QUICK! Choose one! (Also, don't forget to subscribe!) JETTA GLI MAZDA 3 GT CIVIC SI GOLF GTI CAMRY TRD (about the same price) Accord Sport 2.0T Mazda 6 Turbo Veloster N Forte GT
This is one of the best (relatively affordable new) performance bargains today. But would it kill Volkswagen to proivde some damn rear vents and USB outlets for the back seat? c'mon
The Insufferable Tool This is a fair argument. 🤔 Unfortunately there will never be a perfect car, just one that fits the individual needs of a person the best.
Boy, do I agree with that, Dan. Sometimes what seems to be a minor issue for many can be a deal breaker for a particular customer and for me it's the issue of rear vents. My big dog's second home is the back seat of my GTI and providing a source of a cool breeze in the back seat after a romp at the dog park isn't a convenience, it's a necessity. The lack of rear seat USB ports is another annoyance, especially for my 15 y/o daughter, but my dog doesn't use a cell phone so that doesn't bother him. :)
Stephen Hendricks My wife and I have a goldendoodle so I completely understand this! It is also why the rear vents would break it for me as well. Especially since we plan on having kids in the next year or two. Rear air is such a necessity! If that isn’t a priority, it still is a great car!
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial ROFL. Goldendoodle owner here, too, Forrest. My first was many years before they even existed. A friend had a golden retriever. There was a poodle next door and they got together one night. I always called my pup from that litter a "retroodle." She lived to 19 years of age, made a brief appearance in a Willie Nelson movie, and was the greatest dog I've ever known. In years since, we've owned two more. It's a great breed regardless of what the AKC thinks. :)
Great video. Well done. I just bought a 2020 GLI (in this red) and your video has been the most comprehensive and detailed I have seen. Thanks so much.
I was watching the Westminster Dog Show last night, and saw the Puli (a small to medium size Hungarian livestock guard dog) and immediately thought of Forrest's impressive mane.
I love seeing the Ortega Highway because it is an area that I am very familiar with. I wouldn't get this Jetta and would probably pick the TRD over this. If VW put an Audi engine in there, the hype would increase defenitely, which, they should do that. But Good Review!
@@stephenhendricks103 Well, if they figure out a way to make it happen in an affordable way where it wouldnt hurt their profit, then they could do it that way. They could put like an Audi A3 or A4 engine in it. It was just a thought because there isnt a lot of hype for this specific Jetta.
@@DiecastShowcase VW is VERY protective of its Audi brand and resists almost anything that threatens to cannibalize their sales in a much more expensive and higher profit Audi.
@@DiecastShowcase In reality both the VW GLI/GTI and the Audi 3 have the same engine. (EA888 4 cylinder petrol engine.) They're tuned somewhat differently and have a few different components and the Audi couples it with AWD (As does the Golf R). But they're the same basic engines.
I think this is an awesome car, but for the same price I can get a Camry TRD which is faster and handles better, this would probably be more comfortable on bumps tho, oh and the Camry's soundtrack is unbeatable but that is just my opinion and I also feel it looks dull compared to others, like take a look at the accord sport or TRD Camry they all look way more aggressive
I'd dispute the claim that the Camry TRD "handles better." The Toyota is a good car though it's hardly an upgrade compared to a non-TRD Camry. More importantly, however, the Camry and the Accord are midsize sedans. The Jetta GLI is a compact sedan. Different market categories.
@@stephenhendricks103 I understand what you are saying, I used to think that trd Camry would not be that different from the xse, but after I tested it, I was genuinely blown away, and yes the Camry is bigger, but the price is roughly the same, so for the same price, you get a faster, better sounding and better handling car, and more interior space, its kind of a bargain to me
Iboy Dafreshest Having recently reviewed the TRD Camry, I can say for a fact that it is a different handling machine vs an XSE. 3 additional body braces under the car, new bump stops, springs, stickier & wider tires, and an X brace behind the rear seats. It’s a proper driving car but it lacks mid and low end excitement that the GLI has because of the turbo. They are different categories but because of similar price points, people will still compare it to the Camry TRD. It should be noted that the Camry will sell for sticker or more from what I’ve seen at dealerships. The GLI could be had for a lot cheaper if paired with the right discounts and time of the year.
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial I see where you are coming from, but I am personally not really a fan of turbo 4's, yes they have a lot of torque but they can't rev as high as let us say an NA v6 and the lack the sound of the v6's too, and I live in Texas so you know there are a lot of straightaways to punch it on lol and again, the Camry would most likely feel faster because you have to work for the power, and that is what makes it fun for me, the car only gives me the power I need, it might not have so much grunt down low but after around 3,000 rpm, that car flies. but I see your point of view
@@alwaysiyi272 I don't mean to insult you and I mean that sincerely but I don't think you probably understand the difference between a good handling American or most Japanese vehicles and a true European sport sedan in terms of handling. Your comment about living in Texas (where I resided for many years, too) suggests that's the case. I, too, appreciate NA engines in some applications especially for long straight freeway slogs in a heavy vehicle. But now living in the Pacific NW my recreational driving is in the Cascade mountains with frequent curves and elevation changes. And for that environment a lighter vehicle with a small displacement turbo is a far more enjoyable vehicle than a midsize family sedan that weighs more than 400 lbs more.
Enough power Independent rear suspension Over engineered brakes LSD Best infotainment system for it's price range DSG gearbox For 30K it's not a bad deal at all.
The GLI is a very impressive, affordable, European sport sedan. For the price I don't think there's a better choice if that's what you're after. Being a GTI owner, I have only a few objections to the GLI and several features that I envy. The digital cockpit being a major example. My main concern, though, is that the GLI is part of a strategy by VW to eliminate the GTI (and possibly the Golf R) in their North American line up. VW has found repeatedly that American consumers want larger, cheaper VW's than their European counterparts. They've already announced that the base Golf won't be exported to the US for the foreseeable future and the MK8 versions of the GTI and Golf R won't be available until the 2021 calendar year. The entire US lineup from VW is more and more weighted toward crossovers with the only sedans being the Passat, Arteon, and Jetta. VW sold a measly 14,000 Passats in the US in 2019 and VW has admitted the Arteon is essentially a halo sedan designed to draw some customers into showrooms but not expected to be more than a minor seller. The Jetta, on the other hand is a stalwart pillar of VW's US sales with 100,000 sold in 2019. That compares favorably with the US version of the Tiguan (109,000 in 2019) and the Atlas with 81,000 sales. From a VW corporate perspective it may make more sense to expand and promote the Jetta, including the GLI, rather than the GTI or even the Golf R. In fact, that may well explain the existence of the new GLI. I don't blame VW for looking at their bottom line and seeing the GLI as an alternative to the GTI. It's bigger. It's cheaper. And that appears to be what Americans like. Unfortunately, it's a sad conclusion for those of us who prefer a hatchback and the iconic history of the GTI.
Excellent review although I wish you would have talked about the active dampers. Keep in mind the GLI turned a faster lap at VIR than both the GTI and Golf R. That is mighty impressive in my book.
I concur. Rear air vents and at least a 12 volt outlet, adaptive cruise control and I'd buy for sure. They are also doing some super aggressive deals on the 19s in March 2020. Under 25K for an Autobahn.
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial hopefully you may try to check it out next time ! 😄 Excellent review as always! Keep it up ! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 You are being authentic 🔥
As a GTI owner I have to give kudos to VW for offering the same engine/drive train in the GLI. Personally, I prefer the versatility of the GTI hatchback stemming from its overall size and cargo capacity. But for those who prefer a European sport sedan (and a sedan that doesn't look like an inflated Hot Wheels toy) at an extremely reasonable price, the GLI is a very appealing choice. Unfortunately, sometimes the lack of a feature that's a minor issue for most shoppers is a deal breaker for some. In my case it's the absence of rear seat HVAC vents. My GTI is the second home of my big dog and he has to have a cooling breeze on the trip home after a romp in the dog park. The GTI provides them; the GLI does not. So sadly it's no sale of the GLI for me. BTW, if the DSG gear selector is moved to the right, the transmission puts gear selection under the driver's control either by the paddle shifters or by moving the gear selector fore/aft until the engine RPM's reaches the 6000 rpm readline. It's only at that point that the transmission upshifts to the next gear.
Nice to hear your input on the paint quality. Something that is very overlooked by car reviewers. This is one of the reasons I gravitate towards German and American automakers because their sheet metal and paint quality seem to stand up better against rock chips than the Japanese brands.
I got the gli last March and still love it dispit the sunroof problem that they fixed and the back door freezing when very coold, yes the sound system is not good love ur review keep up the good work
Forrest, I'm curious about your comment that the GLI (DSG) in manual mode upshifts automatically. That's not the way it performs in the GTI. Push the transmission selector to the right and you are completely in charge of the gear you select (either by the paddles or by pushing/pulling the gear selector) all the way to red line.It will NOT upshift. It's true that you can enable manual mode temporarily by simply using the paddles alone (without moving the gear selector to the right) and after a few moments the car will shift back to "D" or "S" auto mode unless you use a paddle again but if you initially select the manual mode by pushing the gear selector stick to the right, it will operate identically to a manual transmission and hold the gear you select up to the red line or until you come to a stop (when it downshifts automatically to first gear) except for the need to depress a clutch. I'm wondering if the GLI lacks this feature. If so, that would be a shame since I drive my GTI in manual mode about 75% of the time and as someone who has driven MT's for many years I appreciate the opportunity to treat the DSG transmission as if it was a manual. You're not the first reviewer to claim that completely manual control (up to red line) of gear selection is not possible in either the GTI or GLI but in the case of the GTI it appears that impression stems from not understanding the function of moving the gearshift to the right. I'm wondering if that's also true for the GLI.
Stephen Hendricks I think it locks the same exact tuning of the GTI because the auto up shift was done while in the full manual mode (pushed over to the right). 😕
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial Hmm. I'll take your word for it, Forrest. All I can say is that my GTI does NOT automatically upshift with the transmission in manual mode unless one exceeds red line in a particular gear.
@@danr154 wait? There is dashboard navigation in the US version? I knew the Canadian version had it but the US versions of the GLI I've seen didn't even have the nav button on the infotainment screen
QUICK! Choose one! (Also, don't forget to subscribe!)
JETTA GLI
MAZDA 3 GT
CIVIC SI
GOLF GTI
CAMRY TRD (about the same price)
Accord Sport 2.0T
Mazda 6 Turbo
Veloster N
Forte GT
Golf gti
GTI...The best car made.
@The Insufferable Toolyeah the EA888 had been known to throw a ton of power with simple modes
Rahul Kelwada Will try!
TRD Camry, just because it is faster and handles better, I've tested b ith and yes the Camry does handle way better
This is one of the best (relatively affordable new) performance bargains today. But would it kill Volkswagen to proivde some damn rear vents and USB outlets for the back seat? c'mon
Preach it Dan!
The Insufferable Tool This is a fair argument. 🤔 Unfortunately there will never be a perfect car, just one that fits the individual needs of a person the best.
Boy, do I agree with that, Dan. Sometimes what seems to be a minor issue for many can be a deal breaker for a particular customer and for me it's the issue of rear vents. My big dog's second home is the back seat of my GTI and providing a source of a cool breeze in the back seat after a romp at the dog park isn't a convenience, it's a necessity. The lack of rear seat USB ports is another annoyance, especially for my 15 y/o daughter, but my dog doesn't use a cell phone so that doesn't bother him. :)
Stephen Hendricks My wife and I have a goldendoodle so I completely understand this! It is also why the rear vents would break it for me as well. Especially since we plan on having kids in the next year or two. Rear air is such a necessity! If that isn’t a priority, it still is a great car!
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial ROFL. Goldendoodle owner here, too, Forrest. My first was many years before they even existed. A friend had a golden retriever. There was a poodle next door and they got together one night. I always called my pup from that litter a "retroodle." She lived to 19 years of age, made a brief appearance in a Willie Nelson movie, and was the greatest dog I've ever known. In years since, we've owned two more. It's a great breed regardless of what the AKC thinks. :)
Great video. Well done. I just bought a 2020 GLI (in this red) and your video has been the most comprehensive and detailed I have seen. Thanks so much.
I was watching the Westminster Dog Show last night, and saw the Puli (a small to medium size Hungarian livestock guard dog) and immediately thought of Forrest's impressive mane.
J High 🦁 🦁
I love seeing the Ortega Highway because it is an area that I am very familiar with. I wouldn't get this Jetta and would probably pick the TRD over this. If VW put an Audi engine in there, the hype would increase defenitely, which, they should do that. But Good Review!
And when buyers purchased a VW rather than an Audi just how would that benefit VW's bottom line?
@@stephenhendricks103 Well, if they figure out a way to make it happen in an affordable way where it wouldnt hurt their profit, then they could do it that way. They could put like an Audi A3 or A4 engine in it. It was just a thought because there isnt a lot of hype for this specific Jetta.
@@DiecastShowcase VW is VERY protective of its Audi brand and resists almost anything that threatens to cannibalize their sales in a much more expensive and higher profit Audi.
@@stephenhendricks103 Didn't know that. When you think about it though, if people heard an Audi engine was in a VW, people would be getting hyped.
@@DiecastShowcase In reality both the VW GLI/GTI and the Audi 3 have the same engine. (EA888 4 cylinder petrol engine.) They're tuned somewhat differently and have a few different components and the Audi couples it with AWD (As does the Golf R). But they're the same basic engines.
I love this car
I quite enjoyed it as well!
Unrelated, but can you do a video where you take off a racing helmet? I want to hear if it makes a "thoop" sound or something!
I think this is an awesome car, but for the same price I can get a Camry TRD which is faster and handles better, this would probably be more comfortable on bumps tho, oh and the Camry's soundtrack is unbeatable but that is just my opinion and I also feel it looks dull compared to others, like take a look at the accord sport or TRD Camry they all look way more aggressive
I'd dispute the claim that the Camry TRD "handles better." The Toyota is a good car though it's hardly an upgrade compared to a non-TRD Camry. More importantly, however, the Camry and the Accord are midsize sedans. The Jetta GLI is a compact sedan. Different market categories.
@@stephenhendricks103 I understand what you are saying, I used to think that trd Camry would not be that different from the xse, but after I tested it, I was genuinely blown away, and yes the Camry is bigger, but the price is roughly the same, so for the same price, you get a faster, better sounding and better handling car, and more interior space, its kind of a bargain to me
Iboy Dafreshest Having recently reviewed the TRD Camry, I can say for a fact that it is a different handling machine vs an XSE. 3 additional body braces under the car, new bump stops, springs, stickier & wider tires, and an X brace behind the rear seats. It’s a proper driving car but it lacks mid and low end excitement that the GLI has because of the turbo. They are different categories but because of similar price points, people will still compare it to the Camry TRD. It should be noted that the Camry will sell for sticker or more from what I’ve seen at dealerships. The GLI could be had for a lot cheaper if paired with the right discounts and time of the year.
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial I see where you are coming from, but I am personally not really a fan of turbo 4's, yes they have a lot of torque but they can't rev as high as let us say an NA v6 and the lack the sound of the v6's too, and I live in Texas so you know there are a lot of straightaways to punch it on lol and again, the Camry would most likely feel faster because you have to work for the power, and that is what makes it fun for me, the car only gives me the power I need, it might not have so much grunt down low but after around 3,000 rpm, that car flies. but I see your point of view
@@alwaysiyi272 I don't mean to insult you and I mean that sincerely but I don't think you probably understand the difference between a good handling American or most Japanese vehicles and a true European sport sedan in terms of handling. Your comment about living in Texas (where I resided for many years, too) suggests that's the case. I, too, appreciate NA engines in some applications especially for long straight freeway slogs in a heavy vehicle. But now living in the Pacific NW my recreational driving is in the Cascade mountains with frequent curves and elevation changes. And for that environment a lighter vehicle with a small displacement turbo is a far more enjoyable vehicle than a midsize family sedan that weighs more than 400 lbs more.
Jetta GLI Top show car
I think the word here is balance. Balance with affordability, practicality, daily driving, and sportiness. This is a really good car.
Enough power
Independent rear suspension
Over engineered brakes
LSD
Best infotainment system for it's price range
DSG gearbox
For 30K it's not a bad deal at all.
Dude. You have the best hair on all of You Tube!
LOL! Thanks! 😅
The GLI is a very impressive, affordable, European sport sedan. For the price I don't think there's a better choice if that's what you're after. Being a GTI owner, I have only a few objections to the GLI and several features that I envy. The digital cockpit being a major example.
My main concern, though, is that the GLI is part of a strategy by VW to eliminate the GTI (and possibly the Golf R) in their North American line up. VW has found repeatedly that American consumers want larger, cheaper VW's than their European counterparts. They've already announced that the base Golf won't be exported to the US for the foreseeable future and the MK8 versions of the GTI and Golf R won't be available until the 2021 calendar year. The entire US lineup from VW is more and more weighted toward crossovers with the only sedans being the Passat, Arteon, and Jetta. VW sold a measly 14,000 Passats in the US in 2019 and VW has admitted the Arteon is essentially a halo sedan designed to draw some customers into showrooms but not expected to be more than a minor seller. The Jetta, on the other hand is a stalwart pillar of VW's US sales with 100,000 sold in 2019. That compares favorably with the US version of the Tiguan (109,000 in 2019) and the Atlas with 81,000 sales.
From a VW corporate perspective it may make more sense to expand and promote the Jetta, including the GLI, rather than the GTI or even the Golf R. In fact, that may well explain the existence of the new GLI. I don't blame VW for looking at their bottom line and seeing the GLI as an alternative to the GTI. It's bigger. It's cheaper. And that appears to be what Americans like. Unfortunately, it's a sad conclusion for those of us who prefer a hatchback and the iconic history of the GTI.
It’s funny how they don’t make the jetta at all anymore in europe
If a guy with a giant fro has decent headroom, I don't think there's a problem there.
My point exactly!
This is the kind of attention to detail I appreciate in car reviews. A+
Thanks!!
Amazing job Forrest!!!
Brandon Lyon Thanks bro!!
Excellent review although I wish you would have talked about the active dampers. Keep in mind the GLI turned a faster lap at VIR than both the GTI and Golf R. That is mighty impressive in my book.
Great Review. I agree with most of your dings against it. As the top Autobahn trim, this should have adaptive cruise, rear console mounted air vents
I concur. Rear air vents and at least a 12 volt outlet, adaptive cruise control and I'd buy for sure. They are also doing some super aggressive deals on the 19s in March 2020. Under 25K for an Autobahn.
I have the 2019 and it has adaptive cruise, however, I never use it.
I always liked sedans like the GLI over the smaller GTIs that remind me of the hamster cars 😂
I bought a 6MT GLI a few months ago and still love it. This is the first of your reviews I’ve seen, awesome job!
Jetta is the best
Did you know that you actually can put navigation on your gauge screen while playing music on dashboard screen ??? 🔥🙌
Jovaneh Gutierrez I did not! Sometimes even a week in the car isn’t enough to figure out every little detail!
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial hopefully you may try to check it out next time ! 😄 Excellent review as always! Keep it up ! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 You are being authentic 🔥
I prefer my cups nice, safe and cozy while in the backseat, thank you...
Really hope my factory order comes through soon!
Wow Cali's looking good on the channel
As a GTI owner I have to give kudos to VW for offering the same engine/drive train in the GLI. Personally, I prefer the versatility of the GTI hatchback stemming from its overall size and cargo capacity. But for those who prefer a European sport sedan (and a sedan that doesn't look like an inflated Hot Wheels toy) at an extremely reasonable price, the GLI is a very appealing choice.
Unfortunately, sometimes the lack of a feature that's a minor issue for most shoppers is a deal breaker for some. In my case it's the absence of rear seat HVAC vents. My GTI is the second home of my big dog and he has to have a cooling breeze on the trip home after a romp in the dog park. The GTI provides them; the GLI does not. So sadly it's no sale of the GLI for me.
BTW, if the DSG gear selector is moved to the right, the transmission puts gear selection under the driver's control either by the paddle shifters or by moving the gear selector fore/aft until the engine RPM's reaches the 6000 rpm readline. It's only at that point that the transmission upshifts to the next gear.
Good reveiw
Nice to hear your input on the paint quality. Something that is very overlooked by car reviewers. This is one of the reasons I gravitate towards German and American automakers because their sheet metal and paint quality seem to stand up better against rock chips than the Japanese brands.
I got the gli last March and still love it dispit the sunroof problem that they fixed and the back door freezing when very coold, yes the sound system is not good love ur review keep up the good work
What’s the sunroof problem? I have the gli and the sunroof rattles when on rough road, is this what you’re referring to?
@@brado2273 not really rough roads just regular diving but most of it comes from coming in or out of driveways and when opening and closing
Another amazing review! They need to put those Hankook tires on the gti. 😁
And also those cooled leather seats in the gti.
The GLI MK6.5 is a much better looking car.
Excellent on camera presence and charisma. All the best on your future endeavors...
just bought my mk7 gli and i love it
Would this have the same wheel hop and screech on a fast pull away that my ‘15 GTI Mk7 had?
Shouldn’t. It doesn’t have nearly as much wheel hop as previous generations.
I lIke it. Thanks for the video.
Forrest, I'm curious about your comment that the GLI (DSG) in manual mode upshifts automatically. That's not the way it performs in the GTI. Push the transmission selector to the right and you are completely in charge of the gear you select (either by the paddles or by pushing/pulling the gear selector) all the way to red line.It will NOT upshift. It's true that you can enable manual mode temporarily by simply using the paddles alone (without moving the gear selector to the right) and after a few moments the car will shift back to "D" or "S" auto mode unless you use a paddle again but if you initially select the manual mode by pushing the gear selector stick to the right, it will operate identically to a manual transmission and hold the gear you select up to the red line or until you come to a stop (when it downshifts automatically to first gear) except for the need to depress a clutch.
I'm wondering if the GLI lacks this feature. If so, that would be a shame since I drive my GTI in manual mode about 75% of the time and as someone who has driven MT's for many years I appreciate the opportunity to treat the DSG transmission as if it was a manual. You're not the first reviewer to claim that completely manual control (up to red line) of gear selection is not possible in either the GTI or GLI but in the case of the GTI it appears that impression stems from not understanding the function of moving the gearshift to the right. I'm wondering if that's also true for the GLI.
Stephen Hendricks I think it locks the same exact tuning of the GTI because the auto up shift was done while in the full manual mode (pushed over to the right). 😕
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial Hmm. I'll take your word for it, Forrest. All I can say is that my GTI does NOT automatically upshift with the transmission in manual mode unless one exceeds red line in a particular gear.
No navigation in the digital dash. Seriously? I really like this car, but that just feels petty, especially considering it's in the normal Jetta!
actually it is there he just missed it or maybe they added it in the US for 2020.
@@danr154 wait? There is dashboard navigation in the US version? I knew the Canadian version had it but the US versions of the GLI I've seen didn't even have the nav button on the infotainment screen
great review
VW make some dull cars!
From someone who can't distinguish between "dull" and "classic" design.
That’s fair! I do wish it was a little more aggressive and announced the sportier trim level more but it is a clean design at least.
@@stephenhendricks103
Here is a yardstick, Jetta is what dull looks like. Sorted👍