2025 Subaru BRZ vs 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

$33,210 · Coupe

$33,215 · Sedan

Comparison Overview

The battle is set: pure RWD agility versus turbocharged FWD practicality. The 2025 Subaru BRZ delivers an unfiltered, low-slung sports car thrill, boasting compact dimensions at just 167.9 inches long and requiring premium fuel to extract its 228 hp. Conversely, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI counters with superior usability and immense low-end grunt, providing a substantial 258 lb-ft of torque to its front wheels—a staggering 74 lb-ft more than the BRZ. While both start near the $33,210 mark and offer a glorious 6-speed manual, the Jetta GLI pulls ahead with a huge 14.1 cu ft of cargo space compared to the BRZ's meager 6.3 cu ft. The efficiency gap is stark; the GLI achieves 30 MPG combined, substantially besting the BRZ's 22 MPG combined, highlighting the GLI's dual role as a spirited driver and surprisingly efficient daily tool.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

The Jetta GLI wins for commuters due to its superior 30 MPG combined fuel economy and significantly larger 14.1 cu ft cargo capacity.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

The Jetta GLI's sedan body style offers 14.1 cu ft of cargo space, making it vastly more practical than the two-seater BRZ.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Subaru BRZ

The BRZ offers the purist's driving experience with its lower center of gravity and dedicated rear-wheel-drive platform.

💰 Best Value

2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

The Jetta GLI offers substantially more torque (258 lb-ft vs 184 lb-ft) and much better fuel economy for nearly the same MSRP.

Choose the Subaru BRZ if...

You prioritize the visceral connection of a pure rear-wheel-drive chassis for track days or spirited weekend drives.
You need the tightest possible footprint, as the BRZ is only 167.9 inches long.
You crave the traditional, naturally aspirated feel of a driver's car focused solely on handling.

Choose the Volkswagen Jetta GLI if...

You require daily practicality with 14.1 cu ft of trunk space, vastly exceeding the BRZ's 6.3 cu ft.
You want significantly more mid-range punch, evidenced by the GLI's 258 lb-ft of torque.
You want to save money at the pump, benefiting from the GLI's 8 MPG combined fuel economy advantage over the BRZ.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Subaru BRZ	Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Length	167.9"	186.9"
Width	69.9"	70.8"
Height	51.6"	57.3"
Wheelbase	101.4"	105.6"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	—
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	—	✓
Brake Drying	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Rear Headrests	—	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	flat 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	228 hp @ 7000 rpm	228 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque	184 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm	258 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Transmission Type	6-speed manual	6-speed manual
Drivetrain Type	rear wheel drive	front wheel drive
Rear Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Front Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Fuel Type	premium unleaded (required)	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/27 MPG	26/36 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	30 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	264.0/356.4 mi.	343.2/475.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.2 gal.	13.2 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Driver Vanity Mirror	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	9
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	4 months	—
Premium Speaker Brand	—	Beats Audio
Stereo Power	—	400W
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
One-Touch Power Windows	2	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass Extended

Frontseats

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Front Head Room	37.0 in.	38.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.5 in.	41.1 in.
Front Shoulder Room	53.6 in.	55.9 in.
Front Hip Room	52.4 in.	53.0 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leather	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Memory Settings	—	3
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Driver Seat Ventilation	—	✓
Passenger Seat Ventilation	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Rear Head Room	33.5 in.	37.2 in.
Rear Leg Room	29.9 in.	37.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	51.7 in.	54.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	45.2 in.	51.4 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	17 x 7.5 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	Performance	All Season
Tire Size	215/45R	225/45R H
Painted Alloy Wheels	—	✓
Polished Alloy Wheels	—	✓
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Subaru	Volkswagen
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 20000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Subaru BRZ and 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

How much more torque does the Jetta GLI have over the BRZ?

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI offers a massive advantage in torque, delivering 258 lb-ft compared to the 2025 Subaru BRZ’s 184 lb-ft. This extra grunt makes the GLI feel much quicker in daily driving and passing situations.

Which car is better for highway efficiency?

The Jetta GLI is substantially more efficient, achieving an estimated 36 MPG Highway versus the BRZ's 27 MPG Highway. This 9 MPG difference stems from the GLI’s front-wheel-drive architecture and likely different gearing optimizations.

Does the BRZ require premium fuel, and what about the GLI?

Yes, the 2025 Subaru BRZ explicitly requires premium unleaded fuel to maintain its 228 hp output. Conversely, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI only recommends premium unleaded, allowing owners to use regular fuel if desired, despite both cars offering identical horsepower figures.

How significant is the size difference between the two cars?

The Jetta GLI is significantly larger than the compact BRZ coupe, measuring 186.9 inches long compared to the BRZ's 167.9 inches. This extra 19 inches in length translates directly into nearly double the cargo capacity (14.1 cu ft vs. 6.3 cu ft).

Is the BRZ substantially cheaper given its performance focus?

No, the pricing is almost identical at the entry level, with the 2025 BRZ listed at $33,210 MSRP and the 2025 Jetta GLI at $33,215 MSRP. You pay the same base price for vastly different driving machines.

Which car offers a better base transmission for enthusiasts?

Both cars offer an engaging 6-speed manual transmission for the base models, satisfying driving purists. However, the BRZ’s RWD layout is generally preferred by track enthusiasts over the GLI’s FWD layout.