There is a stronger flavour to the latest Volkswagen Polo GTI.
The original Polo appeared in 1985 and broke new ground for VW as a small car but it has steadily been updated, improved and strengthened and the latest hot-hatchback version is based on the fourth generation of the series on sale since July 2014.
The Polo remains VW’s second best selling range after the Golf. Last year the Golf was the UK’s fourth best selling car with 73,880 registrations and the Polo the seventh best top ten seller with 48,000 buyers.
Around 70% of Polo sales go the retail customers and also 70% of customers choose the five door body style. The GTI versions for enthusiasts are expected to account for 2% or 960 units of total Polo UK sales this year.
The latest Polo GTIs come in three and five door body styles priced at £18,850 with a £630 increase for the five door models. A further £1,245 will buy the optional seven-speed DSG auto gearbox.
Under the bonnet is now a new 1.8-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection petrol engine producing 192hp and 320Nm of torque from a very low 1,450rpm for manual gearbox models but less at 250Nm from 1,250rpm for the DSG automatic transmission version.
This engine replaces the 1.4-litre 180hp petrol unit which was only available with a DSG auto transmission and the newcomer really has moved it on and upwards.
I think it could become a highly desirable hot-hatch and a future classic among lovers of performance small cars.
Top speed is 146mph regardless of gearbox type with zero to 62mph taking 6.7-seconds. The Combined Cycle fuel economy figures are 47.1mpg for the manual gearbox and 50.4mpg for the auto.
The CO2 emissions are 139g/km manual and 129g/km auto.
In a very brief run with a 6speed manual model over some good country roads this week I really enjoyed the handling, responses and remarkable smoothness of this new pocket-rocket, writes Robin Roberts.
I averaged 33.1mpg, a long way off the official combined figure over 47mpg, but it was very agile and involving.
For my 6ft frame I could not get the driver’s seat to go back far enough for my optimum comfort but the rake and wrap-around support was very good.
The ‘grunt’ comes in at very low engine speed of 1,450rpm for a turbocharged petrol engine and it keeps on delivering strongly up until 4,200rpm, basically all its worthwhile rev range.
To keep it all together and safe, there is an XDS+ electronic differential and two driving modes which allow the selection of Sport or Comfort depending on the driver’s requirements or mood.
The Polo GTI looks like a younger sibling to the Golf GTI but some may actually find it more fun to drive, more involving and entertaining.
After all, you’re only young once.
