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Review: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Volkswagen is serious about taking on the best in the small-midsize sedan market. So much so, they brought us to the Mosport Driver Development Centre near Bowmanville, Ontario to put the all-new 2012 Jetta GLI through its paces. A sunny day, comfortable sports seats and time on a race track. It doesn’t get much better than this!

The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI comes standard with a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine. Performance rates at 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque.
Matched to a 6-speed manual transmission or the optional 6-speed automatic Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) with Tiptronic and Sport Mode, we spend the afternoon doing hot laps of the track, exploring the outer limits of adhesion and driver confidence. Both are in relative abundance, with the driver holding on as long as the car. It helps that I have taken the Bridgestone Racing School course on this track in the past. If you haven’t as of yet, put it on your Christmas Wish List.

Power assisted front vented and rear solid disc brakes provide excellent stopping power. Safety features include ABS, EBD and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist). I do experience some amount of brake fade as our time on the track progresses, even running out of brakes once approaching a tight right-hand turn under hard braking. But I chalk this up to racing on a track, rather than the potential for fade during every day driving conditions or even somewhat aggressive stints on a regular basis over winding country roads.

Traction Control is standard featuring a host of acronyms such as ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation), EBA (Engine Braking Assist), EDL (Electronic Differential Lock), XDS (Electronic Transverse Differential Lock) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control). Hill hold assist is also included to stop unwanted rollbacks.

Exterior design cues exude the typical Volkswagen front/rear fascia and side profile. But the GLI is no slouch in the styling department. Lines are clean and crisp like a finely tailored suit, business professional, of course, being an upstanding German car.

Upper and lower body character lines add to the professional look, while multi-spoke alloy wheels, an aggressive lower front grille and fog lights let you know there is plenty of sportiness to enjoy underneath the all-business exterior.

Brushed aluminum sport pedals and dead pedal (a place to rest your left foot while not on the clutch) add a sporty touch to what is already a racy interior package. Large, round white on black analogue gauges feature the obligatory speedometer and tachometer, as well as coolant temperature and fuel gauge, outside temperature and much more.

A 3-spoke flat-bottom leather steering wheel with red stitching offers multi-function controls and excellent feedback with electromechanical speed sensitive power steering. It also features telescoping and height adjustment. Additional leather wraps the manual gearshift knob and emergency brake.

Seats are superb, as is rear seat room and trunk space. VW is known for their excellence in space efficiency and roominess; the new GLI takes this to the next level. Power window controls are located where they should be, on the door as part of swooping armrest design element. Power mirrors and door locks are situated directly above. It is so logical to design and interior this way, why do other automakers make it so complicated sometimes?

Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity makes syncing your iPhone easy. A premium AM/FM, 6-disc CD changer with 6.5 inch touch screen, SIRIUS satellite radio and 6 speakers is standard. Upgrades including the RNS 315 Navigation System or the all-out 400 watt Fender premium audio system with 8 speakers and subwoofer.

Driving the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI on the track and the roads surrounding Mosport, the car impresses with a quietness belying the reasonable price and a ride quality equal to, or in some ways better than, the major competitors from Mazda, Honda and Subaru to name a few.

Priced to start at $27,475 for the manual transmission, Jetta GLI should command a strong following of contented, driving enthusiasts looking for fun, roominess and classic style all rolled into one exceptional package.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Wheelbase: 2,651 mm
Overall length: 4,628 mm
Overall width: 1,778 mm
Overall height: 1,453 mm
Engine: DOHC I4/turbocharged
Transmission: 6/manual, 6/DSG with Tiptronic
Brakes: 4-disc, ABS/EBD/HBA
Airbags: 2 front, 2 side, side curtain 
Warranties: 4 years/ 80,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, Subaru Impreza WRX
Base MSRP: $27,475-$28,875
Options:
Luxury leather package: $2,100
18”alloy wheels: $975
Technology package: $1,290
Power sunroof: $1,400
Freight and PDI: $1,365