2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review

Are you a member of the sport-compact-car faithful and seeking a fun four-door sedan that won't break your budget? The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is one of the few that remain available, though in some ways it is a shadow of its former self.

Volkswagen bases the GLI on the current-generation Jetta, which means, unlike in the past, it is completely unrelated to the hotter Golf GTI. Nevertheless, VW fits the Jetta GLI with a more powerful turbocharged engine, a limited-slip differential to enhance traction when accelerating, a sport-tuned adaptive suspension and larger brakes. The GLI also swaps the Jetta's torsion-beam rear suspension for a more sophisticated multi-link setup that improves the car's cornering stability. The result is a decent choice for people who don't want to drive a regular compact sedan and prefer something that packs extra power and is sporty-looking and more fun to drive.

After a freshening for the 2022 model year, the 2023 Jetta GLI carries on without changes. However, VW is rolling out a complimentary five-year subscription to Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services, which should be active by the summer of 2023. The sport sedan comes in a single trim level with a handful of options, but Volkswagen's approach also makes the GLI more expensive than several rivals.

Still, the VW Jetta GLI slots into a gap in the sport compact sedan market. It offers more power and equipment than alternatives like the Honda Civic Si and Kia Forte GT, and it provides value compared to similarly equipped but more sporting competitors such as the Hyundai Elantra N and Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo. With its generous passenger room, large trunk, stealthy looks and German driving dynamics, you may find the Jetta GLI just right. Learn more by reading the full Edmunds Expert Rating below.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is available in a single trim level that clearly conveys the car's aspirations: Autobahn. As in the no-speed-limit, limited-access highways laced across Germany. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (228 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) revs from beneath the hood, and you can choose between a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (called direct-shift gearbox, or DSG). The Jetta GLI comes only with front-wheel drive.