What Is the Difference Between the Volkswagen Jetta and the Jetta GLI

The Volkswagen Jetta compact sedan has been providing refined and economical driving pleasure for several decades, and the 2024 model carries forward that heritage. With its elegant design, spacious interior, and advanced safety and tech features, the Jetta is as popular as ever.

Alongside the regular Jetta lineup is the Jetta GLI, which has enhanced high-performance features for exhilarating driving and handling characteristics. It has unique design elements that set it apart as a sports sedan. Here at Capistrano Volkswagen, we put this sedan under the spotlight and highlight the differences between the Jetta and the Jetta GLI.

Exterior Features

The 2024 Volkswagen Jetta is offered in S, Sport, SE, and SEL trims with increasing levels of equipment. The Jetta has a sleek, aerodynamic design with sharp lines and an aggressive road stance that stands out from the crowd. It comes standard with 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and heated power mirrors.

Its distinctive lighting signature includes an available light bar integrated into the front grille. The SEL features LED daytime running lights, heated washer nozzles, mirror position memory, and a panoramic power sunroof. The Sport trim has a unique gloss black grille and exterior accents.

For 2024, the Jetta GLI is available in the 40th Anniversary Edition and Autobahn Trim Levels, each with unique badging and styling cues. The GLI features sportier bumpers, larger air intakes, lower suspension, a black honeycomb grille with red accents, 18-inch wheels, performance brakes with red calipers, and dual exhaust outlets.

These elements highlight the GLI’s sporting pedigree. With the GLI Autobahn trim, you can opt for a distinctive Black Package that offers 18-inch black wheels and a black roof, spoiler, and mirror caps.

Power and Performance

Under the Jetta’s Hood is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. The S and Sport trims come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, or you can opt for an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic control, which is standard for the SE and SEL models.

With its punchy performance and assured handling, the Jetta is fun to drive whether you’re navigating the city streets or tackling the back road curves. The regular Jetta is no slouch and can take you from zero to 60 mph in as little as 7 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 15.5 seconds.

Powering the Jetta GLI is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo that develops 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque via a standard responsive six-speed manual transmission. Alternatively, you can choose a slick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, known as the direct shift gearbox (DSG), which features paddle shifters and Sport mode.

With the manual transmission, the GLI accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 6.1 seconds and hits the quarter mile in 14.6 seconds. When equipped with the DSG, the GLI can take you to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.

The GLI offers a thrilling driving experience, and the refined ride and sharp handling are enhanced by the sport-tuned suspension, adaptive chassis control, and an electronic limited-slip differential. Red brake calipers make the high-performance brakes stand out while the large ventilated disc brakes provide confident stopping power. The Autobahn trim also has variable ration steering for added control.

Interior Design

Inside the Jetta, you’ll find an upscale cabin that is roomy and well laid out with easy-to-reach controls. The trunk offers 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space and the 60/40-split folding rear seats give you more capacity. The S trim features cloth upholstery and air conditioning. With the Sport trim, you get heated front sports seats and unique stainless steel pedal caps.

The SE adds simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The range-topping SEL offers leather seating, driver’s seat memory, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and 10-color ambient lighting.

Jetta GLI models offer a unique interior design that emphasizes their sporting prowess. The bolstered seats feature contrasting red stitching, and it has special design cues throughout the cabin. The GLI comes standard with heated front seats, automatic climate control, ambient lighting, stainless steel pedals, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The GLI 40th Anniversary Edition has molecular cloth seating and model-specific metal door sill scuff plates. The GLI Autobahn offers leather upholstery, a power-adjustable memory driver’s seat, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.

Technology

Jetta S, Sport, and SE trims feature an infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, and a four-speaker audio system. The SEL has an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, voice control, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, and a premium nine-speaker Beats Audio sound system.

Most Jetta trims offer the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with its 8-inch instrument display. The SEL features the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro with a configurable 10.25-inch display. The Jetta GLI comes standard with the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro. The GLI Autobahn also gets the premium Beats Audio system.

Driver Assistance Features

Every regular Jetta now comes standard with the Volkswagen IQ.DRIVE suite of driver assistance technologies. It includes active blind-spot monitoring and intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, a lane-keeping system, forward collision mitigation, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go.

With the GLI Autobahn, you get the full suite of IQ.DRIVE features. The GLI 40th Edition forgoes the blind-spot intervention, lane-keeping system, and lane departure mitigation.

Jetta or Jetta GLI—Which Compact Sedan Is Right for You?

The 2024 VW Jetta is a sleek, elegant, and well-equipped small sedan backed by Volkswagen’s renowned build quality and reliability. Its compact dimensions make it easy to drive and park in the city, while the spacious cabin offers plenty of comfort on long road trips. The Jetta GLI adds to those qualities with high-performance features and powerful and scintillating performance. Visit us at Capistrano Volkswagen in San Juan Capistrano, CA, to see these vehicles side-by-side, or browse our inventory online and contact us to schedule a test drive.