There are many elements that go into creating a fun and engaging driver’s car, from the engine it makes use of, to how the steering and suspension help make it a cornering weapon. Then we come to the gearbox, as, aside from the throttle, it’s one of the primary ways that you can interact directly with the engine. Being able to have full control over the gears, which dictate how fast you can go and where to find the best torque curves for the section of road you’re tackling, helps make you feel more connected to the vehicle.
Therefore, manual gearboxes are the best at allowing you to feel like an important cog in the whole process, whereas automatic units take away a lot of the skill required. As a result, some satisfaction from nailing the perfect gearchange is lost. In a world where convenience is king though, the trusty manual is struggling to hang on, and now another great driver’s car will no longer offer one. The Jetta GLI has been offered with both types of transmission for years, but from 2027, it’ll be automatic only.
A Changing World Has Seen The Manual Fall Out Of Favor
Interior view in the Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen
Once upon a time, pretty much anything other than higher-end luxury vehicles were offered with the base option of a manual transmission. The auto was somewhat of a luxury, and was usually only available as an added-cost option, mainly due to being more expensive and complicated to produce (back then). They also tended to be the sloppier option versus a manual, while also using more fuel. As a result, they were only effective for those who really couldn’t be bothered to use a manual, or for drivers who struggled to use one due to health restrictions.
As automatic gearbox technology has improved though, which has meant shifting has become ever smoother and the units more versatile and efficient, vehicle buyers have fallen in love. Over the last 10 years, more and more offerings are only available with manual transmissions, with manufacturers struggling to justify keeping manuals on the menu due to how few they sell. Volkswagen jumped on the bandwagon, and elected to keep the manual alive only in its driver-focused machines, since this was the only portion of the market that actively sought out a manual gearbox.
One Of VW’s Other Models Foreshadowed The End
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Red Front AngleVolkswagen
The trouble is, even that proved to be short-lived. As of 2024, VW offered a manual in its Golf GTI hot hatch and Jetta GLI sports sedan models, but it noticed that the sales of even these examples were reaching the point of no return. It pulled the plug on the manual Golf GTI at the end of the 2024 model year, meaning from 2025 you could only have the legendary hot hatch with a seven-speed DSG transmission. While a slick and effective unit, not being able to properly shake hands with its horny turbocharged 2.0-liter engine was a step backwards in driver engagement.
Still, at least VW kept the manual alive in the Golf-based Jetta. As it turned out though, the writing was on the wall.
VW Has Run Out Of Patience With The Manual
Interior view in the Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen
Being the sedan version of the Golf GTI, the Jetta GLI was graced with the same excellent chassis and 2.0-liter engine, with the only difference being the slightly less practical sedan-style trunk arrangement. For most looking for a manual transmission option with their hot VW, this was a price worth paying.
Both the manual and auto variants were offered for the same price, and the machine produced the same amount of grunt, while also being equally fuel efficient. Aside from being the more engaging of the two options, the manual variant was also notable for weighing 70 lbs less than the DSG-equipped Jetta.
Unfortunately, the timer has now concluded on the manual’s time within VW’s US range. In late May 2026, VW announced that the 2027 Jetta GLI would only be offered with the seven-speed DSG gearbox, thus matching the Golf GTI. This wasn’t some wild fever dream, the last manual-equipped VW in the US only has a few months left on sale.
Falling Sales Led To The Final Death Of The Manual
Exterior view of the Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen
In a story we’ve seen a ton of times over the last decade or so, VW blamed decreasing global interest in the manual transmission as the reason for the option being discontinued. Designing and producing manual gearboxes is still an expensive exercise, and in a world where profit is king, the ever-shrinking market meant the numbers stacked up worse every time VW checked its balance sheet. Eventually, enough was enough, and VW made the decision to cull the manual in its entirety.
In a statement given to CarBuzz by a Volkswagen representative, the brand said it “worked hard to keep them around”, but the slowing global demand meant it reached the point where “the market can no longer sustain it”.
2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Engine
2.0L turbocharged I4
Transmission
Seven-speed Auto, Six-speed Manual
Power
228 hp
Torque
258 lb-ft
0-60 mph
6.0 seconds
Base MSRP
$34,200
“As drivers and car enthusiasts, we appreciate manuals too,” began VW’s statement to CarBuzz. “That’s why our region worked very hard to keep them around – we know it matters to a small but passionate group of drivers who love being fully engaged and rowing their own gears. Even so, global demand continued to narrow to a point where the market can no longer sustain it. As much as it hurts, that reality meant making some tough choices.”
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It’s a familiar story, where the bottom line simply doesn’t support the manual anymore. Like it or not, the manual gearbox is a niche option these days, and only the most hardcore and focused cars can make it work from a business standpoint.
The Jetta GLI Is A Thrilling Drivers’ Tool
Exterior view of the Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen
Still, perhaps we should take a “be glad it happened, rather than be sad it’s gone” approach with this one. Even if future Jetta GLIs won’t have a manual, the ones already built won’t simply cease to exist. The Jetta GLI was tuned to be more compliant than the Golf GTI, but VW did a good job of building a good compromise that meant the car rode well across a range of surfaces when you weren’t in a rush, but provided good body control and agility for when you were. The 228-horsepower engine provided ample grunt to get it shifting, while the manual gearbox offered up a nice slice of rawness.
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The unit didn’t give as much resistance as an old-school sports car like a 986 Boxster S, but this meant you didn’t have to work as hard to grab whichever gear you needed, when you wanted it. In our experience, it lacked the poise of other performance sedans like the Honda Civic Si and Hyundai Elantra N, but it held its own pretty well. Especially when you consider it’s geared towards being a usable daily driver, as opposed to more of a hardened tool like its Golf GTI sibling.
The Jetta GLI Represents Affordable Performance
Exterior view of the Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen
If you’d rather not explore the used market to secure a Jetta GLI, then you’d better get cracking before the 2026 model goes out of production, taking the manual with it. The 2026 Jetta GLI manual will set you back $34,200, with the base Autobahn variant being the only one available.
As a result, you get most modern creature comforts as standard, with examples being soothing ambient lighting, heated and ventilated leather seats out front, as well as automatic dual-zone climate control. There’s also a heated leather steering wheel, and various safety systems like a rearview camera and a blind spot monitoring system.
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On top of the tantalizing performance-boosting features, the Jetta GLI is a very tidy package for the money if you take the monthly loan route to securing one. Over a five-year period and with a $5,000 downpayment, you can expect to pay around $550 per month. This includes a 5% interest rate, and your eventual payment could be higher or lower depending on how much money you can put down, or if you elect to pay the loan off faster or slower.
The Jetta GLI is the last chance you’re going to get if you fancy a brand-new Volkswagen boasting a manual gearbox. It’s very much the end of an era, and the casual performance sports sedan is a great place to enjoy the final throes of it.
Sources: Volkswagen.
