2026 head-to-head · Compact Car
2026 Volkswagen GLI vs Volkswagen Jetta
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,368 a year to fuel (34 MPG), versus $1,603 for the 2026 Volkswagen GLI (29 MPG). That's roughly $236 a year, or about $1,179 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Volkswagen GLI
- Volkswagen Jetta
Side by side
| Volkswagen GLI | Volkswagen Jetta | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,603 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,368 |
| 29 MPG | Combined efficiency | 34 MPG |
| 26 MPG | City | 29 MPG |
| 35 MPG | Highway | 40 MPG |
| 94 cu ft | Passenger volume | 94 cu ft |
| 16 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 307 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 265 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo |
| 7-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Volkswagen GLI vs Volkswagen Jetta across model years
- Volkswagen GLI
- Volkswagen Jetta
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 21 2026 compact cars, the Volkswagen GLI ranks 12th and the Volkswagen Jetta 11th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Volkswagen GLI or the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Jetta. The Volkswagen GLI is rated 29 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Jetta 34 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Volkswagen GLI vs. the Volkswagen Jetta per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,603 for the Volkswagen GLI and $1,368 for the Volkswagen Jetta.
Volkswagen GLI vs Volkswagen Jetta in other years
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