Traditionally,
there haven't been many cars to choose from between "econosport"
compact sedans typically made by Japanese manufacturers and pricier luxury
sport sedans normally produced by German automakers. Seeing an opportunity,
Volkswagen filled that void years ago with its GLI, a Jetta fitted with the GTI's
performance-oriented engine and suspension tuning. We liked the last iteration
(VW dropped it after 2009) and now the concept has been reborn as the 2012
Volkswagen GLI.
It's
easy to be a little concerned about the idea of a snappier version of the new
Jetta, since we haven't been very fond of the all-new small VW sedan so far.
The car reflects a number of changes designed primarily to make it more
affordable, notably lower-quality interior pieces, a wheezy engine for the base
model and a relatively unsophisticated rear suspension (not to mention rear
drum brakes on the entry-level models). Granted, the new Jetta offers a roomier
backseat and is still a nice car. But as we noted in our review of the 2011
Volkswagen Jetta, you pay less, but you also get less.
Thankfully,
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI undoes many of the base model Jetta's changes. The
GLI's interior is nicer, and out back there's a more sophisticated multilink
rear suspension for improved handling. And as before, you get the GTI's
sportier suspension tuning as well as its 200-horsepower, turbocharged
four-cylinder engine, which proves both energetic and fuel-efficient. The GLI
doesn't offer the best handling or performance among similarly priced hot
hatches and sedans, but it makes up for this with a comfortable ride, a quiet
cabin and a generally more refined nature.
As
with the previous GLI, the 2012 Volkswagen GLI should be an appealing niche
choice. But overall appeal is down this year, as we feel that there's too
little styling-wise to differentiate the GLI from the rather dull-looking
Jetta. That's a subjective negative impression to be sure, but the GLI
practically disappears next to competitors like the upcoming Ford Focus ST,
Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, Subaru WRX and VW's own GTI -- all of which are
fairly stealthy in their own right. Given the Jetta GLI's size and price, we
also think the Kia Optima SX is worth serious consideration as well.
Inside,
the GLI features sport bucket seats with red stitching and a sport flat-bottom steering
wheel with red stitching, the GLI logo and aluminum accents. The overall
interior styling consistently follows the sporty exterior lines of the car. The
Jetta GLI is available in cloth or V-Tex Leatherette and also features alloy
pedals, shifter, dash and door trim.
To
increase versatility, the rear bench seatback is split 60/40 and folds. The
trunk can also be opened from inside the car by a remote unlock switch.
2012 Volkswagen GLI Exterior
On
the exterior, Volkswagen Jetta GLI combines performance, space and comfort in
one sleek package. This car has a length of 182.2 inches, height 57.2 inches
and 70 inches wide. he front end of the car is defined by prominent horizontal
lines. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI grille and the car’s trapezoidal headlights
help create a distinct look. Below the bumper is a cooling water intake and
tray-shaped front spoiler That completes the masculine look of the car.
The
upper front end section shows a powerful transition from the v-shaped engine
hood to the Fenders on the sides while the shoulder section Provides dynamic
and muscular styling. The aggressive styling of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is
powerfully emphasized by the arches of the wheel wells available with 17 “or
18″ alloys. Sleek lines and sporty shoulders dominate the rear section. The
smoked taillights stands out with two distinct sections on Either side extending
from the fender into the tailgate above the dual exhaust tips. In the interior
of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI stays true to its roots sport and performance.
Featuring sport bucket seats with red stitching and a flat-bottom sport
steering wheel with red stitching, the GLI logos and aluminum Accents, the
interior styling consistently follows the clean, sporty lines of the car. The
Volkswagen Jetta GLI is available in cloth or V-Tex Leatherette and Also
features sleek alloy pedals, shifter, dash and door trim.
2012 Volkswagen GLI Engine
Taking
its drivetrain from the Volkswagen GTI, the GLI will use a 2.0-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. of torque.
Mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed DSG transmission, the Jetta
GLI should hit 60 mph in just under seven seconds regardless of gearbox. The
DSG comes with steering wheel-mounted paddles for sequential-style shifting and
rev-matched downshifts.
VW
says the EPA is not yet done evaluating the GLI, but thanks to the vehicle
being lighter than the previous GLI, highway fuel economy is expected to come
in at 31 for the manual and 32 with the DSG automatic.
We
have yet to drive the 2012 VW GLI, but if we were to extrapolate our
experiences with the Jetta and GTI, we would expect it to be a well-rounded
sedan that provides athletic handling, a comfortable ride, swift acceleration
and excellent fuel economy. "Balanced" is the word that frequently
comes to mind with VW's higher-performance cars, as they trade the sort of
high-speed thrills that some competitors offer for a more livable and easy-to-drive
nature.
reference:www.leftlanenews.com,www.carsleaks.com,www.edmunds.com
