2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI - Say Goodbye To Yesterday's GLI

When a company decides that being one of the biggest - if not THE biggest - car companies in the world is its most important goal, a number of changes must be made to how it approaches the market. When Volkswagen elected to pursue volume above all else a few short years ago one of the most obvious consequences of this new strategy was the move to develop a plus-size Volkswagen Jetta that would be more appealing to North American buyers who prioritize comfort and price over performance and refinement.

The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which represents the sportiest edition of the redesigned Jetta, has been forced to follow the same path as its standard counterpart. A casualty of this new direction for the Jetta GLI is its separation from the Volkswagen GTI hatchback in terms of platform: while the cars share the same engine, most of the rest of the GLI package is now unique from its former hatchback counterpart. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI's personality must now stand completely on its own as it offers a new driving experience to those seeking a more exciting compact sedan.

Looking The Part

The base Volkswagen Jetta is a fairly bland assembly of curves and lines that does its best not to offend anyone on its way to mass market appeal. The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI takes that rather anonymous palette and does a good job of giving it a sporty makeover. Our test model came in a bright red finish that was augmented by 18-inch optional rims that filled out the vehicle's large fender wells quite nicely. The Jetta GLI's lower bumper has been outfitted with a honeycomb grille and requisite air intakes, and integrated fogs sit at either side of the fascia to help give it a wider look - an illusion that is enhanced by the sedan's lower ride height.

Inside the car we were treated to supportive leather seats with red stitching, soft touch materials on the dash and door panels, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel that was quite racy compared to the stock unit. We were disappointed with the quality of the Fender sound system and the vehicle's occasional trouble understanding our voice commands when attempting to use Bluetooth, but everyone enjoyed the exceptional rear seat room and the vehicle's reasonably large trunk.

Fun, But Not High Performance

The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is motivated by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes use of a turbocharger to develop 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine that is offered in the VW GTI, and it also comes with the choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual known as DSG. Our test vehicle was outfitted with the DSG transmission, and we immediately noticed a major difference between how the GLI's shift logic was programmed versus that of the hot hatch. The Jetta GLI's automated gearbox has been designed to favor fuel efficiency over lickety-split gear changes, and the result is slower shifting even when using the steering wheel-mounted paddles. This translates into weaker acceleration and less feeling of driver engagement when flogging the car.

Also a let-down was the Jetta GLI's suspension tuning. Yes, the car was well-composed in most situations, and no, the stiffened shocks and springs never had us bouncing uncomfortably along broken pavement when cruising at around-town speeds. When it came time to push hard in the corners, however, the Jetta GLI's chassis revealed a tendency to understeer and a general unwillingness to be flung from one bend in the road to another. Make no mistake, the multi-link rear suspension that replaces the base Jetta's back axle is a welcome addition to the car, but it's the kind of setup that transforms an uninspired ride into a good one - not a great one.

Damned With Faint Praise?

We like the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI - but for different reasons than its marketing hype would have us buy into. Simply put, the Jetta GLI is a great small sedan, one that is capable of providing excellent daily driving comfort, good power, and relatively snazzy looks. We were also impressed with the vehicle's 9.8 l / 100 km combined fuel consumption, which surprised us given the size and power offered by the automobile.

Is the Volkswagen Jetta GLI a compact performance car? Certainly not, especially when compared against much more dynamically interesting vehicles like the Ford Focus ST, the Subaru WRX, or even its corporate sibling the Volkswagen GTI. Too many compromises have relegated the GLI to the status of merely the nicest, and most competent trim level available in the Jetta lineup - a good car, but one that doesn't walk the same walk as its progenitor.