2017 Volkswagen Jetta Road Test and Review

2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI exterior front angle ・ Photo by Volkswagen

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the range-topping model of VW’s compact sedan, and this year it’s featured in just one, very well-equipped trim. Many of the more affordable Jetta models have additional new standard driver-assistance technology this year which should ensure that the Jetta remains the best-selling VW in the U.S.  It's also worth noting that the Jetta’s overall sales performance is better than you might realize. It far outsold the Subaru Impreza, Mazda3, and Dodge Dart last year, and many of the names it did trail—such as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Hyundai Elantra, are offered in multiple body styles. The Jetta, however, is only sold as a sedan.

Jetta Pricing

VW does do a nice job keeping the Jetta competitively priced. The base model has an MSRP of $17,895—with a standard rearview camera system and LED daytime running lights—and that undercuts cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, the midrange Jetta SE adds a blind-spot monitor, VW Car-Net App-Connect, and pushbutton start, at an MSRP of $20,895.

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is priced appropriately considering its standard premium amenities. It starts at $27,895, but that cost includes a high-performance turbo engine, a sport-tuned suspension, more LED lighting, bigger wheels, and upscale audio, driver-assistance, and infotainment technologies.

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Power, Performance, Fuel Efficiency

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the most athletic sedan of the lineup, leveraging a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. That unit, which produces 207 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque, is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that will please driving enthusiasts. Of course, the available 6-speed dual-clutch automatic also is plenty of fun, thanks in part to Tiptronic manual shifting capability and a dedicated Sport mode.

VW engineers then deployed a sport suspension, too, with MacPherson struts up front and a 4-link fully independent setup at the rear. The GLI even has a flat-bottom, racing-style steering wheel. Yet even with all these athletic cues, fuel-economy ratings for the Jetta GLI are a respectable 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined or 24/33/27 with the optional automatic transmission.

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Exterior Design and Lighting

The 2017 Volkswagen GLI builds on the Jetta's unfussy appearance with an exclusive front fascia and honeycomb grille. Those sporty style cues are complemented by 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels in the brand’s Mallory design; these, naturally, make it easy to see the car's red-painted brake calipers. Further, the GLI has standard halogen fog lights, as well as LED daytime running lights that accent the halogen headlights.

The GLI also has upgrades at the rear. All Jettas have LED taillights and LED license plate lighting; the GLI adds a rear spoiler and unique bumper design with an integrated air diffuser. VW also supplies the GLI with heated and power-adjustable mirrors—with integrated turn-signal indicators—plus a premium wiper package. Included here are rain-sensing wipers and heated nozzles for the windshield-washer fluid.

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Interior and Capacities

The Jetta's cabin is very competitive in terms of passenger and cargo space. VW's compact sedan has noticeably more second-row headroom and legroom than a Chevrolet Cruze sedan, and the VW’s trunk capacity, at 15.7 cubic feet, is nearly a cubic foot bigger than the Cruze's. And for added versatility, the Jetta’s rear seatbacks can be folded down, either together or with a 60/40 split.

As for the cockpit comfort, it's good, with the GLI providing standard V-Tex seating surfaces, with a heated front row and six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, plus a soft-touch dashboard. The multi-function sport-style steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and the car's lockable glove compartment has a built-in multi-stage cooling capability.

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Infotainment and Audio Technology

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI will please audiophiles with its standard Fender sound system—complete with eight speakers, a subwoofer, and the same dedication to sonic clarity that supports the world famous Fender guitars. An SD memory card slot, Bluetooth and voice recognition are complemented by HD Radio and a three-month subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Infotainment-wise, the Jetta GLI goes all in with VW’s Car-Net App-Connect. Relying on a 6.3-inch touchscreen, this technology incorporates Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and access to a variety of mobile-style apps. The standard navigation system in the Jetta GLI also relies on advanced technology. It can predict possible destinations based on where you’ve gone in the past, for quicker, more accurate route calculations.

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Safety Ratings and Technology

Of note, the 2017 Volkswagen GLI was tested by the NHTSA separately from the rest of the Jetta lineup, and all received identical 5-Star Overall Safety Scores. Things are a bit different with the IIHS: Customers will see the Jetta listed with the Top Safety Pick+ winners, yet that rating only applies to Jetta models with the available bi-xenon adaptive headlights—and the GLI isn’t among them.

That said, the GLI does earn the highest possible grades for all crashworthiness tests, and its IIHS rating for front crash-prevention technology is “advanced.” Moreover, a rearview camera is standard for all Jettas, and the GLI also carries adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and VW’s Park Pilot parking sensors.

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Available Equipment

It’s simple to customize the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI with official VW accessories. Two more 18-inch wheel designs are available, for instance, one with a dark anthracite finish and 12 spokes, and the other with a 10-spoke Motorsports design. To appeal to cold-weather customers, VW offers 16-inch bright silver wheels that are made for the appropriately sized winter tires.

Owners with active lifestyles also can count on VW for an array of roof-mounted cargo kits to handle bikes, kayaks, snowboards, wakeboards, and skis. Alternatively, a roof-mounted cargo box can handle up to 12 cubic feet of gear. Cargo-management accessories for the trunk range from a shopping bag hook to VW’s ingenious trunk-liner-and-cargo-block system. If it’s all about the bass instead of the junk in the trunk, you can order a HELIX Soundbox subwoofer system (with five-channel amp), that fits in the spare tire space.

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Other Cool Info

At this stage, casual VW fans may be wondering about a possible 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI SportWagen. The short answer: There isn’t one. That's because the Jetta SportWagen has morphed into the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen—and then also into the Alltrack, the new rugged wagon (see photo above). Both are compact, cargo-enhanced counterparts to the Jetta sedan, and both have 30.4 cubic feet behind their rear seats. Cargo capacity in both jumps to 66.5 cubic feet with their rear seats folded. But the Alltrack, with 4Motion all-wheel drive and a dedicated Off-Road mode, is made to tackle light dirt trails with ease.

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Final Thoughts

The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta GLI stands out for its peppy turbo engine, sporty suspension, and driver-friendly 6-speed manual transmission. The GLI’s high-end audio system, the latest smartphone integration technologies, and variety of high-tech driver-assistance features are also attractive to potential customers.

Perhaps less attractive is VW’s pricing for the GLI: Despite a starting point of nearly $28,000, the GLI doesn’t offer things like a heated steering wheel, rear leather cabin trim or heated rear seats. All that’s available in less expensive compact sedans, albeit ones without the GLI’s performance. Also worth pointing out: The Audi A3, with a standard 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, is just 7.6 percent more expensive than a Jetta GLI with a 6-speed DCT automatic.

Photo by Volkswagen