This affordable manual transmission sports sedan is a rarity
It’s easy for driving enthusiasts with families to lose heart when there are hardly any affordable sports sedans left. The good news is that Volkswagen still builds its excellent Jetta GLI, and it’s better than ever. Recently facelifted to look more cohesive and refined, the 2025 Jetta GLI offers good looks, ample room, and, yes, an available manual transmission. In a world where affordable sports sedans are like unicorns, it’s good to know the GLI exists. Jetta GLI gets a new grille, new headlights, new intakes, and a new full-width taillight. The sporty red exterior trim is still standard on every GLI, visually setting it apart from the regular Jetta. The interior also received a new dash with a standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and a new climate control touch panel.
The Jetta GLI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, mated to your choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It also has a standard front differential lock and adaptive chassis control. It’s great that VW continues to give the GLI the rope-your-own-gears option, although the manual is no longer available on the regular Jetta. 0-60 happens in less than six seconds for the automatic, but our choice would be the manual transmission that provides a higher level of driver engagement.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI lease deal for August
Volkswagen is offering an attractive lease deal this month. The 2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn lease is $429/month for 36 months with $0 security deposit and $3,799 due at signing. The amount due does not include tax, title, license, options, and dealer fees. The monthly lease price and $3,799 due at signing are the same in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, as well as other locations such as Santa Fe, Dallas, and Washington, DC. At the end of the lease term, a $395 disposition fee is due, and the mileage limit is 10,000 miles per year or 30,000 miles for the lease term. The offer is good through August 31, 2025. Learn more here.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn feature highlights
The Jetta GLI Autobahn has an excellent set of standard features that make a perfect daily sports sedan. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, chrome-tipped dual exhaust, heated/folding exterior mirrors, LED headlights/DRLs/taillights, integrated front light bar, rain-sensing wipers, panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, leather seats, power driver’s seat with memory and power lumbar, heated/ventilated front seats, an 8-inch VW digital cockpit, 8-inch infotainment screen, wireless charging, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Standard safety tech includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian monitoring, and lane keeping assist. Just like the regular Jetta, the GLI provides 37.4 inches of rear legroom and 14.1 cubic feet of trunk space.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is one of the last affordable manual transmission sports sedans in the industry. It’s not a three-season car like many sports sedans, and it remains truly practical with front-wheel drive and room for a family of five. We imagine the Jetta GLI with its manual transmission won’t last long, so now’s a great time to get one via this excellent lease deal. As always, be sure to review the fine print of any lease contract before signing. Additional costs such as taxes, registration, and dealer fees can vary by location, so confirm all the details with your local Volkswagen dealer to ensure you’re getting the most accurate and up-to-date information.
*Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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