with the recognizable voice". Yes, yes it is indeed.
Nice to see such a positive review, the GLI is such an underrated vehicle at its price. Nissan is much better at selling its crap yet the GLI for $10 more is a leap ahead.
What Nissan?
Give it a year or so, the engine light will light up and it's a shit show from that point.
@@chriscornelius2518the Nissan is definitely worse i have a bunch of friends with Volkswagen and Nissan the Nissans always breaks first
Car offers an automatic, but they still review the manual. I love Motorweek!! Best reviews, hands down. They just get cars!
This review is very interesting because of
1.High performance car that can be used in everyday life in the low price
2.Narration by John Davis
3.Number of performance
4.Important topic in the car industry such as "History certainly seems to repeat itself"
John Davis of MotorWeek and Matt Watson of CarWow are the best car reviewers for me. Matt Watson has more fun and more details about interior but he doesn't have the number of performance while John Davis give you in just 6.33 minutes with his small test track. More than that you can get an important topic in the car industry while others say only "how good or bad of that car".
Totally agree about John Davis. He's been doing this show for 30 years plus. I prefer his concise reviews over the 35 minute documentaries that seem to be all over RUclips.
I’ll keep my wrx. Before the hate starts flowing I’ve probably owned and modded more vw’s then most of you.
And it comes in manual...Im buying it!!!
yet no handbrake...
GTI uses a manual handbrake.
Just bought a 2020 GLI in Pure Gray in December - love it. 228 HP is underrated...maybe it's the torque, but it feels like more. No 6 speed manuals anywhere in a 150 mile radius so went with the DSG. Already taken it on a long road trip and averaged 36-37 mpg on the highway. Very smooth, very comfortable and I have the base model, not the Autobahn model. VW bug hit me good - at 1,800 miles, I had a total wiper system failure where the moisture sensor and wiper motor had to be replaced under warranty. Hopefully that's the last gremlin for a while!!! I get a lot of compliments on the color and the Audi A3/S3 styling. The Pure Gray looks wet all of the time and it is visually striking. If you want the power of the GTI but the cargo security and extra room of a sedan, and can live with the non-GTI seats and some low rent plastic in parts of the interior, you cannot go wrong with the GLI. Plus it looks and feels more mature than a Civic Si or a Veloster N.
Why do I feel like I'm watching a car review from 1997?
because the good never gets old....
It’s straight to the point and gets all major facts across. I like the format. And it’s been this format since the 80’s
Jacob T some of what he said isn’t even true, the 18” wheels aren’t standard, and the tires are all seasons not summers.
@@Zeesneakyninja According to VW's website the S and 35th Anniversary both come with 18" wheels standard.
These guys have been doing this since the 1980s. They have a very good reputation for getting the info correct.
It’s a classic formula.
I just purchased a 2016 GLI after test driving other brands but fall in love at the first paddle. I looked for a manual only and this had it all. I love it every time I drive it!
Just bought a 2021 GLI and it’s amazing!
This 35th anniversary package with those Hankook evos set the fastest lap at VIR for a VW. It beat the Golf R. Too bad it doesn't have the GTI seats and interior. My 1995 Firebird Formula V8 6 speed ran 14.1 at 101!!!
This is a beautiful GLI. I know what my next car will be
A real lsd is a huge win in my book. Enough software more hardware.
Since Ford has killed off the ST, I've been thinking about this Jetta GLI. I may have to go drive one.
WikdSeafood I love my Jetta
GTI and gli is nice to look at and not boy racer, I may look at one as well
GLI is faster than ST as well
I have a wolfburgh Jetta and I'm looking at this GLI autobaughn the interior ambient lighting and digital cockpit display is sick!!!!
Just picked up the autobahn...... Love it
I love my 2021, this review was spot on, great bang for the buck. Added a better exhaust, tires, and now a Cobb stage 1 tune and wow this car is perfect.
I really liked this approach to car review good flow through well explained not too opinion biased or randomly chatty very enjoyable thanks motor week
John Davis is stuck in the 80’s and it is amazing.
Seriously. It sounds he time traveling, fam 😂
He looks better than he did 20 yrs ago and sounds the same!
Would be nice for a GLI Wagon.
Europe gets a GTI wagon.
Consider the Golf SportWagen. The S 4-Motion version comes with a 1.8 liter engine and the same transmissions as the GLI and GTI. All Golfs have independent rear suspension.
@@jazzypaul75 There is no GTI wagon. You can get a R or GTD wagon however.
I‘ve been watching this guy for 35 years.
Opted for the Jetta S. Plenty of power to still have fun, a 6 speed manual, average 38+ mpg, and only cost $16,900!
So happy it has a LSD unlike the Hyundai/Kia counterparts that love one tire fires. I'll pass on the 35th anniversary wheels but take the rest. Sold!
I might consider getting the new GLI with the manual transmission
It’s a shame BMW, Audi, Benz, Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are unwilling to offer manuals any more. The only competition is the Hyundai Elantra Sport with Leather seats, the Manual Honda Accord with 192 or 252 hp, and the turbocharged Honda Civic Si.
Styling wise, I preferred the older 2018 Hyundai Elantra Sport, but I genuinely enjoyed the engine response and the smooth shifting from Honda’s manual transmission. The sound from the Hyundai and Volkswagon exhaust is slightly louder on the highway too.
@3 name changes allowed every 90 days. Seems okay to me.
-bought the same red gli 35 anniversary model shown here but in Canada it comes with all the bell and whistles i.e your autobahn package plus leather,8 inch screen, etc. Also got the 7 speed twin clutch and addition safety package for all of 34000$. Great value, drives great and is a step above the civic, madza 3, Honda accord,Altima in content value and looks (especially against the civic). Very happy with it so far.; only negative is we only get the 4 year/80 km warranty.
Congratulations on the purchase. That is awesome.
I love my 2019 GLI and believe it or not I get better fuel economy than the 2017 Golf I had thanks to start/stop and the eco option as well. Drives amazing with plenty of power and handling is exceptional but the stock tires is a major disappointment. If you're looking at a top of the line Jetta, splurge a few more grand and get the GLI instead. You won't be disappointed.
I also have the 2019 Jetta GLI, but I never drive in Eco mode 😂. Probably need to start to save some gas.
I have a mk5 GLI - love it! Great value & performance.
The interior design is old school (70s/80s) Mercedes/BMW. That's good thing IMO and one of the things I really like about this car. No frills Teutonic.
Jetta perfection, otherwise known as average.
Lol 😆 lol!
Yup
35 YEARS JETTA GLI THANKS: MOTORWEEK!
Base model has standard alloy wheels ...drives very nice ...quiet and smooth ...
Very happy....great price
Best looking Jetta in years!
Yeah no, MK4 and MK7 Jettas were the best.
@@RealAnthonyJones this is a mk7 . You mean mk6
The GLI definitely made the new Jetta even better
Faster than the new BMW 330i in MW testing!
The 101 mph trap speed just goes to show this car is fully capable of breaking into the mid 5 second 0-60 range and under 14 sec in the 1/4 mile with a good launch. Car and Driver had the DSG model running on summer tires and it did 5.6 sec to 60 mph with a 104 mph trap in the 1/4 mile..
Car overall looks great but who decided to scoop up the last few sets of wheels from tirerack's clearance bin?
It reminds me of my 2006 Saab 9-3 2.0T manual. It is red also.
Thinking about paying off a 2015 gli for $9,000 with 45k miles... Should I pull the trigger?
I like the GLI Autobahn. The only thing besides the cheap looking interior that I do not like is that there are no front & rear parking sensors on the GLI Autobahn. I live in NYC and the parking situation is critical. I sometimes have to squeeze into small parking spaces and I would hate to ding up the awesome bumpers. I also, have a parking/ bumper guard that I keep in my trunk while I drive and after I park I put down so that others don't scuff up my bumpers. I think VW needs to offer parking sensors on the upper trim GLI's and I don't mind paying extra for them either.
Lookin good, John.👍
I got an S 6spd because it was $7k less and the power was enough for me. But GLI was what I really wanted when I walked onto the lot.....
Sweet looking Jetta GLI. 😎👍
Oh I like that and a 6 speed even better!!! I miss my manual transmission!
This bad boy is what the people want, other companies should make more sports sedans like this one
Quite an impressive car. Are those performances figures obtained with regular gasoline?
This answer is a year late but yes it runs on regular 87 gas here in the US.
At $26,890 this has to be the best bang for the buck out there. And you make no compromises as a daily driver since it’s basically 75-80% of an Audi S3 at about half the price. The Civic Si is dynamically a formidable competitor but it’s ugly and doesn’t have the refinement of a high end German car like the GLI. It’s not “hardcore” but at this price, who cares!
The GLI is a good looking car but cheap build quality in person. Thats in effort to keep the price tag down. Its overall a great value.
It's good for the price. I wouldn't say the build is cheap but it's definitely not Audi-level luxury, nor should it be. After all, Volkswagen literally means "people's car".
The Subaru WRX with six speed manual transmission also costs $27,000 and has a 268 hp with included AWD for bad weather.
@@SilverScarletSpider AWD is nice but the WRX is already an ancient platform and not very civilized. The ride is harsh and the car feels rough all around. It's not a very good daily driver.
@@marco1173 And people wanna talk about bad interiors, Subaru has some of the worst I've seen.
Test drove a 35th Anniversary manual the other day. Pretty sure it's going to be my next car. Only thing I'm not sure about is whether the DSG would be any faster.
TrollBuster DSG should definitely be faster.
Test drive the DSG it is faster.
It’s about 0.3 seconds faster 0-60
DSG is faster and much more expensive in maintenance. I would go for the manual, more fun to drive. It's not always about the speed.
it easier to match the 5.9 0-60 time in the DSG. I currently drive a 2002 Mazda Protege5 with a 5spd and when it comes to maintaining manuals its important to check the transaxle oil level after around 90, 000 especially if you drive the vehicle hard. Outside of that manual transmissions are nice because you can work the clutch and moderate the on set of power to the wheels prior to launch and as you are down shifting make use of engine braking. Lastly, if you ever run into a situation where the battery is low on power there is always the option of starting the car by putting it in neutral, rolling it down a hill, making sure the ignition key is turned to the on position, and then placing it in 2nd or 1st gear and letting out the clutch to get the motor running.
Is it reliable?
The MK7 power train has been overall reliable. 😎👍🏼
Looks like one hell of a deal!
Looks good (grille is a bit on the big side though but at least it isn’t as big as some others)
Interior seems well designed (a little nicer materials wouldn’t hurt though)
And power/price seem great!
And thank god there is a proper manual!!! (I give absolutely no shits if the manual is a few tenths slower on paper, manuals are waaaay more fun to drive!)
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now.
Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
@@SilverScarletSpider lmao this didn't age well. they have 60k miles going for 30k now.
Nice sedan ! Its like a little brother of Passat or even A4 !👍Nice presentation !🙂👌
Hands down thee best german car out there for the $$$$
As soon as VW figures out the stall issue, I will buy this
I sure do want one of these
I went down to the dealer to look at it, and they gave me a pretty decent price. But after negotiations, it was so shady that I had to walk away. The only way I could get that price was if I financed through them. They would not let me finance with my own bank and get the same price.
Best performance bargain
Um, no, that would be the Veloster N, a VASTLY superior car.
David Weber
Um, no, that is a VASTLY more expensive car. The GLI comes with the eLSD at $26k.... and you cant forget the aftermarket... ea888 engine can produce insane amounts of power from an ecu flash.... $600 stage 1 tune will eat veloster n for lunch
@@thegoodguysteve I'm confused how a Veloster N priced the same as the GLi shown here (5:42 min) is vastly more expensive. The Veloster N costs $26,900 in base trim (same as S GLi) and $29,400 in top trim
(cheaper than Autobahn GLi). It has substantially more power, less weight, and was essentially conceived by BMW per se.
@@LearnAboutFlow Nope....
My Saab 9-3 is basically this car and value is around $2500.
Love it when we get to have John Davis go over a car! I have a 2019 R-Line. That GTI is really something to have! 👍
It's a GLI
@@buildmorefarms1007 Same shit different pile
The Ford Fiesta ST has a torsion beam rear suspension and you don't see people complain about that.
Joe garagiolla you’re back!
Very strong performance!
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now.
Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
The manual did 14.3??
woohoo! manual, irs! screw the cuv auto lovers. 5.9 seconds is pretty respectable, 100 ft stopping is GREAT, and corner stability is great. LOL @ all the Accord comments. Take your accord on a touge, and you'll see why its not comparable. I am not even a vw fan.
Nobody takes fwd volkwagens on togues either =_= in fact nobody goes on togues outside of high school drop outs in Nissan’s, fords, mazda’s and Initial D anime weebs.
@@SilverScarletSpider One day when you visit say mulholland dr, you will see how stupid you sound, where even Ferraris and Mclarens go screaming by. Hint, no one there watches anime. Hell, even some dude was Toguing his accord v6, tho, as mentioned before it was slow as shit, because it couldn't corner.
I really want one because of the manual transmission!
Y'all talking about reliability should go see what's happening with Honda and Toyotas CVT transmissions.
If it's a JATCO it's garbage. ASIN and Honda transmissions are much better.
it it really called Autobahn? this is wired, it’s like Jeep calling their trim levels Highway here in Europe
It's literally a mid-size sedan. This thing is a Jetta in name only. How is a bloated and longer version of an iconic compact car, the best version ever made? It's not.
It needs the Golf R powertrain and suspension.
Hey - just buy a Golf R. This is a Jetta GLI.
@@sandyshoremann7524 You're right it is the Jetta GLI. My point is it would be better with the Golf R bits.
@@ak_zombie No question there :) These cars all have to go on a diet and get smaller. My Jetta S is nice enough, but it really feels like I stole my Aunt's Chrysler Imperial!
Agreed!
Cool video, but I dont buy that 5.9 Seg in the 0-60test....have seen other reviews and the average is 6.8 segs
So you can run regular 87 octane fuel in the GLI?
Per VW, yes. They claim they acheive more power with premium though.
Never thought I'd say this but I'd buy the GLI over the GTI 🤷🏻♂️
They rebadged the Jetta to Bora back here in Germany because nobody bought it.....nobody bought the Bora because nobody wanted a Golf sedan either :D
And that Jetta looks like an Audi from behind..........i wonder why.
From behind like Scoda Superb
Enforcer1975 .....they are owned by same company. Naturally the styling will transcend models.
And for those few that are still left wanting a Jetta in Europe just buy the Skoda Octavia instead.
The Jetta is built on the exact platform of the A4 Audi.
@@gr8tmuzic11 No it isn't. The Jetta is on the MQB platform and shares it with the Golf among other cars, the A4 has a completely different platform and drivetrain layout.
This car is awesome
If it drives as well as a Mk7 GTI, and you like it, buy it. I really liked previous GTIs/GLIs, but there's no denying VW went to another level with the Mk7 Golf platform. The MQB parts bin makes some really nice cars when they pay attention, and they've been paying attention to Golf/GTI/R REALLY well for several years now. Hopefully that includes the latest GLI!
I wish they made it with a v6 like the fourth generation.
Good thing it's not as slow
Said noone ever
I didn't knew Silvio Berlusconi reviews new cars
Looks like a rebadged Skoda Octavia 2020 (that the rumours show) :P.
Wait what?! Does the previous generation US Jetta have a torsion beam suspension?? hahah oh dear..
This is a handsome looking car though!
Fiesta ST uses torsion beam. No one complains about that handling.
they need to put this engine in the Tiguan
Keep this is mind about the prices on the screen. The DEALER can ask a lot more--and if they can get it forget the numbers they put on the screen. Turn it around, if the damn things so not sell, they may have to sell them for LESS than those numbers; generally speaking, Dealers seem to understand the first rule, and tell you, you are way out of line if you think the second rule might apply-even if the car has sat there two years, with no one buying it.
Nice looking but it will fall apart after the warranty runs out.
nope. thats only a problem people who neglect their dubs have
@@ottodob came here to say this. :)
The Bumper to Bumper Warranty runs out after 6 years/60,000 mi
@@ottodob exactly !!! 161k on my mark 6 GLI not a single problem. Bought new..
The rear brakes are not Golf R brakes.
I am in the market for a new vehicle in this price range and like the vehicle but its a mixed bag. Big positive is a manual transmission, sadly no fog lights and pretty poor fuel economy for the engine size.
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now.
Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
A friend of mine get 41 mpg but that’s with the auto. 🤷🏻♂️
Does this guy talk to his wife with this voice?
Hopefully.
Maybe he has a husband instead.
The back looka like a car from the 80s i cant deal . Great Engine! Bad Body
Very sexy car. Looks like the rs3s little brother in the grey
Driving from Cleveland to Columbus I averaged a tad over 40 mpg!
In what year make and model/trim do you have?
Auto or manual?
would an automatic be better??
Jose Arroyo NO
Auto is faster but manual is more fun.
@@99SVTBolt try a three hour commute to and back from the bay area. Not fun, did that for years and and have owned two stick shifts from 87 up until about 2010. In this case it also cost more.
Glorious
I just wish it was in Diesel
4:30
What's that?
Thanks
The GTI is better. It's hard to explain...it just is.
Ricky Bobby it’s overpriced
If you cant explain it you have nothing to say.
@@PS987654321PS Fine, I will clarify:
1. the steering is too soft
2. the seats are not comfortable
3. the styling is ugly and looks like a common Ford
4. the suspension likes to bounce two times when going over speed bumps
5. and it's slower! ....Without any improvement in fuel economy
OK?
Also I am a huge VW fanboy...I just want them to do better.
The newer GTI us ugly af! Everybody agrees with that.
Maybe the ID3 and ID4 will kill Tesla, but probably not...
if they could put that engine (with an auto) and the irs in the se/sel (and fix that oversize grille), i'd have a replacement for my '12 se 2.5
Half these tests are so old school and don’t really relate to a true everyday experience with the car. Why not show it from a true driving perspective; on the road with direct comparisons to competitors
Gotta hand to this guy to still have a job. Hey I don’t know how, but I watched your tv shows in the 90s yet I find you a video in 2019. Pretty amazing really. Absolutely still irrelevant. Enjoy your retirement when ever you’re able to enjoy it.
I've been watching him since the 80s !
Me too! Wear's the anorak he used to wear in every show?
Incredible. VW finally listened, and created an awesome AFFORDABLE sports sedan. It still has that garbage steering system, but john said its heavy, giving a nod to cars of old, meaning I can actually drive the thing. Id have to order it without all that safety garbage, and id want a cd player. But $25k for a car that does 14.3 in the 1/4 these days is one hell of a bargain. I NEED to test drive one of these.
He said the safety "garbage" is standard. Meaning it comes with all of them. VW doesn't give a shit what you want.
It definitely does look pretty sweet, but at $27,000 before taxes and fees on a base model without any options, I’m going to consider the competition as well. A base Hyundai Veloster N hatchback has 250hp and cost the same. While the manual Elantra Sport and Honda Civic Si both have ~205 hp and cost about ~24k. The Accord Sport is a bigger more comfortable car, but it does cost $31k for a 252hp engine with the proper six speed manual transmission. A wild card option is the 268hp AWD Subaru WRX that also costs $27k that honesty looks like a the best value manual AWD sedan on the market right now.
Now I wish more folks learned how to drive manual so we can have more great cars.
@@SilverScarletSpider Hyundai just dropped the manual option for the 2020 Elantra Sport so if someone is looking for a manual that's off the list. Not sure if sister brand Kia is going to make the Forte GT with the 1.6t available with a manual.
3 name changes allowed every 90 days. Im not saying this is the best car ever made. I am saying that this is the first new car to make me raise my eyebrows a bit in VWs direction.
S Bludger most car manufacturers dont these days. Which is why I continue to buy older shit.
It's "vaunted" not "vaulted".
Tired of the 2.0 turbo can't vw make their cars with different options dammit man
Blame the EPA.
Tim Joo everything they make 2.0lt it's annoying and boring
@@Legend-lc9bv I don't disagree with you but like I said it's not up to the manufacturers anymore. You can't make a VR6 with the EPA fuel consumption score of that of a 2 liter turbo. Look all around you. It's not just the VW but Civic Si and BMW ditching their hallowed VTEC and inline 6 for turbo 4
Tim Joo that's what I was telling people if toyota wanted to make a super car they could or even they wanted to make a fast supra with 400 or 500hp but this god damn laws are runing the car scene into extinction
Tim Joo the civics not really that's where vtec comes in to play drive
Dodge charger headlights, Toyota Camry taillights lol.
Scoda Superb taillights and mustang headlights
Enjoy the oil consumption which the dealer will tell you is normal. 0W20 oil is to light and gets passed the piston rings. Totally unacceptable.
I did not know the vw Charger you so much plastic components for the engine
Sad that the GLI standard HP should be close to an S4 & it isn't or the GOLF R. I GUESS you'd have to save a little more just 2 get A LITTLE MORE
Get a stage 1 tune and an intake and it will have more HP and TQ than an S4. From a stop you will get a lot of wheelspin because the GLI is fwd vs quattro in the s4