NO MATCH FOR THIS HATCH - VW POLO GTI

Volkswagen recently celebrated 10 years of Polo in India which made little sense as the new-generation model went on sale globally more than a couple of years back, yet there are no signs of it coming here anytime soon (instead VW will focus on SUVs and maybe the next generation model might be launched here, not before 2021 though). The Polo has a huge fan following in Indian among car enthusiasts and thus we decided to review the top-of-the-line Polo GTI at one of the best race tracks in the world, the ‘Green Hell’, better known as the Nurburgring.

The ‘Polo’ name is synonymous with Volkswagen for many in the car world. Since the start of production back in 1975, the badge has seen itself representing 6 generations of the model. Right from the introduction of the limited edition Mk3 Polo GTI in 1995, VW has enjoyed good success with their hot hatch. They now look to build on the enthusiasm the GTI version has garnered.

Exteriors – Walk up to the new Polo GTI, and you will be greeted with a sense of familiarity. Everything looks different, yet quite similar. Talking about the exterior of this car does very much mean talking about the exterior of the Polo facelift that is being sold internationally. That is to say that the designers have done a very decent job in making the car look quite distinct, but understated at the same time.

Compared to the Indian model, the headlamps have been slimmed and dragged a bit on the sides, and the tail lights have also seen a similar treatment applied to them. The car has also dimensionally grown, and that is very much visible. The side has one sharp character line that curves up along with the shape of the GTI badge on the side. The car also has dual exhausts, which are very much the real deal.

Speaking of the GTI badge, the car gets distinct red stripes up front that very neatly flow into the headlamp assembly. Unfortunately, that is about where the differences end. Unlike the previous version, this car is a 5-door only, and hence to the average person’s eye, this car might as well be a normal Polo. While the facelift is indeed a big leap over the Indian model, the GTI version’s red brake callipers and the aforementioned GTI badges are the only differentiators over the outgoing Polo facelift from the outside.

Interiors – Open the solid-feeling doors and step in to be greeted by a sea of red. The new POLO GTI gets quite a bit of cosmetic elements that differentiate it from the normal version. There is a flat-bottomed steering wheel right in front of the digital driver’s display. Arguably the biggest change in the Polo facelift is the technology in it. The digital driver’s display is very intuitive to use and is quite customizable. The infotainment system is quite large, and easy to use, and comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Volkswagen has gone overboard with sporty elements inside the cabin to make you feel unique and special

The seats look very much like the old GTI’s seats. They are quite unique as compared to the existing lineup of the Polo. The seats also offer nice support and cushioning and would be comfortable on long journeys, and corners. With all the distinction inside the car, it looks like Volkswagen wants you, the driver, to know that you are driving a Polo GTI with 200 HP more than anyone else. Quality of the cabin is quite top-notch and the touchpoints are lined with soft-touch materials. The cabin is practical, certainly more practical than the previous GTI as it has more doors.

Performance – The new Polo GTI drops the 1.8 TSI motor in lieu of the 2.0-litre TSI that outputs an impressive 200 PS (an uptick of 8 PS) and 320 Nm of torque at just 1500 RPM. The turbocharged mill has little lag to contend with and takes off in a jiffy, doing the sprint to the ton in just 6.7 seconds, top speed being 237 km/hr. There is a good amount of grunt and a lot of enthusiasm from the engine to catapult forward with no hesitation but it’s the tall gearing which robs some speed from the GTI. Refinement levels are great but once you hit the mid-range, it becomes quite vocal, emitting a very loud roar near the 6500 RPM redline – more sound than thrust for sure

DSG offers quick shifts, however, the GTI is also available with a manual

Turbocharged petrol motor has a lot of punch throughout along with a loud exhaust note as you near the redline

This car doesn’t hesitate at all till 200 km/hr post which progress dulls a bit. The Polo GTI comes with a 6-speed gearbox – manual and automatic, we drove the latter whose DSG unit showed its Achilles’ heel once again of not revving high enough on get-go (there is launch control though to circumvent this problem) and upshifting a tad bit earlier when you near the redline. Fuel economy is decent by hot-hatch standards at 8-10 km/l with a 40-litre fuel tank.

Excellent ride and handling balance along with a feedback-rich steering inspire a lot of confidence around corners

The steering offers good feel and feedback but doesn’t carry the most weight, similarly, body roll is well contained but there is some roll when you push it hard and of course some understeer too as you close in on the limit of the chassis. But the Polo GTI has good balance and grip, it feels composed and inspires a ton of confidence too. Volkswagen doesn’t let you turn off ESP completely but in Sport mode, it isn’t as aggressive to intervene, letting you play around quite a bit as there is ample amount of grip on offer. The brakes are very strong and surefooted, offering great feel and bite.

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