2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Manual - Re- Driven With Stick Review

Three pedal sport compact cars have become nearly as ubiquitous as unicorns. Once the gateway for economy car driving, two-footed, two handed operation simply doesn't fit into the evolved interpretation of A to B transportation.

Performance sport compact hatches sold in the United States, with manual transmissions, can be counted on fewer than five fingers. Ditto for the sedans.

Last year heresy of heresies happened when German automaker withdrew foot clutch and hand shifter from the Golf GTI hot hatchback.

A hecho en Mexico Mk. 7 VW Jetta sedan, separated from the Mk. 8 Golf by a generation, launched in 2019. It included a performance GLI model, running the older Mk. 7 Golf GTI powertain, at a more digestible dollar amount.

For 2026 the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn Manual continues the Q-car quotient as the only product in the American lineup with a stick shift.

NEWLY TESTED FOR '26:

• 6-speed manual helical transaxle, cable actuated shifter, pedal actuated hydraulic clutch, with pre-engagement roll lockout

NEW IN '26:

• Click action steering wheel spoke controls return, replacing haptic soft tap style
• non-branded 8-speaker streaming audio replaces Beats branded system

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI - What’s New Review

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI model year update : The compact Q-ship sedan remains alive and well in America, filling the void of the demised mid-size executive car. German automaker Volkswagen’s Jetta GLI has the longest heritage of the ilk, dating back to 1984. Despite its bulbous grafted trunk, the first GLI

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

NEW IN '25, CONTINUED FOR '26:

• Revised front, rear exterior details
  • Slimmer upper grille, segmented LED headlamp assembly with pronounced outboard upward hook
  • Taller lower intake grille, angled body color cantilever arms bisect form inverted triangle corner fold, red tracing from lower air dam up to outer corner folds
  • Red "GLI" body lettering relocated from fenders to 1st Row doors
  • Body color integrated trunk spoiler
  • Full light bar spanning segmented LED rear wrap-around taillamps
  • Taller lattice print charcoal lower rear valance with dual corner polished beveled exhaust tips
• Revised dashboard & door card padded printed contrast stitched panels
• Tap to swipe lower center stack climate control

CONTINUED REVISIONS FROM '20-'24:

• Autobahn package is standard
  • DCC variable electronic damping
  • Variable ratio steering
  • XDS ESP based front limited slip differential
• Available two tone, contrasting black roof, mirror caps, wheels package
• IQ.Drive advanced driver assistance with Travel Assist semi-autonomy
• 8.0" MIB 3.0 Composition voice command, gesture actuated infotainment display
  • USB-C x 3
• 10.25" Digital Cockpit instrument cluster + (available) native navigation map projection

CARRIED OVER, MOSTLY UNCHANGED:

Segment, Style & Finish:

• Sport compact sedan, with four-doors, five occupant seating
  • 7th generation Jetta A7, launched in 2019 MY, built on MQB platform
  • Fastback profile, thin upper grille, spillover dual creased hood, upper and lower creased body, rising rear deck, wrap-around lighting, darkened window frames, GLI unique colors & accents

Performance:

• intercooled turbocharged DOHC 16V DI I-4 petrol engine - EA888 evo 3
  • 228 horsepower (net hybrid), 258 pound-feet torque
  • 87 AKI unleaded petrol
• 6-speed manual helical transaxle (available 7-speed DCT automatic)
• front wheel drive, XDS brake control limited slip differential
• Soundaktor audio system powertrain sound enhancement
• 28 miles per gallon*, 550 miles highway hybrid driving range
• Fully independent sport suspension, DCC variable e-daming, four wheel disc brakes, front oversized & vented
• Doughnut spare tire
• Quick ratio steering, heavy weighted resistance
• Drive mods x 4: Eco, Normal, Sport Custom

Safety:

• IIHS - Mostly GOOD scoring, except MARGINAL side impact occupant protection (2026 MY)
  • 6 SRS airbags, rear camera
  • VW TravelAssist Level 2 advanced driver assistance
    • Blind spot warning & avoidance, Forward vehicle, pedestrian & cyclist avoidance, adaptive cruise control - full, lane tracing, rear cross traffic braking
  • Low cowl forward, large backlight rear visibility

Comfort, Convenience, Utility:

• Leather seating
• 10.25" Digital Cockpit configurable TFT instrument cluster
• 2-zone automatic climate control, heated & cooled front seats, power driver, 3 position memory, tilt/ telescoping steering wheel, wing mirrors
• Keyless entry, push-button ignition, Digital key (via phone app)
• Power windows, full express x 4
• Wide aperture, deep trunk
• 60:40% split 2nd Row flat folding seatbacks

Infotainment:

• 8.0" Volkswagen Composition touch LCD landscape media display
  • USB-C , 2 x Row 1, 12V x 1, Qi charging pad
• 6-speaker, 240 Watt streaming audio, HD radio
• Bluetooth hands-free communication, SMS
• wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay projection
• Subscription features: Sirius XM satellite radio (90 day trial); T-Mobile 4G Wi-Fi
  • My VW Plus Connected Services: Safe & Secure, Remote Access (3 yrs. trial); Vehicle Insights (7 yrs. trial)

BOTTOM LINE:

• $36,125 price, as tested 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn front-drive 6-speed manual in Kings Red + dark roof package
• 4 years / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty; 2 years scheduled maintenance

LIKES ABOUT THE 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN MANUAL:

• Well-rounded compact performance sedan, remains affordable
• Exterior revisions soften the notchback shape, interior gains polish
• Rich exterior paint, pleasant cabin color contrast
• Gratifying responsiveness with deep reserves
  • XDS front limited slip minimizes traction loss
• Elusive Teutonic recipe of taut motion control & touring comfort
• Commendable fuel economy
• Driver entry seat power retract, generous 2nd Row knee-room
• Capacious trunk + cargo pass through
• Artful, meaty weighted & heated steering wheel
• Heated and cooled 1st Row seats, 2-zone automatic climate control
• Instrumentation splendor with ambient night lighting
• Crisp new non-branded audio system
• Mechanical action steering wheel spoke controls return!!

NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2026 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN MANUAL:

• Seven years into Mk. 7 model design
• Lacks more rigid MQB 2.0 platform
• Seat cushioning thin, steering wheel rake adjustment short
  • Non-removable 2nd Row outboard headrests
• Soundaktor synthesized sound isn't authentic
• Cabin finish still two steps behind the Mk. 8 Golf GTI
  • Hard panel Row 2 door cards
  • Thin carpeting, exposed door frames
• Runs the older, app lean MIB User Interface
• Dashboard illumination control within infotainment display

2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI - Bottom Line Review

JET STREAM, February 2019: North American meteorologists scurried to plot the Polar Jet Stream, east to west flowing winds at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, just below the Northern Hemisphere tropopause, as it rained brutal icy conditions down from the North Pole. JETTA STREAM, February 2019: Volkswagen

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton