The new Volkswagen Polo GTI was launched in 2018, making it a lot more exciting than its predecessor. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is significantly better than the uninspiring 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that the model had in the past. The new Polo GTI has much more grunt than before.
The new Polo GTI could be considered as a mini version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI. This Polo might be ideal for hot hatch enthusiasts if they don’t have the budget for a Golf GTI.
We will explore the new Polo GTI below.
What are the new specs on the Volkswagen Polo GTI?1
The new Polo GTI comes with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which has a power output of 147kW from 4 000rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1 500rpm. This is quite impressive for a small hot hatch. The engine is still paired with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-automated gearbox (DSG). With the new engine, the car’s sound is much sweeter than its predecessor, putting a smile on any petrol-head’s face. The engine doesn’t need to work as hard as it did before to get going. The new 2.0-litre engine is satisfyingly get-up-and-go, not needing a lot of throttle input. But with a better payoff from the new motor, the Polo GTI enjoys being revved higher than 4500rpm now.
The Volkswagen Polo GTI’s chassis has also been tweaked, the anti-roll bars have been stiffened up, and the suspension height has been dipped by 10mm in the front and 15mm at the back.
The fuel consumption of the Polo GTI is claimed to be at 5.9 L/ 100km, which is not bad for a performance car.
How well does the Volkswagen Polo GTI handle? 1
Drivers might not have been easily enticed to push the old GTI to its limits. The same cannot be said of the new Polo GTI. Now that it has a faster and better powertrain, it makes you want to push it to the limit with the chassis high levels of grip. The Polo GTI also comes with a Sport performance pack, which will allow you to flip a switch that will firm up the damping and will work well with the new chassis anti-roll bars. Curvy roads will be a breeze while driving the Polo GTI under this setting.
This hot hatch comes fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, twin exhaust pipes and a GTI styling pack; giving it the everyday hot hatch look and feel.
What’s new to the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s interior? 1
The Polo GTI is fitted with sports seats with the classic tartan trim. The dash comes with quality features giving it a premium finish, as all Volkswagen models do. It has an infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, which has Bluetooth, a USB port and CD player. Navigation is an optional extra, so too is the panoramic sunroof.
This hot hatch is fitted standard with remote central locking, air-conditioning, electric windows front and back, and cruise control that can be controlled by the steering wheel cluster.
How much does the Volkswagen Polo GTI cost? 1
The Volkswagen Polo GTI comes in just shy of the R400 000 mark at R398 400. It has a standard service and warranty plan. Service plan is at 3-years/45 000km, and the warranty is 3-years/ 120 000km.
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is an excellent all-rounder, like the Golf GTI, especially when you may consider other hot hatch rivals.
Would you like to buy the new Polo GTI? Comprehensive car insurance is a standard requirement should you want to finance the hot hatch or any other new car. Comprehensive car insurance need not be expensive. Why not consider purchasing affordable, comprehensive car insurance with Prime South Africa, which comes with unique benefits such as fixed premiums* if you don’t claim and a reduce-to-zero excess*. *T and Cs apply.
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