(April 29, 2019) This year marks the 35th anniversary of Volkswagen’s Jetta GLI — a performance version of VW’s best-selling sedan. Over the past three decades, multiple generations of the Jetta GLI have delivered an affordable, family-friendly package to automotive enthusiasts.

The Jetta GLI first arrived in the United States for the 1984 model year. After the successful launch of the Golf GTI — or as it was known here, the Rabbit GTI — Volkswagen decided to create a similar sporty version of the Jetta. Unlike the Golf GTI, the top-of-the-line Jetta had a four-door option, seating for five and a spacious trunk, which better fit the needs of the average American family.


1984 Mk2 Jetta GLI

The GLI’s first iteration was powered by many of the cutting-edge mechanical pieces featured in the Golf GTI, including a fuel-injected, 90-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine with revised cylinder heads, lighter pistons and higher compression ratio. It also had a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission and improved sports suspension.

The original GLI has become a rare classic, as it was only built for one model year. Its power numbers seem mild by modern standards, but in its day the first GLI was frequently tested against entry-level sports sedans from German luxury brands – and often came out on top.

As the Jetta evolved throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the GLI underwent several more enhancements to improve its performance and visual appeal. The first 16-valve, 2.0-liter engine arrived in the 1990 GLI, for instance.


2003 VW Jetta GLI

The new millennium brought a slew of improvements for GLI. The Mk4 Jetta debuted with Hartmutt Warkus’s modern, rounded design for the 1999 model year and the GLI returned for the 2002 model powered by the 2.8-liter narrow-angle VR6. In 2004, the more efficient 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct injection engine was also offered, the only time that GLI was offered with more than one engine.

The Mk5 Jetta GLI paired the 2.0-liter TSI turbo engine with an independent rear suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Where the original Jetta GLI was offered with few options, the Mk5 GLI ‘s demonstrated just how important tech and creature comforts had become for compact sedan owners, with available options such as touchscreen navigation, keyless entry and heated seats.


2008 VW Jetta GLI

The fifth-generation version of the GLI, built on the Jetta Mk6 platform, offered 210 horsepower and available technologies like lane departure warning and blind spot detection systems. But the benefits of the GLI – a European-tuned sport sedan at an affordable price – were just as evident as when it first arrived in 1984.

The 2019 GLI, now in dealer showrooms, shares its engine with the GTI: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a healthy 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is optional. Acceleration should be significantly improved compared with the standard Jetta's 147-hp engine, and the GLI's responses should be sharper, thanks to a lowered suspension and upgraded brakes.

The GLI is loaded with the GTI's sporty features including an independent multilink rear suspension, firmer chassis tuning, a limited-slip differential, 13.4-inch front brakes from the Golf R, and a variable-ratio electrically assisted steering rack. Adaptive dampers are fitted to 35th Anniversary models.

Cockpit adjustable, the electronically controlled dampers provide a calmer ride and slightly sharpened responses, but the standard setup on the base GLI works well enough to make the standard car a regret-free choice. Not surprisingly, the sum of these parts results in a very GTI driving experience.