2018 VW Jetta GLI is exclusively offered with 6-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox

Today, manual transmissions have become rare in mainstream cars and are more commonly found in performance cars within the $20,000 to $40,000 range. However, the selection of affordable, three-pedal performance has shrunk, and now Volkswagen announces that the next generation Jetta GLI would not have a manual gearbox as well.

We have got some news regarding the 2018 VW Jetta GLI, thanks to Volkswagen for revealing that it will be losing its manual gearbox. Having said that, it will now exclusively be offered with a six-speed, dual clutch automatic gearbox.

In their official statement, and in an interview with CarsDirect, Volkswagen spokesman Mark Gilles confirmed the earlier reports. But they also added that less than 30 percent of the Jetta GLI sales were of the manual version. Unlike the company’s GTI five-door hatch Golf variant, both manual and automatic transmissions were pretty much popular.

Under the hood, the 2018 Jetta GLI will remain to have a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder unit, that still carries out 210 horsepower (156 kilowatts) and 207 pound feet (280 Newton metres) of torque.

After the manual option has been taken away from the 2018 Jetta GLI, it seems to have been given a price increase. To be more specific, customers can get the entry-level model at $30,395 - that is $1,680 more than the outgoing model. Considering annual pricing changes and the $1,100 cost of an automatic 2017 GLI, we say that the price increase is quite reasonable. And for the sake of comparison, the GTI comes with a price tag of $26,415. For that price, you’ll get a nice exterior, a versatile body, and a wide range of available features.

On the 2018 Jetta GLI’s exterior, you would notice some minor changes such as the new two-tone Anthracite 18-inch aluminum wheels. The head lights as well as the tail lights are now LED.

The German automaker refers to it as the “sedan equivalent of the Golf GTI”. And two years ago, it got a significant refresh followed by design improvements on the front end of the car, the equipment and the interior. The interior now has an MIB 2 infotainment system and the automatic post collision braking system.

There is a press release about the 2018 Jetta GLI posted online if you would like to know more information about it.

Do you think it was a smart idea for Volkswagen to get rid of the manual transmission option for the next Jetta GLI? This may be sad news for manual car lovers. But we do understand why Volkswagen has decided to do this. We are now wondering which model will lose a manual transmission next.