2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI review

1. Passenger comforts 

This elegant sedan is primed to offer comfortable seating and an enhanced cabin environment for you and your travel companions. Get comfortable on road trips in the Jetta GLI’s cloth or leather upholstered front-row sports seats, available exclusively with GLI variant red accents and heating functionality. Pick a 2021 Autobahn trim for a power tilt and slide panoramic sunroof, while the standard ambient interior lighting feature can illuminate the cabin with one of 10 customizable color themes. 

2. Exterior style 

The 2021 Jetta GLI stands out from its mainline Jetta stablemates with some exclusive exterior styling features that set it apart from the regular sedan crowd. The front fascia boasts a red accent stripe and a GLI-exclusive grille, alongside red brake calipers, body-color bumpers, and a trunk-lid spoiler. Pick the Autobahn trim with the available Black package and you’ll get a black accent roof, black wing mirror caps, and that rear spoiler in black too. 

3. Storage options 

Traveling with your whole crew is no problem for the 2021 Jetta GLI, as there are plenty of storage options for their travel essentials. Up front, the center console offers a useful storage bin and twin cup holders. All four passenger doors have deep cubbies for item stowage close to hand, while the trunk offers 14.1 cu-ft of space for large items. Fold the 60/40-split second-row seats down for extra space when you need it. 

4. Practical technology features 

The 2021 Jetta GLI has plenty of practical technology features. Controlled via the intuitive touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^™ functionality offer seamless connectivity to your smartphone’s apps, playlists, and calling capabilities. For busy traffic conditions, the S trim Jetta GLI has blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with automatic braking as standard. If these assistance features are a priority for you, the Autobahn trim adds automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and a lane keep system that steering corrects to keep you centered in the lane.  

5. Turbo performance 

This comfortable sedan offers plenty of excitement, thanks to its turbo engine and overall driving dynamics. All 2021 Jetta GLI models have a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine capable of 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. From there, you can then pick a model with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, depending on your preference. For enhanced agility, the Autobahn trim adds an adaptive suspension for improved ride comfort and handling.