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Volkswagen Jetta GLI
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the sporty version of the Jetta compact sedan, with a 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed manual standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic optional. Federal data lists one recall on the 2021 (a backup camera) and 2 complaints, and the 2026 GLI is rated 29 mpg combined.
What the Jetta GLI is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) says the Jetta is a compact car made by Volkswagen since 1979, positioned as a sedan slightly above the Golf hatchback across seven generations, and lists GLI among the names it has been sold under. The GLI is the performance trim. Car & Driver (opens in a new tab) says it is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed manual standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic optional, and notes that the current GTI gets a 241-hp version of the same engine. It suits a buyer who wants a hot-hatch drivetrain with a trunk.
Model years on this site
The 2026 GLI is front-wheel drive and rated 29 mpg combined by the EPA, about $2,150 a year in fuel. Car & Driver puts the manual-equipped 2026 at 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Federal records here are thin: the 2021 GLI shows one recall, for the backup camera, and 2 complaints.
How it compares
Car & Driver's comparison says the GLI bests the Honda Civic Si, which needs 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, but lags behind the Hyundai Elantra N, which needs only 4.8 seconds. iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) says the GLI has the advantage over the Golf in typical lower pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars and in base engine power. Against its own stablemates, a Volkswagen dealer's comparison (opens in a new tab) puts the GTI at 241 hp and the Golf R at 328 hp with 4MOTION all-wheel drive, while the GLI and GTI are front-wheel drive.
Buying used
Older GLIs are a different car. A guide on bestyears (opens in a new tab) calls the final year of the Mk5 GLI generally considered to be the most refined and reliable of that generation, and warns of cam follower issues on earlier Mk5 cars. For the current generation, check the VIN for open recalls and confirm the transmission you are buying.
Questions buyers ask
What engine does the Jetta GLI have?
Car & Driver (opens in a new tab) says a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed manual standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic optional.
Is the GLI faster than a Civic Si?
Car & Driver says the GLI bests the Civic Si, which needs 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, but lags behind the Elantra N at 4.8 seconds.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 228 horsepower across its compact performance sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 1 trim.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Jetta GLI seats 5 and is a Compact performance sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Jetta GLI.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
The Jetta GLI is consolidated into a single, fully loaded Autobahn trim with a 228-horsepower turbo four, limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Volkswagen Jetta GLI model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Volkswagen GLI | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Volkswagen GLI | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is built alongside the Volkswagen Jetta, and public records cover the two together. Generation history, the fact box and background are on the Volkswagen Jetta page; the safety record for the Volkswagen Jetta GLI itself follows.
NHTSA rated the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, most often about forward collision avoidance (3), visibility/wiper (2), lane departure (2).
Year by year
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI across 6 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI | 29 | $2,250 | 1 | |
| 2026 Volkswagen GLI | 29 | $2,150 | 2 | 5 stars |
| 2025 Volkswagen GLI | 29–30 | $2,100–$2,150 | 2 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Volkswagen GLI | 28–30 | $2,100–$2,250 | 2 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Volkswagen GLI | 30 | $2,100 | 2 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Volkswagen GLI | 30 | $2,100 | 2 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 2 to 1 | Transmissions: Manual 6-spd | |
| 2025 to 2026 | 29.5 to 29.0 | ||
| 2024 to 2025 | 29.0 to 29.5 | ||
| 2023 to 2024 | 30.0 to 29.0 |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autobahn | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 258 | 3,247 | – | 29 | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Volkswagen Jetta GLI model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 3,247 | – | 13.2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 3,311 | – | 13.2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 3,358 | – | 13.2 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 3,355 | – | 13.2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 228 | 3,355 | – | 13.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Volkswagen Jetta GLI: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | not available | ||
| 2023 | not available | ||
| 2022 | not available | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | backup camera |
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Volkswagen Jetta GLI?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Volkswagen Jetta GLI model year: recall counts across the 1 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about n/a recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Volkswagen Jetta GLI by model year?
2021: backup camera.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Volkswagen Jetta GLI is most often compared with.
Nearest Volkswagen models
Other Volkswagen models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Jetta GLI come in?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI (compact performance sedan) is offered in one trim, Autobahn.
Q02What are the 2027 Jetta GLI trims?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI comes in one trim, Autobahn.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Jetta GLI use?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 228 horsepower across its compact performance sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Jetta GLI have?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is rated at 228 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Jetta GLI?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is offered with FWD.