Jet GLI-der
A little more practical than it’s smaller, sportier sibling but almost no less quick
Almost $10k cheaper than a GTI but goes (almost) like one 
Harsh ride quality, drab cabin, no electric seats The GLI adds sporting fun to the Jetta range
By Derryn Wong
HATCHBACKS ARE FUN. Sedan’s are not-so-fun, or so popular thinking goes. When the hatchback in question is the Volkswagen Golf GTI then that equation certainly seems to ring true. But when the sedan in question is the Jetta GLI, then it’s really a case of splitting hairs because the Jetta GLI is every bit as capable as its (almost) twin, the GTI.
The GLI is the third addition to the Jetta lineup, now that the 2.0T model has been dropped from pricelists, and joins the existing 1.4 TSI and regular 1.6 models. Volkswagen hasn’t done anything radical with the Jetta’s overall styling, which is best described as a ‘Golf with a boot’. It’s much better than it sounds though and the Jetta looks like a car in its own right rather than the mongrel son of a hatchback and a shipping container, unlike some hatchback-turned-sedans.
Shade the rear end with a hand and you’ll think you’re looking at a GTI: The silver-louvered grille of the 1.4 and 2.0 models is replaced with the trademark honeycomb-motif grille of the GTI. Great for that dark and sporty look but not so good if you like chrome. Only the small ‘GLI’ badge on the front (and the boot, obviously) gives you a hint you’re looking at a Jetta.
The Jetta also gets identical 225/45 R17 tyres which come dressed in the same five-spoke telephone dial-esque chrome wheels. Red brake calipers peek out from the wheels, advertising the go-fast nature of the car.
For those of you who have read about the GTI, or own one, the following will sound pretty familiar. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, coupled with Volkswagen’s direct shift gearbox (DSG) proves once again that they are a superb combination.
A power rating of 200bhp at 6000rpm is impressive but the real meat of the experience lies in the plentiful 280Nm of peak torque. The best part is that this is spread thick and fat all the way from 1,500 to 5,800 rpm and is eminently usable with almost no hint of turbo lag. Like the 1.4-litre twincharged engine found in the Golf GT and Jetta 1.4, what it translates to in real life is an addictive forward shove every time you twitch your right foot.
The DSG transmission hardly needs any introduction. It shifts lightning quick and helps achieve the 8L/100km combined fuel consumption figure. Economical drivers will certainly wring out better figures easily, while the manual shift mode is great for speed freaks.
One minor complaint is the ride quality which seems harsh at times, but throw the GLI into a set of sweepers and you’ll forget about its harshness immediately. It’s no understatement the GLI and GTI are some of the best handling front-drive cars this side of a Honda Civic Type R.
On the inside it’s business as usual, with everything laid out well and easy to use, not a hint of loose knobs anywhere. If there’s a complaint to be made then it’s the rather monochrome nature of the Golf/Jetta family interiors. The GLI makes do without the electric power seats of its hatchback brother though.
A five-door GTI costs $128,100. At $119,000 and with a massive 527-litre boot (compared to 347 litres on the GTI) the GLI represents a great bargain. It may be 0.3 seconds slower than a GTI to the century sprint (7.2 seconds), but it’ll blow away almost any other sedan in the same price bracket. Jet gliding just got cheaper.
NEED TO KNOW
Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2.0T (A)
ENGINE TYPE 1,984cc, 16 valve in-line four
MAX POWER 200bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 280Nm at 1,800-5,000rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed DSG automatic
TOP SPEED 231km/h
0-100KM/H 7.2 seconds
PRICE $119,000 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT Volkswagen Group Singapore
TELEPHONE 6474-8288
