VW’s new Polo GTI might be more powerful than ever, but it’s also bigger and more refined, traits that don’t necessarily paint the picture of an engaging hot hatch.
Historically, the Polo GTI was never among the sharpest small hot hatches, and the same applies here. What it lacks in outright excitement, however, it makes up with day-to-day usability and gadgets.
You can get it with a digital instrument cluster, Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Park Assist – the list goes on, making the Polo GTI a very impressive small car as far as tech features go.
Under the bonnet we find VW’s widely-used 2.0-liter TSI engine that, in this case, produces 197hp (200PS) and 236lb-ft (320Nm) of torque. When paired to the dual-clutch DSG transmission, the Polo GTI can deal with the 0-62mph (0-100km/h) sprint in just 6.7 seconds, while flat out it’ll do 147mph (247km/h).
The wider tracks give the new Polo GTI a newfound stability during fast driving and the adaptive dampers give an extra layer to the German hot hatch’s character. Drive it fast and you will be left impressed by the speed and competence of the hot Polo, which remains calm and composed even under pressure.
This calmness and refinement remains present when you’re just driving along on your daily commute, making the Polo GTI a very complete package for someone who can’t really afford the bigger and similarly-mannered Golf GTI, as pointed put in the latest Carwow video review. It might not be as playful as the Ford Fiesta ST, but the new Polo GTI has other tricks up its sleeve.