2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI: A Subtle Sports Sedan Experience
It used to be that if you wanted a BMW sports sedan but couldn’t quite afford that level of coin, you went down to your Volkswagen dealer and picked up a Jetta GLI instead. But the GLI had been missing from the Jetta lineup for some time — at least until its reintroduction at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
Related: More Chicago Auto Show Coverage
The Jetta GLI has many of the same components as the smaller Golf GTI hatchback, but it sits on a different platform. Still, it’s got a lot of cool stuff under the hood that’s meant to make for a fun sports sedan experience.
It’s not outwardly aggressive, opting instead for a subtle look (if you want bold, Honda will be happy to sell you the insane-looking Civic Type R). A red stripe on the grille, 18-inch wheels, new front and rear bumpers, and dual exhaust out back are the only real giveaways that you have a GLI, but this is a car that has always been about what’s under the hood.
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For more on what exactly the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is packing both underneath the hood and inside the cabin, check out more in our video below.
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