2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
jetta | volkswagen | VW
VW is describing its newly redesigned 2016 Jetta GLI as “bold” and “sporty.” To me, blah is more like it. While it’s certainly not an ugly car (and some Jetta models have not been pretty), it has a very generic Corolla-like exterior, even with its new grill, fog lights and bumper. So if you’re not trying to wow your neighbors with your new car, this may be a great choice for you.
Things get better under the hood. The GLI is the Jetta counterpart to the high-performance Golf GTI (which is a great looking and great driving car). The new GLI will share the GTI’s turbocharged 210 horsepower, 2-liter, 4-cylinder motor, so it will have a lot of pep. But when you need the opposite of power, the new Jetta has a really cool new braking feature. Dubbed the “Automatic Post-Collision Braking System,” it’s designed to reduce the impact of impacts. According to VW, the system applies “the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.”
In the end, VW’s new Jetta GLI seems perfectly designed for someone who isn’t looking for anything flashy, but wants solid performance and understands the value of new technology that can keep you and your family safer.