2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

If you take the Volkswagen Jetta sedan and max out its potential, you have the Jetta GLI. And since the standard Jetta is refreshed and upgraded for the 2022 model year, so too is its GLI version. The new version comes with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (228 horsepower, 258 lb-ft) as before but adds a barrage of standard equipment to improve both performance and overall comfort and usability. On the performance side the GLI has a limited-slip differential for improved grip, plus larger brakes taken directly from the sporty Golf R. On the inside, you also get leather seats — both heated and ventilated — and a new steering wheel with touch controls, as well as a 10-inch digital information display and ambient lighting. We especially like the suite of driver aids that come with it, including blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control to keep a set following distance from the vehicle ahead.

There is an instant "cool factor" that comes with the Jetta GLI thanks to its sporty exterior finish and a range of upgraded equipment under the skin that significantly improves the driving experience. And if 18-inch wheels and dual exhaust tips aren't enough to sway you, upgraded technology inside the cabin that comes standard may do the trick. This is a Jetta with fun on the brain, and we consider it a major level-up over the standard version.