The $35k Mechanical Anomaly. (Better Than a Civic Si?) 2026 Jetta GLI Review
88K views · Jan 25, 2026 · Autos & Vehicles
Comments · 453
@BrianMakse · 8 months ago · pinned
The Gen 3 engine in this GLI is older, but it has a massive torque plateau that the new, high strung engines sometimes lack. Would you rather have the proven reliability and tuning potential of the old engine, or the slightly higher horsepower of the new Gen 4? Let me know below. <br><br>Buy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/savethemanuals">#SAVETHEMANUALS</a> merch now at <a href="https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com/">https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com</a>
60
@audieconrad8995 · 8 months ago
This car is as much [or more] than 90% of the car buying public can use or handle.
159
@davevan9150 · 8 months ago (edited)
The GLi has been an unsung hero for a while now, good to see they are still trying instead of getting rid of it.
76
@ryanfliegel · 8 months ago
I wish more companies would use older equipment to build cars. That helps makes this car cheaper because they don’t have develop as many new items. Not every car needs its own “from the ground up” development. Use the parts bin to keep the cost down
39
@skydwellingmusic · 8 months ago
Crazy how this has a manual option and the GTI doesn't have one anymore.
193
@DCPEvo · 8 months ago
Strange how physical buttons seem so premium these days.
99
@nanowerx · 5 months ago
Best kept secret in the 'performance sedan' sector. Performance/quality/price altogether is unmatched in the market right now. Unreal you get this package for less than $35K
7
@Thejasonunleashed · 8 months ago
I have a 2025 and love it. Best car ever and a joy to drive. Worth the 35k
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@AdamAyliffe-d3c · 7 months ago
Right size, Right price, Right Power (underrated of course-I hear stock is more like 240hp at the crank) Right Handling, nuff said the GLI is such an underrated car, love that it is a sleeper, and that conservative styling will look good for years to come, I always get nothing but great comments from people, and a lot of young people on my 25.
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@Opt1685 · 8 months ago
I own a 2020 model. It's been a great car so far. The first "mod" I did was upgrade the tires. Since then it's gotten a stage 1 ECU and TCU tune from EQT, and an intake from APR. The tune is by far the best mod for the money spent. The car really wakes up. Best time so far at the drag strip was a 13.6 at 107mph. The car can do better, but the traction control is horrid. It never fully turns off when you disable it, even with the tune.
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@baboo4070 · 8 days ago
will got the new 2027 in 3 day , love the review
1
@therudylipparshow · 8 months ago
This car has de-aged me I got a 2025 in July. It has all haptic buttons on the steering wheel gotten used to it not a big deal. The whiners need to find something else to complain about. Yeah, tires are definitely the next thing to do but other than that, I don’t wanna change a thing I love it. I love it more than any car I’ve ever had. It’s my fifth Volkswagen great review thanks for saying it more eloquently than I ever could.
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