2022 VW Jetta GLI | Maturity LVL 99 

Mark demonstrating the maneuverability of the sun visor throughout the driving segment was greatly enjoyed.

I would buy it over the GTI only because of the physical controls inside.

I am a 60 year old man and the manual 2023 GLI is perfect for me ❤

GLI over GTI for me. There's something about the sleeper side of this car that appeals to me. I like the way it looks and if it's a bit less popular with the enthusiast crowd it may make it more rare to see on the street which I'd like if I were an owner.

You guys nailed the target demo perfectly. I'm 37 in a single car household and didn't want to exceed mid-30's. In comfort mode my wife is happy and relaxed on longer drives, in sport mode on back roads I'm having a blast.

Planning on buying a 2021 GLI this weekend. I can’t stand haptics on the steering wheel but I am glad that they kept physical climate knobs for 2022.

Heya - I got the ‘21 GLI Autobahn 6MT in Pure Grey. I absolutely love this car - including the physical controls on the wheel. I just took it up to Angeles Crest Road - a windy mountain pass where Porsches race up to Newcomb’s Ranch (about 26 miles of twisties). I gotta say the GLI handled it with aplomb - it’s no Porsche but the adaptive suspension and LSD performs admirably. Add to that the great fuel mileage (I averaged 38mpg on a recent high way trip) and practicality - this is a winner for sure!!!

Honestly Id pick the Jetta GLi just for the interior. They seriously messed up the interior usability on the new GTi.

I’ve been binge watching your content lately, love the quality and the humour

Went from a 2000-something Saturn Ion with a manual to a 2017 GLI with a manual. Few years later and it still feels fucking amazing. Missed out on some of the performance boosts that the 2019 and up GLIs received, but I honestly prefer the looks of the older model vs the newer ones. Newer models have kind of a bland, stretched out look, while the 2018 and under models still look like they could've come out of Germany. Plus the 2017 has the fender audio system, which is supposed to be way better than the new beats system. Idk what the point of my comment is, beyond the GLI being fun cars with a slightly more mature aesthetic. Unless your job is to drive all the latest cars, I think most people would be pretty happy with a GLI. I def don't have any issues zipping around on the freeway with mine.

Great review. We picked this car for our first long termer for all the reasons you mention. It serves as a great reference car to compare other drives with. A car so balanced as this one that does everything fairly well means that it is simply a great car. Maybe missing a little personality but as it ages that will greatly appreciated. One thing you hint at is that this car looks bettter than the Elantra and is quieter than any Civic ever, and it’s ride quality is dialed in just right for everyday living with some fun. It is the most well rounded but it does have a few flaws you do not mention, mainly the passenger seat is awful and the interior, while functional, is quite sterile.

Just bought a 2019 Jetta GLI… so excited to receive it. It looks so great, great performance, and lots of great tech for a great price. Really excited

Thank goodness the physical controls were retained. The new GTI pushed the touchscreen experience too far. This Jetta balances the two really well.

The GLI with a stage 1 tune and high torque DSG tune ends up fixing almost all the issues you have with the sedate driving experience.

With $10k markups on Civic Si's and Hyundai dealers who don't bother stocking N-type anything, VW should be scoring big with this.

The detailed interior review and the audio graphs are top notch; thanks guys!

I used to own a 2012 DSG; best car I’ve ever owned. Fun when you want to, sedate when you want to. Great review again guys 👍

I had a '14 GLI and Marc has nailed the demographic. Definitely not a high performance car, but you could put your foot into it and the car's engine and suspension sweet spots are right around the legal limits. Loved the styling because it had good lines without any unnecessary boy racer flair. Also had a huge trunk and really nice interior compared to the competition. Great car for an enthusiast who needs a family daily driver without drawing attention to yourself.

excellent review fellas. I have a '21, recently coming from a '17 GTI. for highway cruising/drive to work it is fantastic. def not as lively as the GTI in the bends but the adjustable dampers and VAQ make it pretty fun. all of the points you made are valid. keep up the good work!

My MY19 has been great for me. Really nice balance of fun enough while being quiet and refined enough on long commutes. The manual has a nice clutch. I also liked that it was really easy to find a manual so i didn’t have to search around the country. I never owned a VW before because i’m more of a domestic guy, but i’m really happy with what i got for the price .

I own a 2020 GLI and this car is damn near perfect, its more comfortable and sportier than C class. Yhe perfect belnd between fun and comfort. Please let this car live on.

Great review, Jack was definitely defending this to the death, while Mark was like yea it’s fast but I wouldn’t buy it LOL.

Thank you to the team of Savageese. I always wanted y’all to do a Autobahn GLI with DCC. Not something I would typically spend money on, but if I am driving 50k+ miles a year, I’m in.

I appreciate that you discuss audio results. Very helpful 👍

I've had my '19 GLI 35th for about 2.5 years now. Assuming I don't have SERIOUS issues down the road....I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

This car is fantastic, not sure why these guys are so hard on it. It looks great in Black/white/grey, is a great daily driver that will smoke every other daily driver minus the hotheads with sporty coupes. It feels great, very quiet and comfy. But again, when you need to pass somebody or get somewhere, this thing will deliver.

Your level of technical detail is second to none. I love it

THE QUALITY OF THESE REVIEWS ARE FLAWLESS! 👌

Jack, your description of the Elantra N; "It's very ugly", is spot on, and that's keeping me from trading in my Elantra Sport; horsepower be damned!

'19 GLI owner here, super fun car while also being a great, boring daily driver when you want it to be.

An APR or Unitronic ECU/TCU tune will solve most of the complaints mentioned in the video. Love my GLI

We owned an original1986 GLI and it was a fun and great car to drive at the time. Would seriously consider getting one again.

As someone in their mid-twenties with a WRX, you pretty much nailed it why I didn't consider this car. But I can understand why a different type of driver would

Its for the people that want an Audi a3 but don't want to pay the premium.

The Elantra N is sure to have a more sporty and raw driving experience, but it comes with the price of a cheaper interior, fewer features, and that ridiculous brace across the trunk taking away a lot of usability. Like you said, this is for the person that prioritizes a mature, practical, daily driver that can give you some fun when called upon. Same with the GTI.

I like this car and it’s on my mental shortlist of potential vehicles that I might consider in the future. I am an older guy who’s spent a ton of money on cars in the past decade or so. I have come to realize though that I have been paying a lot for the last few percentage points of driving dynamics. Yet most of my time driving is spent in traffic and I rarely get to use the performance I am paying for. Another issue now is that it is becoming extremely difficult to schedule service with my local German luxury car dealer. In mid December I realized that I had a scheduled service coming up in a few hundred miles. First available appointment is April 4th at my local dealer. I called the next nearest dealer their first available is in May. My wife has a VW suv. Getting service for it is not an issue. I thought about a Civic Si but my local dealer is asking 5K over sticker for those. Plus I like seat heaters.

"You wouldn't want to go to a funeral in the WRX". That was funny....on point.

There's no reason for them to use piano black anymore. Apple has been using matte finished haptic touch controls on devices for years and years now. And it looks way better feels better than gloss finish.

Great video men... Good start to friday

Great summary of what this car is. Eagerly awaiting your review of the Elantra N.

The mk6 DSG programming was reallly sporty (more so than the mk7.5 Golf R)! I feel like they soften them as they evolve.

Great video! This likely would have lower cost insurance compared with the WRX and Si. I wish they’d do a wagon with the same engine/trans configuration

My first car was a Jetta II 55hp NA diesel. It was terrible. And I loved it and miss it dearly 😌

Great review on the GLI, gentlemen!

I see 500 GTI's to every 1 GLI. Not being able to defeat the traction/stability control has me back in a Honda.

I bought a ‘20 GLI with manual transmission that was delivered with the same Hankook tires that the ‘22 GLI is fitted with in this review. These tires are by far the worst tires I have ever owned, and I believe are the primary reason the reviewers feel like the traction control and stability control are too invasive. I removed the OEM Hankooks, with almost full tread remaining at 15k miles, and installed Michelin Pilot A/S 4’s. The car’s driving dynamics and ride are completely transformed and now rarely engages traction control or stability control, regardless of road conditions.

6:54 "DSG is always upshifting". True - IF you leave it in Drive or Sport mode. But if you engage ESC Sport Mode - done by holding down the traction control button for five seconds - you can hold your gear pretty much until redline (which doesn't make all that much sense in this car as it's a turbo, not a Honda VTEC). ESC Sport Mode also turns on the launch control system. I also think the DSG shifts "crisper" in this mode. I basically use this mode at all times when I'm driving. '21 GLI owner here. Thank me anytime.

Amazing analysis always! Would love to see a review for the 2022 updated VW Tiguan

Perhaps this is different on the 2022 model, but on previous years (I own a 2021) traction control can be fully (or at least more thoroughly) defeated by holding down the button rather than pressing it. I haven't pushed the car super hard with that off to see if it will limit me, but it definitely gives you some more freedom!

I test drove a 2021 gli with the automatic. Surprised with the cabin and trunk space. The car was fun to drive but wish I could have drove the manual.

Jack's knowledge to damper or frame is very helpful. I agreed with Jack. more refined and smooth and quiet

I have a '21 GLI in manual and been driving it for 6 months now and I absolutely love it! I hate the look of the '22 GLI so I'm very happy I bought the '21 GLI 😊

I owned a 2020 GLI... for about 6 months. I had the base "S" trim with the DSG trans. It was fun to drive, but I would say it was not the most inspiring thing either. Mark and Jack alluded to this - it needs more emotion in the experience. Compared to my Mk7 GTI it just felt like the GLI was missing something - namely, it didn't feel as playful or agile. Admittedly, it was better to drive in mundane every day situations than the GTI was, but the opposite was true on back roads. Also, the interior rattled like crazy from just a couple days into my ownership until the day I traded it in. I went to dealers (yes, different ones) on four different occasions to have them diagnose the rattles and got nowhere. "Can't reproduce" is what they said every time. I have to say it's a great car for the money, but it got boring after the first couple of months. Maybe if this is an appliance that may occasionally see some back road use, or if you like gunning it on your way onto the on-ramp to the highway, it'll be great for you.

Excellent series. I have a 2012 and honestly it hasn't given me any major problems which for a VW is shocking.

I have a 2020 gli in the same color, my favorite car I’ve ever purchased so far!

Bought a 20’ Autobahn. Absolutely love it. Had a 17’ GLI with a stage 1 tune and my Autobahn is just as fast bone stock.

I’ve owned a 19 35th anniversary and currently own a 21 GLI S. It was the best sporty car for the money IMO at least until VW dumped the S trim for the 22 facelift. The aftermarket is pretty huge and can make the car a lot sharper.

so jealous that you still get the old interior across the pond

Im liking the new style of vids nowadays , subed years ago tho

Can't WAIT for you guys to into the Elantra N. I sense that in the next 2-3 years as the N recognition grows, you'll be interviewing Biermann.

The GLi was my runner up to the Mazda3 that I purchased last year. Its a very nice/competitive option. Projected reliability was one of the main reasons it lost out.

Everyone should own this car. It's so so good. My GLI is a 2020 Autobahn manual. It's a do it all special car.

As always, thx for an interesting review. I wish you’d get a Kia Forte GT to test. Your thoughts on it would be of great interest to me and (perhaps) others. Regards and be safe.

The music montage in the begining of the video is getting shorter and shorter. Thats the best part and you guys show off the exteriors so well. Dont Skimp.

Here in Europe for about 450-550 $ you can tune the EA888 up to ~300 hp on Stage 1and the DSG gearbox to shift how you like it and make it a dream combo. For me is just a very good base to start.

I know it will never happen, but I would love a RWD GLI. Simple, sporty and low cost sedan. It’s Just not really a thing

Looking forward for the review of the Elantra N, but I guess this will beat it by far, as a nice driving car. Without hassles.

I like the new Jetta. I had a 2008 Wolfsburg edition that I loved except for the fact that I couldn't get really comfortable in the driver's seat because of a lack of adjustability on the lower cushion. A power seat is what I need to make this car ideal

I checked these out a few years ago and actually ended up spending similar money on a 2.0t accord with the 10 speed auto. I know its not in the same category, but it had more space, was faster and as you said, my brand affinity ends up trending towards japanese. Nice review.

It’s all about the potential of the car! APR Plus matches your factory warranty and gets you 255hp 280tq. If you want more it’s there for you and with a warranty. They also have a DSG tune that can help with auto up shift and crisper shifts in general.

A few months ago, this native Californian just returned to the home state after 34 years of east coast city living without a car (January 1988 was the last time I'd owned a car). I thought I really wanted the new Honda Civic Hatchback Touring but back-to-back test drives had me appreciating the VW Jetta's automatic versus the Civic CVT. Although down about 35 horsepower from the Honda, the VW was zippier in real-world, around-town traffic. And it felt more premium. I purchased a new '21 Jetta SEL spec for non-commuting (I work from home), northern California urban-suburban competency, fuel efficiency and safety. I love it. I put about 500 miles a month on it and it gets terrific fuel mileage. I'm very happy with my new Jetta. If the wife and I retire to someplace with more (if not Minnesota strength) inclement winters (New Mexico?), I'd seriously consider switching to a VW Tiguan. I hear there's a hybrid version coming to answer Honda and Toyota. I'm very interested!

I had the anniversary edition of this a couple years ago. Bought it February 2020, perfect timing LOL I hardly drive it for the year I owned it. The interior was pleasant. I am exactly the demo, late 40s dude, commuter in a normal world. Coming out of a Miata that I was autoXing, it was boring but felt like a rocket in comparison. Sold it back to Carvana for more than I paid.

A different color other than some shade of grey would make this car pop. Across the entire spectrum of cars on the market today I would love to see more color.

Car actually sounds decent inside the cabin, Much better buy than the SI by far

Love this Phantasy Star outro.

I think you guys nailed the review of this: It’s a little better than average, but that’s about it. Not very compelling with other options in the market.

He's complaining about the look being boring compared to the competition, but the look is exactly why I'm going with the GLI, it looks mature and performs beautifully. The Elantra N mpg is terrible and the look is terrible, and the SI looks good but the performance isn't up to par with the GLI sorry.

Used to have a 2019 GLI and it was a fun car for sure, very solid vehicles for the money. For some reason it felt as though you were sitting on the ground, more so than other sedans imo.

I wish I could get an mk8 GTI with this infotainment setup. Would be my perfect car if so.

Good and fair review.

Am I seeing this correctly? The boys are unofficially sponsored not only by Patagonia but by The North Face as well??

I really wish after all this time VW would offer the Haldex 4 Wheel Drive on the GLI, even if it cost an extra 5k one could avoid having to go up to an Audi.

I have a 2019 GLI. Best car I’ve ever owned. It gets great mpg and is a great commuter, while it also can take abuse and go fast when I want to.

i like the looks very much. I'm a bit older and done with having a hatchback. this fits all the boxes until i make more money and get an S4. I'm gonna tune it up a bit so its more exciting.

I love everything about this GLI, except the red rear blinker. For some reason, the current gen Jetta / GLI had amber blinker in MY19, then starting MY20, VW switched to all red again. Is the amber LED blinker that expensive???

I like the idea of this, the new Si seems too stiff and bouncy especially in the midwest. But that plastic oil pan always makes me cringe on the VW.

I like how you slid a sun visor test in there.

I recently went to test drive a M340I at a VW Dealer and was really not moved by it at all. Maybe because I just sold my F80 M3, but the M340 just seemed like a car - a quick one, but nothing fun. There was a blue GLI there and I asked I took it for a drive and thought this is money better spent. Spend $30k on the GLi and I'd have money left over to buy a Miata or C6. The light weight in the GLI really makes it tossable and fun. Also feels substantially quicker than the Civic Si, even though the numbers do not show that huge of a difference.

Whenever Mark and Jack review any VW product, they always mention the direct injection/carbon build-up issue. That's perfectly fine. It's a subject that needs to be mentioned. I've noticed, however, that they don't mention this same reliability concern nearly as often when talking about Honda, Mazda, or Hyundai/Kia products. This was again the case here with the Civic Si (or any current, non-hybrid Honda), the Elantra N and N-Line/Kia Forte equivalents, and Mazda 3, all of which employ the same direct-injection technology found on the VW. In fact, if it isn't a Toyota or Ford, and it has a turbo, it will likely have direct injection, without any port injection to clean the valves. Why do Honda, Hyundai, and Mazda receive a pass on this, while VW doesn't? Honda, Hyundai, and Mazda also use turbos in combination with DI, which is an additional reliability concern frequently mentioned on this channel in conjunction with VW (and Subaru) products, yet it's rarely mentioned as a concern with those other brands. We tend to assume superior reliability for Honda and Mazda products, and in the past that assumption was well earned, but does it still apply? Those stalwart old Civics, Accords, Elantras, and Mazda 3's did not have direct injection and turbos. These new DI/turbo models have not compiled enough years on the road to determine their long-term reliability. They may well prove just as problematic long-term as the DI/turbo VW's have been to date. Direct injection is a legitimate concern. There is a very good reason that Toyota refuses to go down the DI/turbo road in their own vehicles. Point being, these concerns need to be applied across the board, not just to VW products.

My 19 GLI became a lot faster after adding a Neuspeed power module, and that's enough fun for me.

BTW guys the current / recent reports on the Gen3 EA888 in this car and my 2019 GLI have been trending with VERY low carbon deposits for those of us with high mileage engines. So far so good but we will see when we check again at 100k miles. Also you are right about tracking these cars. The guys trying to put down 1/4 and 1/8 mile times are running the DSG and the current record holder in nearing 12 flat and might be able to get under 12 seconds this year. The problem for the DSG drag race guys is the ECU pulling timing even with a bespoke tune and disabled traction control. I run my GLI pretty competitively in autocross but of course I have the 6 speed and highly modified suspension. Very true on the affordable luxury feel of this car. Awesome interior, great driving and can be a perfect daily driver and young or older person's car. Great review as always guys, thank you.

I also checked out the GLI a few years ago and went with a 2020 civic si due to the driving dynamics and superior shifter. I just traded up to a 2022 civic si due to the Honda driving experience I appreciate even as a middle aged Arby’s swilling suburbanite. Thank you Mark and Jack for another informative and entertaining video. Cheers

With the new Civic looking so much more matured (incl. the Si), is there still an argument to be made that someone wanting a more sedate looking car would get the GLI? Is the interior of the GLI that much more refined than an Si? Or is it targeting someone who doesn't want to drive a stick?

I'd rather this than the MK8 Golf.

I own a 19 GLI and coming from a 2007 mom mobile this rocked my world. However, after the honeymoon phase I wished I would have just ponied up the money and bought a Type R. GLI is a perfect daily driver but there is no drama.

I like this one, it’s obtainable from a money perspective from an average Joe and seems to me still enjoyable in a way people doesn’t look at you like a teenager in a Civic.

Love you geese

Way better than the SI for price to performance. Also out handles it

This seems like a good sweet spot car, with a good mix of fun and normal driving.

I agree with the stock GLI but you put a little bit of money into this car and you can get a surprisingly great car. You put some bilstein B16 coil overs, stiffer rear sway bar and stage 2 tune with DSG tune and this car is a fun daily driver that gets you 30+ highway mpg. I drive mine 60 miles daily on these mods and I love it. I also catch a lot if turbo v6 infinity and 5.7 hemi by surprise.