The reputation of the venerable Polo in South Africa, no matter how fervent monthly sales are, will present an expectedly unimaginative driving experience focused chiefly around mobility. That is at least until getting behind the wheel of the new Volkswagen Polo GTI and realising it is more than just a Polo.
In addition to this thought, after doing further research on the mechanical gear that propels the German hatch, I came to the conclusion that it may even be better value for money than its larger and arguably less-attractive sibling; the Golf GTI. This is quite a bold claim, to state that the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI is superior to that of the hatchback that ushered in a whole new segment and this would be misconstrued.
The flagship Golf GTI will remain the template for which a hot hatch is based on – all newcomers to the segment set their sights on Volkswagen’s creation. The Golf is still faster and more powerful on paper in comparison to its diminutive sibling but the running gear found in the latest Polo GTI is almost identical on both models. Both employ the same EA888 2-litre turbocharged four banger and both employ a DSG transmission, albeit the Golf 8 GTI comes with an extra cog giving it a total of seven forward gears. You see, prior hot Polo’s employed 1,4 and 1,8-litre petrol powered motors which in comparison to its larger displaced sibling, was slightly down on power. 
It still is, with only 147 kW and 320 N.m comparatively speaking to the Golf GTI which includes a more aggressive tune that harnesses 180 kW and 370 N.m from the same powertrain. The smaller GTI couldn’t dethrone its hot hatch sibling, that would be lunacy but in modified guise, these motors which litter models in the Volkswagen Group portfolio are able to have power bumped up considerably.
While the Volkswagen Polo GTI will more realistically find itself putting the power down to the infamous sound of vrrrpha in crowded urban hubs to get the attention of the opposite sex, it comes into its own with medium to low speed corners and undulating road profiles with short, straight stretches. After embarrassingly managing to do both, the newcomer finished in Pure White paintwork, felt considerably more gratifying being thrown along the titillating twisties that swept along the Theewaterskloof dam and its surrounding mountains. The bottom line here is that it is still capable of providing a rewarding driving experience despite the reputation it has garnered. Don’t plan on going too far on your mountain-pass escapades though, its 40 litre tank and enticing dynamics mean the limited range will work forever against you. 
Considering this is only a small evolution/facelift of the previous sixth-generation model, a relatively familiar experience can be expected. The dynamics still remain true to the original recipe of hot hatch but things are heavier and as a result, more power is harnessed from the engine than the antecedents from yesteryear. The nose feels planted when cornering while the suspension is firm at high speeds, providing a visceral and engaging experience in both situations. The torque band is linear and continuous, achieving its maximum rating at only 1,450 rpm. Closer to the top end above 5,000 rpm, it does start to run out of steam but the revs unintuitively hang. 
Moving into the cabin, and all of the reputation surrounding hard plastics and questionable interiors of lesser derivatives is left outside – mind it when closing the door. This is a Polo GTI afterall, the flagship of the range, so it will expectedly boast the most premium fit and finish, budget permitting. Considering it along the same lines as the people-moving Polo Vivo, which dominated passenger car sales last year with 21,877 rolling off of the sales floor, is unfair. 
That being said, the Polo GTI is still more than just a Polo, which in standard guise managed an equally impressive 18,235 units over the same twelve month period. These impressive annual sales numbers are a reason why Volkswagen have managed to produce their millionth locally manufactured Polo recently. The range, including models for export and our local market, is a vital part of our economy and creates gainful employment for many South Africans alike but standard derivatives still feel uninspiring. For the extra outlay which puts the price a shade over half a million, the sporty red-stitching and GTI donned interior make it feel a little less generic.
Have a look Into the Details of the Polo GTI.
That doesn’t mean that the latest Polo GTI is free from criticism, particularly when it comes to the interior. Meek rattles present on the press model tested, with around 5,000 km on the clock, are disconcerting but expected in this segment. The real bugbear is the haptic buttons that Volkswagen have implemented on both flagship Golf and Polo GTI models in an effort to curb production costs while retaining a modern interior aesthetic. Describing the frustrating experience of interacting with the controls is akin to that of the abnormal sensation one feels while running in a dream; unnatural and restricting. At a consolation, after continuous use it can become moderately bearable. If it were ever an option, a GTI specified with the button-festooned steering wheel from the TSI would edge it closer to ideal.
As with most products in the Volkswagen Group’s portfolio, a shopping list of features can be added onto the R494 600 base price which can push the hot hatch into the clutches of the unaffordably category. Despite this, I can’t help feel that the cost price of R689 800 for the Golf GTI, with a near-identical drivetrain will mean that most buyers shopping in the segment may opt for a well specced diminutive GTI and still have change left over for an engine tune to give its bigger sibling a run for its money.
FAST FACTS
Model: Volkswagen Polo GTI
Price: R563 900
Engine: Front-mounted, turbocharged, 1 984 cc, inline-four
Transmission: 6-speed DSG
Power: 147 kW @ 4390 rpm
Torque: 320 N.m @ 1450 rpm
Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive
0-100 km/h: 6,5 seconds
Top speed: 240 km/h
Fuel consumption: 6,1 l/100km (combined)
CO2 emissions: 140 g/km
