That red car is the base GLI S with a sticker price of $25,995 (excluding $895 destination). It comes with a new suspension that's lower and stiffer than the standard Jetta, 18-inch wheels, a body kit, keyless access, LED lights, Climatronic, Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert.
The 35th edition, which celebrates the anniversary of the GLI nameplate, is only $1,000 more. And for that, you get those wheels, adaptive dampers, black roof, mirrors, and spoiler, plus a bunch of badges.
Our favorite would have to be the white car, which is a GLI Autobahn because the black leather interior with red stitching is such a premium upgrade. However, it also costs $29,195. We'd argue that it's worth the extra money, considering standard equipment integrates a panoramic sunroof, ventilated leather upholstery, a powered driver seat with memory and powered lumbar support, Digital Cockpit and the 400-watt Beats sound system with eight speakers.
Whichever version you go for, the new Jetta GLI is powered by the same 2-liter turbo as the Golf GTI, which makes a cameo appearance in the photos. The four-banger is good for 228-hp plus 258 pound-feet of torque and can be had with either a six-speed manual or the DSG, which is an $800 option. Whichever model you go for, it's cheaper than the equivalent GTI, and with an EPA-estimated 32mpg highway, this isn't a bad daily either.
