Need a time-tested, friendly-priced four-door sedan with a loooonnnng track record? While General Motors and Ford Motor Co. unceremoniously discontinued sedans to open extra production room for trendy five-door crossovers, European and Asian automakers staked their claim by continuing forward with this viable segment.
Europe’s largest car builder, Volkswagen, introduced the four-door Jetta back in 1979 as a high-volume sedan sold in multiple markets. A seventh-generation arrived in the 2019 model year with a new global platform and generous fuel economy. Jetta set its sights as the choice of young families ranking as the automaker’s best-selling vehicle for most of its tenure.
Consider Jetta a roomy compact or smallish mid-size as it measures nine inches shorter than VW’s conventional mid-sizer, Passat. Volkswagen also markets the relatively new but probably not as top-of-mind Arteon, its large flagship sedan.
Jetta’s also one of the few sedans available with a manual transmission for those Jones-ing for the ultimate driver input available not just in base editions, but also the performance choice allowing enthusiasts the joy of a fading art. The welcoming interior includes predictable placements of dials and buttons minus high-tech flashiness.
The 2022 model year represents a mid-cycle refresh for the front-wheel-drive Jetta. Four trim levels include S, Sport, SE, SEL; a slight modification from 2021 where an R-Line trim was available, but the 2022 Sport was not.
For those desiring a bit more pep, an up-level Jetta GLI includes a stronger engine, performance perks and a single trim (the Autobahn) loaded with standard fare along with every active and passive safety technology available.
Previous years featured two GLI trims (the S is now history). Each of the four Jetta trims receives a wheel spoke design unique to that trim. The sport-spec GTI includes 18-inch wheels (largest available) with machine alloy and can’t-miss red brake caliper housing.
The GLI indicator references a performance perk now commonplace. “Grand Luxe Injection” (GLI) reflects the once emerging fuel injector technology, which long ago supplanted the wonky carburetor. Fuel injection provided quick and precise air-fuel mixtures delivering peppier engine responses and less hesitation/coughing. The GLI name lives on as a performance indicator although the technology is decades old.
A new standard internal combustion engine joins Jetta in the form of a 1.5-liter turbocharged four cylinder providing more power (now 158 horses) and improved gas efficiency. It’s the same powertrain under hood of VW’s newest compact crossover, the Taos and mates ether to a six-speed manual or conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. It replaces an outgoing 1.4-liter turbo pumping out 147 horses.
Sporty GTI returns a 2.0-liter turbo charged four cylinder generating 228 horses. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard with a performance-inspired seven-speed dual clutch automatic available. Expect a gentle, pleasant engine rumble, not the muted variety found in some luxury models.
Dual clutch technology doesn’t involve any driver input because two computer-controlled clutches work in tandem under hood with split-second accuracy, shifting gears quicker than human capabilities. It’s a smart performance choice with the 2.0 turbo and favored above continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) utilized by some rivals stretching fuel mileage, while lacking responses if pushing the pedal to the medal.
Starting price for an S trim checks in at a competitive $20,195 with manual transmission. Add $800 more for the automatic. Both S and Sport trims offer manual transmission as does the GLI.
Our GLI tester with seven-speed dual clutch checked in at $31,795. With a $1,195 destination charge, $395 pure gray exterior paint upgrade and $595 black package; the bottom line reached $33,980.
The GLI includes a panoramic power sunroof, heated/ventilated front buckets with appreciated lumbar support, adaptive shock absorbers and stainless-steel foot pedals.
The circular electric-start push button locates between the front buckets, within easy reach of drivers. Too many competitors opt for a dashboard location where steering column stalks play defense. The mid-cycle refresh brings forth a revised 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster standard across the board.
The GLI’s black leather upholstered interior contrasts with red stitching found on seats, side doors and automatic shifter knob. At night, narrow, white pen light illumination cuts through the center dash extending to front doors enhancing the mood. Red lighting also adorns sill plates along door bottoms.
The front driver seat offers multiple power positions while the passenger bucket utilizes a manual pull loop under cushion. The GLI also sports VW’s most advanced MIB 3 touch screen technology (wireless App-connections and multiple cell phone pairing), utilizing capacitive touch sensor technology used in portable tablet technology enabling on-screen finger swiping. Touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons/bars also allow quicker swipes when increasing/decreasing volume.
For those grooving to the beat, GLI (and Jetta SLE) also include as standard fare BeatsAudio, showcasing a 400-watt amplifier and nine speakers including a subwoofer.
Between front buckets resides the transmission shifter, dual beverage holders and a slim slot easily stowing a cell phone. Also arranged with inline fashion behind the push-start button are a series of push plates including an electronic parking brake, deactivation button for the engines start/stop function and transmission mode selector offering five choices (Eco, Sport, Custom, Comfort and normal). When choosing a new mode, the selection broadcasts in the mid-size 8-inch color touch screen with eye-pleasing graphics.
Below the screen resides three easy-grab tactile dials monitoring fan speed and dual front-zone temperatures; low tech and best design in the business. A row of buttons above monitor fan direction and front heated/cooling seat activation. Front/rear defrosters monitor from push plates within a dial driver’s side dial and A/C operates from the passenger dial push plates. This entire center section skews ever-so-gently towards the driver.
Row two seatbacks fold with a 60/40 split leading into a comparatively spacious 14.1 cubic foot trunk. Two adults travel in optimal comfort with a third invited only during crunch times.
The front grille incorporates a narrow horizontal band with honeycomb filling and VW’s highly recognizable V over W circular logo front and center. All GTIs add a splash of red inside the bar. Narrow headlight housing flank the grille with standard projector LED technology inside. The lower air dam shares identical honeycomb artistry with red highlights at far edging.
The outside carries forward a non-polarizing attitude. A side character line travels straight through strap-like door handles terminating at the trunk lip edge. Below the back rear reside two chrome tip sport exhausts. Narrow black molding resides atop the trunk lid outside edge providing a spoiler type-lip while the V over W circular logo makes another appearance. The black spoiler is part of the $595 Black Package also adding black side mirror caps and black roof.
Volkswagen opened its first U.S. assembly campus in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2011, churning out mid-size Passats. The three-row mid-size Atlas crossover began rolling off the line in late 2017 while the smaller five-passenger Atlas Cross Sport started production in the 2019 calendar year. The all-electric ID.4 EV crossover is slated to start production late in 2022.
2022 Jetta GLI
Price as tested: $33,980
Engine: 2.0-liter inline four cylinder
Horsepower: 228
Wheelbase: 105.7 inches
Overall length: 186.9 inches
Overall Height: 57.9 inches
Overall width: 70.8 inches
Curb weight: 2,959 pounds
Fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 36 highway
Powertrain warranty: Four year/50,000 mile