ROAD TEST ~ 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Sure, its base engine is no powerhouse, and there’s a torsion beam suspension in rear (which probably means zilch to most people), not to mention rear drum brakes on lower trim levels – also something that would escape many buyers.

More noticeable would be the abundance of hard plastic on the inside. Keep in mind, however, that VW had to pinch a few pennies here and there to drop Jetta’s base price by a whopping six grand.

But to call the new Jetta a disappointment would be to ignore the competition. Corolla, Civic and Mazda3 all start under $16K, and now the same can be said of Jetta – which like the others can be optioned up as your budget allows.

Which brings me to the one Jetta that should please even the staunchest naysayers – the recently-launched GLI.

In this new model, which starts at $27,475, all of the above gripes have been corrected. The torsion beam has been replaced by a multi-link rear suspension. There’s disc brakes all around, and many of the hard plastics have been upgraded to soft-touch materials.

More importantly, at least to me, is its powerplant, which is the same one found in the GTI: a 2.0-litre, TSI turbocharged engine that delivers 200 hp and 207 lb/ft of torque.

That’s a lot of grunt for a vehicle that only weighs just over 1,400 kg – and with peak torque on tap from a low 1,700 rpm, there’s no noticeable turbo lag.

Which is some of what I experienced during an afternoon at Mosport International Raceway’s driver development track, where Canadian Auto Journalists put the 2012 GLI to the test.

It is one thing to live with a vehicle for a few days – taking it on your daily commute or for a good run on the highway.

It is quite another to go to the track where you’re pushing it beyond where a typical driver would dare go. At least one who respects the law…

It was here where the Jetta GLI earned my respect. It does look sportier than a garden-variety Jetta, with its unique front bumper and honeycomb grille, smoked tail lights and red brake callipers.

But appearances aside, this Jetta is truly worthy of its GLI badging.

Stomp the pedal and the throttle response is brisk, as is the acceleration. This action delivers yet another reward, a throaty snarl, thanks to its sound actuator.

Part of the induction system, the actuator is integrated into the intake system upstream of the cylinder head. The exhaust note you get on acceleration is purely mechanical and, according to VW officials, “relies on the flow of air to create the sound, sort of like a muffler in reverse.”

Needless to say, it created for me a temptation to drive less than fuel efficiently, probably putting me well off the GLI’s rating of 9.8/6.2/8.2 L/100km (city/hwy/comb) for the manual, and 8.8/6.1/7.6 L/100km (city/hwy/comb) for the DSG.

The six-speed manual is a joy to work, with its crisp, precise shifter and light clutch.

The six-speed DSG automatic with Tiptronic, which will likely account for 60-70 percent of GLI sales, shifted reasonably quickly, with its double-clutch setup. I did find, however, that while in “sport” this transmission would shift north of the redline when pressed hard.

Steering is precise, and the car seems more agile at speed. Although the suspension is a bit stiff in city driving, it is poised on the track, with the GLI feeling well connected to the asphalt no matter how hard you push it.

Brakes too were more than up to the task. With my driving partner and I alternating 15-minute, back-to-back shifts on the circuit, this Jetta was subjected to an hour of us continually hard on the throttle and brakes and with no noticeable fade.

The big 312 mm ventilated front discs and 272 mm solid rear discs were hot enough to roast hot dogs when we were done, but the standard red painted callipers remained unblistered.

For those of us who won’t be taking the GLI to the track anytime soon, this vehicle is very easy to live with. Like all Jettas, this model has plenty of passenger room, both front and back. Driver and front passenger get a pair of deeply-bolstered sports seats, with horizontally-stitched inserts and red double stitching around the perimeter.

The red stitching is carried on throughout the steering wheel, shifter boot and handbrake grip.

In back, the 60/40 split folding rear seats (with centre armrest and pass through) offer a surprising amount of knee room for a compact car.

Standard features for the GLI include 17-inch alloy wheels; heated eight-way/six-way manually adjustable seats up front; keyless entry with push-button start; dual-zone electronic climate control; six-speaker touch screen audio system with six-disc CD changer, media device interface and aux input; Bluetooth, multi info trip computer and more.

You can upgrade the basic unit with the Luxury Leather Package (includes leather seating and sunroof for $ 2,100), sunroof ($ 1,400), Technology Package (includes navigation and Fender premium audio system for $1,290), 18-inch alloy wheels ($975) and the DSG Automatic Transmission ($ 1,400).

The 2012 GLI is $2,500 less than the 2009 model, but according to VW offers a $2,900 “value enhancement.”

The GLI is a little pricier than the 2012 Civic Si and the 2012 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, but unless you do a content analysis, it’s hard to know if you’re comparing apples with apples.

Lancer Ralliart is a bit higher, and Subaru WRX is thousands more, but with these you get all-wheel-drive.

Suffice to say that GLI pricing is in line with the competition, and for those who have slammed Jettas in general, after the price drop, keep in mind that sales are now up 164 per cent, making the Jetta a top-ten seller in Canada.

Obviously, quite a few of us are buying them.

Which is more good news to VW, having posted 12 consecutive “best ever” months, and moving up in Canadian market share from 2.8 to 3.3 per cent.

As for the Jetta GLI, it nicely rounds out the lineup for the company’s best-selling vehicle, providing a ‘halo’ car for the model range, and giving back driving enthusiasts the Jetta they really want.

 

BODY STYLE: compact four-door sedan.

DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel drive.

ENGINE: 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged inline four-cylinder (200 hp and 207 lb/ft of torque)

FUEL ECONOMY: six-speed manual 9.8/6.2/8.2L/100km (city/hwy/comb); six-speed DSG 8.8/6.1/7.6 L/100km (city/hwy/comb)

CARGO CAPACITY: 440 litres

PRICE: base $27,475; Luxury Leather Package $ 2,100; sunroof $1,400; Technology Package $1,290; 18-inch alloy wheels $975; DSG Automatic Transmission $ 1,400