I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si & The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, Which One is Best? Here's My Brutally Honest Review

I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si & The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, Which One is Best? Here's My Brutally Honest Review originally appeared on Autoblog.

A tale of two sport sedans

The Honda Civic Si and Volkswagen Jetta GLI are two of the last remaining sport compact sedans with a manual transmission, and both are an absolute hoot to drive. In truth, the Civic Si and Jetta GLI have very different personalities, and they’ll likely appeal to different types of drivers. Still, they each offer a surprising blend of athleticism, efficiency, and practicality—a rare trio in today’s SUV-dominated market. These are endangered species, and they deserve your attention.

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While these two are standouts, there are a few others to consider in the sport compact sedan space:

Hyundai Elantra N – Aggressive and powerful, if polarizing in design

Acura Integra Type S – Civic Type R in a business suit

Honda Civic Type R – Track monster in hatchback form

Subaru WRX – AWD and turbo grunt, though losing some of its old magic

Still, for under $35K and with a manual gearbox, the Civic Si and Jetta GLI are at the heart of what makes this class fun.

2025 Honda Civic Si – MSRP: $30,995

2025 Honda Civic SiHonda

The Civic Si comes in one configuration: with a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired to a smooth 6-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. It’s EPA-rated at 27 mpg city / 37 mpg highway. Key performance hardware includes a helical limited-slip differential and a sport-tuned suspension with fixed dampers.

Honda

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The Civic Si dons the stealthy fun look

One of the Si’s few flaws is that it doesn’t look as aggressive as it drives. While the 18-inch black wheels and subtle badging help, many may want more visual drama. Inside, it’s clean and focused, with tight, supportive seats and a 9-inch infotainment screen that feels basic in today’s screen-happy world.

Driving the Civic Si: Lightweight, playful, engaging

This is where the Civic Si shines. It’s light (~3,000 lbs), eager to play, and constantly nudging you to drive just a bit harder. It’s not the fastest car in a straight line, but the connection between car and driver is something few vehicles offer at any price. Think of it as a sedan version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata—always fun, always rewarding.

2025 Honda Civic SiHonda

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – MSRP: $32,715

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen

The Jetta GLI brings a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder to the table, making a stout 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s available with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission, and both get the same 26 mpg city / 37 mpg highway EPA rating. The GLI’s real trick is its VAQ electronically controlled limited-slip differential and adaptive suspension (DCC), allowing it to switch from commuter comfort to sport sedan precision at the push of a button.

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The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is more understated sophistication

Visually, the GLI stands apart just enough from the standard Jetta, especially when equipped with the Black Package and signature red accents. Inside, it feels more upscale than the Si, with a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, although the 8-inch infotainment screen is slightly underwhelming, and the continued use of haptic-touch controls is a miss.

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVolkswagen

Driving the GLI: More muscle, more maturity

The GLI feels stronger and more refined than the Si. It’s a torque-rich machine, perfect for quick highway blasts or spirited commuting. It’s not as raw or communicative as the Civic Si in the corners, but it makes up for it with a more supple ride and broader usability. It’s quick, comfortable, and impressively grown-up. It has more trunk space, a larger back seat, and a higher seating location. Altogether, it makes for a more pleasant place to be when commuting.

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Final thoughts: Two flavors of fun

The Honda Civic Si is playful, engaging, and youthful—like a well-worn pair of driving gloves you never want to take off. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is torquey, refined, and confident—more like a stylish pair of leather shoes that just so happen to be really good for running. I am impressed with the Civic Si's ability to be sporty, yet very frugal at the pump. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is impressive in how comfortable it is when filled with passengers.

If I were still in my 20s, the Honda Civic Si would be my hands-down choice. It’s playful, lightweight, and every bit the driver's car—exactly what I would have wanted in my younger, more spirited days behind the wheel. But now? I’m a little older, and I’ve learned to value comfort and refinement just as much as cornering feel.

That’s why my pick today would probably be the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Sure, it’s quicker in a straight line, but more importantly, it’s the more sophisticated, comfortable, and livable of the two. The seats are better, the ride is smoother, and it still delivers more than enough performance when you want it. They’re both great cars—but they’re different kinds of great, and that choice depends just as much on where you are in life as it does on the road.

I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si & The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, Which One is Best? Here's My Brutally Honest Review first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 9, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.