It may not look like it, but the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI offers you a lot of car for about $28,000. Once you hop inside, the vehicle you drive isn’t the car you look at in the showroom. In fact, the designers behind the new Jetta might want to think about making the outside look as good as the inside feels while in motion.
The Jetta is one of VW’s most popular models and starts out its line as the automaker’s cheapest set of wheels. Amongst Volkswagen’s compact lines, the Golf and GTI appeal to drivers who want affordable sportiness. The Beetle is fun, but leans a less masculine.
The Jetta arrives at the entry level to the VW sedan class and enjoys a healthy sales rate. It’s easy to understand why. The car is reliable, steady and well-equipped at even the most basic trim level. Potential highway MPG flirts with the low 40s. In short, it’s easy to argue that the least expensive Volkswagen is already more car than the save level vehicles for VW’s major rivals at Ford, Toyota, Nissan, etc.
This GLI perches high atop the Jetta tree with a 210 horsepower TSI engine. It also packs on 18 inch wheels, sport tuned suspension and Bi-Xenon headlights.
The interior trim level offers a multi-function sport steering wheel (with the button squared off for that classic racing look and feel). The in-dash infotainment system is fully functional, but slightly less user friendly than competitive models. Fortunately, the sport bucket seats tie the cockpit together nicely and remind you that you’re in a car and not computer lab.
All of this technology and comfort doesn’t mean much if the car doesn’t ride well. Fortunately, the driving experience for the Jetta GLI is grounded and smooth with surprising pickup and ample speed. It’s surprisingly fun to run this car through its paces. In fact, that amount of fun is out of balance with the look of the car.
That brings us back to the exterior styling issue. From the inside, this is an entertaining and effective car. It’s a treat to drive and feels as sophisticated as a mid-range German luxury car on longer hauls. But, the exterior is as boring as a beige room. I wish it looked more like the ambitious car it really is.
Then again, that under-styling might be part of the VW master plan. The majority of drivers don’t want cars that are too stylized or flashy. They want safe and sensible. So, the Jetta remains a sort of automotive mullet — business outside and party behind the wheel.
