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| The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI. |
It is, these days, a crossover world. The not-quite-a-station-wagon-not-quite-an-SUV has become the vehicle of choice for most Americans. And it has done so to the extent that some people who watch and predict trends say the traditional three-box four-door sedan is on the verge of extinction.
If so, and if you are among those who like a good German sports sedan, the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI is probably the one to rush out and buy.
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| 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI. |
Consider this review a second notice.
Back in the summer of 2015, I sang the Jetta GLI's praises on this site, and what I said then stands. It is the ultimate Jetta, with 40 more horsepower than its non-GLI variants, grippier tires, a sport suspension and it all comes, in German tradition, with an emphasis on function over form.
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| 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T GLI interior. |
The all-business interior includes dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed steering wheel, brake lever and shift knob, heated power driver's seat with manual lumbar control, a rearview camera, front and rear park distance control, blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert, keyless access with pushbutton start, a Fender premium audio system, VW's new Car-Net app suite and cruise control.
Equipped with a six-speed manual, as our test vehicle was, it is a pure delight to drive quickly in straight lines or winding roads. It's the kind of car the BMW 3-series was long, long ago. Take it as it comes, well equipped with zero options, and you have a 210-horsepower turbocharged sport sedan that the EPA says should get 23 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway for an as-tested price including $820 destination charge of $28,715.
If that sounds like a winning combination, you're right. If there's a sedan that deserves to survive the crossover revolution, the Jetta GLI is it.
