3 Jan 2nd-Jan 8th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2025 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN: THE SPORT SEDAN THAT BRINGS THE PARTY (SORT OF) 2025 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN The 2025 Volkswagen The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn is like Jetta GLI Autobahn is like that friend who’s always up that friend who’s always up for a good time but still insists for a good time but still insists on being in bed by 10. With on being in bed by 10. With a starting price of $35,045, a starting price of $35,045, it delivers a lot of fun for it delivers a lot of fun for the money—just not all the the money—just not all the fun. Powered by a punchy fun. Powered by a punchy 2.0-liter turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the GLI gives you engine, the GLI gives you solid acceleration and solid acceleration and handling that’s as sharp as handling that’s as sharp as a dad joke at a barbecue. a dad joke at a barbecue. It’s sporty enough to remind It’s sporty enough to remind you it’s the GLI and not just you it’s the GLI and not just your average Jetta, but not your average Jetta, but not so wild that you’ll scare your so wild that you’ll scare your passengers—or yourself. passengers—or yourself. Inside, the Autobahn trim Inside, the Autobahn trim tries hard to impress, and tries hard to impress, and honestly, it mostly succeeds. honestly, it mostly succeeds. The leather seats are heated The leather seats are heated and ventilated because, and ventilated because, apparently, VW thinks apparently, VW thinks your backside deserves your backside deserves VIP treatment. The 10.25- VIP treatment. The 10.25- inch digital cockpit is crisp inch digital cockpit is crisp and customizable, so you and customizable, so you can pretend you’re piloting can pretend you’re piloting a spaceship instead of a a spaceship instead of a sedan. And the premium sedan. And the premium audio system? It’s loud audio system? It’s loud enough to drown out the fact enough to drown out the fact you just stalled trying to show you just stalled trying to show off the manual transmission. off the manual transmission. But hey, points for effort. But hey, points for effort. On the road, the Jetta GLI On the road, the Jetta GLI is a solid performer. It’s not is a solid performer. It’s not going to blow your mind, but going to blow your mind, but with its composed handling with its composed handling and a touch of sportiness, it’s and a touch of sportiness, it’s like driving a car that politely like driving a car that politely asks, “Can we have a little asks, “Can we have a little fun, please?” Add in decent fun, please?” Add in decent fuel economy and a practical fuel economy and a practical sedan body, and you’ve got sedan body, and you’ve got a car that’s as versatile as a car that’s as versatile as it is approachable. Sure, it it is approachable. Sure, it might not be the life of the might not be the life of the party, but at $35,045, it’s party, but at $35,045, it’s the dependable buddy who the dependable buddy who always picks you up—and always picks you up—and brings snacks. brings snacks. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
