Refreshed VW Polo GTI Driven

We recently put in some time with the not long ago refreshed VW Polo GTI and share our thoughts in this report.

VW’s Polo is a perennial top rated seller in the regional industry. It is not difficult to see why. The little hatch is trendy, properly designed (appropriate in this article in SA we may possibly include) and feels like it gives a improved knowledge than numerous of its rivals. There are also a handful of unique variants on sale with an option to suit most prospective buyers. 

At the major of the tree is the VW Polo GTI, which is the vehicle we not long ago drove, and for the first time ever. The range-topping edition bears all those 3 letters designed famed by VW with its Golf. The Polo GTI stepped in to fill the purpose at the time occupied by Golfing as the more substantial sibling matured.

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New external physical appearance

All Polo versions just lately underwent the knife for a a little bit revised seem. This included the apex model. From the exterior the updated Polo assortment functions new bumpers entrance and again. A new tailgate capabilities elongated tail lights. Speaking of which, the head and taillights are LED things with a gentle strip alongside the radiator grille. The latter offers the vehicle a room-agey overall look at night. The GTI positive aspects from LED matrix headlights and a red strip on the radiator grille together with a honeycomb grille, hexagonal foglamps and crimson brake calipers.

Look at out the entire heritage of the VW Golf GTI by clicking here.

New tech

Volkswagen has also taken the option to install a new appear HVAC control device and steering wheel. In the Polo GTI controls are taken care of by a contact panel with capacitive sliders changing the physical switches and dials. We have to say that we want the older technique, or just bodily buttons as they are simple to change without wanting and never demand a deft contact to function.

The new touchscreen interface is quick to use and rapid to react. There is also a entirely digital instrument cluster. Both of these, along with the leather-based upholstery give the cabin a top quality sense, additional so than some of the Polo’s levels of competition in this section, or even from a phase earlier mentioned.

Contact points for the driver consist of a new athletics steering wheel with ‘GTI’ badge, as properly as a chunky gear selector that lights up at evening. Both of those of these have crimson accents. In fact, that same hue is utilized all over the cabin, such as the stitching and dashboard inserts of our exam device. There are also a pair of aluminium pedals to enable you know this is the sportiest Polo of the loved ones.

Click right here to read our assessment of the Mk8 VW Golf GTI.

Unchanged powertrain

Even though the most recent VW Polo GTI has a variety of upgrades, none has been carried out below the pores and skin. Below the bonnet is the same 2,-litre motor as in advance of. This turbocharged inline-4 nevertheless develops 147 kW of power and a healthier 320 N.m of torque in a plateau from 1 500 – 4 350 r/min. VW does not offer you its small very hot hatch with 3 pedals. Push is, as is now tradition, despatched to the entrance axle by an automatic twin-clutch transmission, or DSG in VW talk.

Superior base

This is, oddly, the 1st time we have experienced the possibility to travel a VW Polo GTI in its latest form. We in some way did not get the prospect with the pre-facelift variation both. The VW Polo has a good platform in standard. The journey high-quality and basic feeling of solidity permeates the GTI model.

In this guise the Polo rides on big alloys with extremely-reduced profile rubber and is 15 mm lessen to the ground than its siblings. But none of that looks to hinder the high-quality of the typical journey. We did obtain some of that much more scarred tar can be felt in the cabin, but that was generally at speed. That wide footwear does find the money for lots of grip nevertheless the steering is generally lifeless.

Simply click in this article to read 5 facts about the lately produced VW Taigo.

Missing sparkle

The computerized transmission in the VW Polo GTI robs the driver the ability to thoroughly interact with the driving working experience. There are paddle shifters guiding the steering wheel rim but they are plasticky and detached from any mechanical connection. Also, the engine’s peak torque comes so early on that just one seriously doesn’t will need to be correct with getting a gear-change point. Revving it harder is not much more entertaining.

Although incredibly swift, the Polo GTI is not a playful, chuckable automobile that goads you into the driving practical experience in the identical way that a former-gen Ford Fiesta ST does. For some mysterious motive Ford SA does not offer the most current edition listed here so we just can’t remark on that. Confident, it will most likely stroll away from most of its levels of competition, but it doesn’t interact and delight in the way a excellent modest hot hatch must, which is a shame. We look ahead to driving the upcoming Hyundai i20N for a return to the little vehicle magic.

Summary

The VW Polo GTI is observed as an attainable ‘performance’ automobile for many in SA. It has lots of electricity and torque, appears to be like the section and handles very properly. VW has long been credited with creating the warm hatch genre with the Mk1 Golf GTI. Due to the fact the Golf has grown into a far more experienced prospect the doorway was open for VW to imbue the Polo with some amount of mischievousness, but it hasn’t.

We can not help but believe that even just the addition of a handbook transmission would increase a stage of enjoyable element that the Polo GTI lacks. Having mentioned that, VW sells Polos by the truck load, so they need to know a issue or two about what people actually want…

Model: VW Polo GTI 

Cost: R494 600

Engine: 2,-litre inline four, turbocharged petrol

Transmission: six-velocity computerized, FWD

Max electrical power: 147 kW

Max torque: 320 N.m

-100 km/h: 6,7 sec

Prime velocity: 238 km/h

Gas intake: L/100 km