2009 Volkswagen GLI

2009 Volkswagen GLI Price: $24,770

Utility
The Volkswagen GLI and the average sedan can accommodate the same number of passengers. There's no clear winner between the typical sedan and the Volkswagen GLI as far as transporting cargo.

Performance
When it comes to horsepower, the typical sedan packs quite a wallop and will knock the Volkswagen GLI down a few rungs. However, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Dimensions
Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the average sedan than the Volkswagen GLI because of its bigger tank. The Volkswagen GLI and the average sedan compete for the same parking spaces. The GLI's shorter wheelbase may produce a less-settled highway ride but a more maneuverable feel in daily traffic than the typical sedan.

Convenience
The Volkswagen GLI's fuel tank will need to be replenished more often than the unit in the typical sedan.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Volkswagen GLI to the dealership as the average sedan. The average sedan won't tax your gasoline budget substantially more than the Volkswagen GLI will. In terms of fuel economy, the Volkswagen GLI and the typical sedan don't differ much. In terms of MSRP, the average sedan costs tremendously more than the Volkswagen GLI.

Handling
With their comparable turning radii, the Volkswagen GLI and the average sedan definitely handle roughly the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Volkswagen GLI's engine is tremendously smaller than the average sedan's. Bear in mind that a smaller engine usually has to work a little harder; on the other hand, smaller engines typically get better gas mileage. Torque equals pickup, and the average sedan will have picked up and gone by the time the Volkswagen GLI finally gets moving. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the average sedan is significantly more powerful than the Volkswagen GLI.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the average sedan offers a bit more head room than the GLI, there frankly isn't much of a difference. The typical sedan is not particularly roomier for your passengers than the Volkswagen GLI.

Warranty
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Volkswagen GLI isn't quite as generous as the typical sedan's.