All of the tech and driving mechanics in the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn add up to just one final impression after testing the car for a week.
While I usually focus on just one aspect of the technology in each car I’m reviewing, I decided to put the Jetta GLI Autobahn to the ultimate test: Deciding whether I would actually buy one.
My plan this year is to expand my coverage to cover the entire vehicle on occasion and decide if the test lead to a final conclusion of whether I’d recommend it or not.
Let me start by saying that reviewing cars is not easy. For one thing, you can’t just drive one model. You have to drive multiple cars over a long period of time, comparing similar models. The Jetta might be similar to, say, a Hyundai Sonata in one respect (based on size) but closer to a lower-cost BMW if you are really serious about drive mechanics. (The fact that I own a BMW 3 is a handy comparison metric for sure.)
The Jetta GLI Autobahn has a 228-horsepower engine and the typical VW driving mechanics, which is to say tight and responsive steering. You can tell the difference right away compared to other sedans that provide much more forgiving (but also really boring) steering.
The Jetta GLI Autobahn pushes away from the starting line like it knows the driver is here to have some fun and not just drive to the shopping mall. So points in favor of the Jetta right away in that regard.
The suspension is built around the DCC adaptive damping, XDS cross differential system, and variable-ratio electronic power steering so it is ready for your commute and then some.
I will say the Jetta felt responsive during my whole week of testing from the standpoint of staying right in the lane where I wanted it to stay without a lot of drift. Corners were a breeze. I never felt like the Jetta was pulling or edging off the center of the lane on its own.
As for the tech, there is a lot to like in terms of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and I do like that VW is trying something new with the touch controls for climate. Some drivers have been asking VW to go back to analog knobs but I see the logic of embracing modern technology even if this iteration meant there were a few times when I tried to move the slider to a warmer or colder temp and had to move my finger a couple of times.
ABout the Beats audio: I like it and felt like my test tracks sounded full with a loud and obvious bass, even if we’re not ta;lking about pristine audio. I don’t think that’s what VW was going for on this vehicle anyway. As for the overall price: The Jetta GLI Autobahn I tested cost $34,590 while the base price of the GLI version is $32,715.
All in all, a reasonable price for the engine size. I loved the CarPlay support and the responsive steering and powerful engine. I think the touch sensitive climate controls need some fine-tuning. But this is a car I would buy and highly recommend.