2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI: The Sedan With the Heart of a GTI

Big, hulking trucks may have stolen the spotlight in the lead-up to the Chicago Auto Show, but Volkswagen still holds an interest in plain ol’ cars. In the interest of preserving your interest in said cars, VW took its new-for-2019 Jetta sedan into the shop and hauled out the surgical instruments.

The first component removed was the standard, thrifty 1.4-liter four-cylinder. Then, VW engineers went to town on the rear suspension, scrapping the low-cost torsion-beam setup. What emerged from the operating room was the 2019 Jetta GLI — a GTI for people who like trunks.

With its new GLI, VW binned the Jetta’s 147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft 1.4L in favor of the GTI hatch’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, good for 228 hp and 258 lb-ft. That’s an improvement of 18 hp and 41 lb-ft over the previous generation’s GLI.

The Jetta’s newfound power travels to the front wheels (they’re 18-inchers) through a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional seven-speed dual-clutch unit. A stop/start system comes with the automatic. VW engineers saw fit to lower the car by six-tenths of an inch for improved roadholding.

Arresting all of this German action are binders borrowed from the GTI and top-flight Golf R. This setup means 13.4-inch vented discs up front and red calipers for that much-needed flash. (Red is a color that appears everywhere on the Jetta GLI, from the seat stitching to the model-specific exterior trim.) While underway, a torque-sensing limited slip diff aids in plow reduction during cornering, while 35th Anniversary models — in addition to their birthday badging and blacked-out external bits — gain an adaptive damping system to keep things level.

Speaking of the suspension, the torsion-beam rear disappears in favor of an independent, multi-link setup for more refined road manners.

Standard drive modes include normal, eco, sport, and custom, with 35th Anniversary models gaining “comfort” as an added perk. Also standard are heated seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, automatic headlamps, and rain-sensing wipers. Connectivity comes in the form of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink. Those of you interested in setting the mood will no doubt appreciate the 10-color ambient lighting.

Happily, safety isn’t optional on this uplevel Jetta, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, and post-collision automatic braking offered as standard kit. LED lights appear fore and aft.

While pricing isn’t yet available, it won’t be long before VW drops those details. The 2019 Jetta GLI appears on dealer lots this spring.

[Images: Tim Healey/TTAC, Volkswagen]