It’s tough to know the place to start with the Polo GTI. These three letters are arguably Volkswagen’s most precious model belongings, couple that with considered one of Wolfsburg’s best-selling hatchbacks and absolutely you can’t go fallacious? The factor is although, the Polo GTI has managed to drift round in purgatory for fairly a while now. It took Volkswagen the very best a part of 30 years to even give the Polo its GTI wings, and since then it has managed to fly below the radar with out a lot fuss, at the least in comparison with its bigger sibling. Thanks largely to the very fact it normally had smaller engines, much less GTI elaborations and a hefty price ticket in comparison with its friends.

Nevertheless, because the Polo GTI has advanced, it’s slowly stolen increasingly from the ever-popular Golf GTI. The crimson grill stripe, the tartan seats, the honeycomb grill. All these little touches that make a GTI, a GTI. And now, in a barely un-VW transfer, they’ve given it the identical 2.0TFSI engine with over 200bhp. That is now a Polo that may do 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, and go on to a prime velocity of 149mph. That has the potential to not solely fear its friends, but in addition the Golf GTI.

However earlier than we get too far forward of ourselves, this automotive as examined has a value of £31,845….
Now you’ve completed mopping up the entire beverage you simply spat out, I’ll remind you that inflation has skewed all new automotive costs of late. So while the Polo GTI begins at £27,985, its nearest rivals are all in that ballpark.

And what of the competitors? Properly Ford have scored a slight personal aim by culling the ever-popular Fiesta. In order that leaves the £26,000 Hyundai I20n. The problem right here is the i20n is guide solely, whereas the Polo is DSG solely. So, if you need an auto, it must be the Polo anyway. Maybe this can be a very sensible transfer from VW from a business standpoint, or it’s only a method of holding the Polo from stealing Golf GTI clients. Both method, my private opinion is that it’s a crying disgrace we don’t have the choice of three pedals.

I’m positive you’re all ready for the cliché to return now, the predictability of a GTI reviewer saying the traditional line: It’s very succesful, however not as involving because the competitors. I genuinely assume this isn’t true with the Golf, for 2 foremost causes. Firstly, no one is driving all these automobiles back-to-back and attempting to resolve which one is best, that’s a really remoted state of affairs on the planet of automotive reviewing. And Two, when its your personal cash, you’d most likely reasonably have the Volkswagen to depend on than the rest. Residual values, reliability and (as a lot as I hate to say it) some model credit score.

While I’ll proudly stand by this opinion, and combat anybody who disagrees, my first enterprise out within the Polo has me falling straight down this actual gap. The primary few drives left me wanting extra, it felt like all of the substances had been proper however the remaining outcome was water. Nevertheless, I used to be undeterred, generally you have to scratch the floor a little bit bit extra with a GTI, and maybe this Polo was the identical?

I made a decision to line it up for a few of my favorite take a look at roads, and even with the climate not on my facet, I pushed its boundaries a little bit extra. While the Michelin Primacies fitted to this take a look at automotive are fairly beneath common in something however dry circumstances, for each really feel and grip, I did begin to really feel a few of that sparkle. I feel the preliminary feeling I had was most likely as a result of reality I wasn’t anticipating it to be so grown up, and that character is clear if you push on as nicely.

When utilizing the automotive usually, you may (and I did) do many miles in it with no effort in any respect. Helped by the radar cruise management, DSG field and cozy seats. Push it arduous although, and reasonably than be offered with the same old squirrely and rabid scorching hatch character, as soon as once more this grown up and strong really feel are on the forefront. The chassis feels fully unwavering, which at instances leaves you wanting a extra playful facet, however there’s one thing to be mentioned for the boldness it evokes.

I actually don’t assume there’s one other automotive in its class that may get rid of a B Highway with such velocity, and so little drama. The 15mm decrease suspension, and XDS Differential (which regardless of the identify is extra of a trick ESP system than a bodily element) are the primary adjustments VW made to sharpen the GTI up over commonplace fashions. Okay that won’t sound like so much, however to me that simply exhibits you the way good the usual automotive is.

After a strong week with the GTI, I feel I lastly understood the depth of functionality of it. It might seem to be an costly proposition, however if you evaluate it to its friends, it’s nearer than you may assume. I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it was a automotive I fell in love with, there are nonetheless some parts that felt irritating at instances. I received’t hassle mentioning the haptic steering wheel controls, nor the contact delicate local weather management panel. For me, the most important irritation is that beneath the wise, grown up exterior, there’s a recipe for an all time nice scorching hatch. And I can’t assist however assume it might be so simple as giving us a guide.