- Volkswagen has unveiled the facelifted Jetta and Jetta GLI.
- The models will arrive at dealerships soon with revised styling and an upgraded interior.
- Pricing will start at $21,995 which is a slight increase over its predecessor.
Affordable sedans are quickly becoming an endangered species, but that hasn’t stopped Volkswagen from giving the 2025 Jetta and Jetta GLI a comprehensive facelift. The changes are pretty dramatic, but they’re mostly just skin-deep.
That being said, designers should be commended for making the six-year-old sedan feel fresh and new. As you can see, the rental car looks have been banished as the Jetta adopts a rounder and more upscale design.
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The front end is all-new and features a slender grille flanked by sleek LED headlights. Most variants also have a new light bar.
Further below, the model has a sportier and more expressive bumper. Buyers will also find new 17- and 18-inch wheels as well as a revised color palette that now includes Monterey Blue Pearl and Monument Gray.
The rear end is more evolutionary, but the car has been equipped with a new trunk with a slim light bar. The latter connects the taillights and includes repositioned badging.
The interior changes aren’t as dramatic as the cabin is still instantly recognizable. However, designers tried to spruce things up by adding a revised dashboard and a new 8-inch infotainment system. The latter replaces the previous 6.5-inch display and features a new freestanding design.
Other updates include a new dual-zone Climatronic Touch system replacing the old school climate controls. That’s the bulk of the updates, but there are some trim level tweaks.
In particular, the SE is better equipped as it now has items that used to be reserved for the SEL. Key among them are a wireless smartphone charger, wireless App-Connect, voice control, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Speaking of the SE, it now comes equipped with two-tone perforated leatherette seats.
Sport models have new Molekular cloth, while the SEL has perforated Vienna leather available in a new Brown/Titan Black combination. Likewise, the GLI has new perforated Vienna leather seating in Grey/Red Crust/Titan Black with red contrast stitching. The performance-focused variant also gains a new heated steering wheel.
All Jettas come with the IQ.DRIVE suite of driver assistance systems. It includes Front Assist, Travel Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go. They’re joined by Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, and an Active Blind Spot Monitor.
Under the hood, there’s a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine developing 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS). It’s connected to a newly standard eight-speed automatic transmission as the six-speed manual is no longer offered on the standard Jetta.
The Jetta GLI sticks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. While the output remains unchanged, so do the transmission choices as customers can get a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The manual and extra power aren’t the only things that set the GLI apart as it sports beefier brakes and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. The model also has adaptive damping and a sports exhaust system.
Pricing for the 2025 Jetta S starts at $21,995, an increase of $560. However, Volkswagen noted it’s actually cheaper for most people as the automatic variant used to begin at $22,235.
There’s no word on pricing for other trims, but we can expect to learn full details soon as the facelifted Jetta is slated to arrive by the end of the third quarter.
