Test drive VW Polo GTI 1.8 TSI: finally, Volkswagen

The Highmotor test section is currently hosting one of the most attractive city cars on the market, which hides, behind its famous initials, a character that is equally sporty.

We are talking about the Volkswagen Polo, the most produced vehicle in Spain in 2016, in its most performance-oriented version, the GTI.

The Polo is a fundamental pillar for Volkswagen. The German city car has been succeeding for decades in dozens of markets, where it has become one of the perfect “car for everything”, from childless couples to families who use it as a second car, through young people enjoying their first car.

Exterior design, a true mini Golf

The current generation of the Volkswagen Polo has already been on the market for years. In fact, its renewal is scheduled for mid-year, but it is evident that the Polo has masterfully withstood the passage of time, something typical of VW designs, somewhat conservative and with fluid lines.

The front of the Polo GTI stands out for its sportiness. With the latest update, a more aggressive bumper has been incorporated, which again recalls that of the Golf GTI. The honeycomb-motif grille with the “GTI” logo on one side combines perfectly with the thin red line that runs horizontally through the interior of the headlights, giving a sense of width to the whole.

If we widen our view to the side of the bodywork – in this case, three-door – we will find a fairly raked A-pillar that adds sportiness, combined with a somewhat scarce side glazed area – especially at the rear – which, together with the pronounced rising waistline, gives a very intense sense of robustness.

The sporty details are provided by darkened rear windows, a small trim with the GTI logo on the front fender – the same one used on the Golf GTI -, multi-spoke 17″ alloy wheels with a two-tone finish and red brake calipers.

The Polo GTI has a very sporty and attractive look

The rear stands out for its cleanliness and simplicity. Again we find a specific bumper, with reflectors in the lower corners and a central black trim that, in addition to simulating the presence of an air deflector, houses a double exhaust outlet on one side. A small spoiler with a glossy black edge and, once again, the GTI logo on the left side of the tailgate complete the decoration of this version, currently the most powerful on sale.

The sportiness conferred by all these details, together with very compact dimensions – 3.98 metres long, 1.68 metres wide and 1.44 metres high – give the Polo GTI a look that irresistibly reminds us of the first Golf GTIs, which revolutionised the market with their compactness and robustness.

Interior design, quality and personality

Once we move inside, we quickly realise that Volkswagen has set out to create – and achieved – a sporty atmosphere, evident when looking at elements such as the seat upholstery, the steering wheel, the instrumentation or the gear lever.

The dashboard, with a design slightly oriented towards the driver, features smooth, fluid lines without aggressive edges. The build quality is among the best in the segment thanks to the presence of pleasant-to-the-touch materials in the upper part of the cabin, reserving hard plastics for the central console and the lower part of the dashboard. All the buttons have a solid and precise feel, very satisfying to press.

The doors also offer a good sense of quality thanks to the textile covering of the interior, which makes them more comfortable and pleasant. However, it would be very positive if the Polo featured anti-slip trims in the recesses of both the doors and the central console, since objects we place there slide about while driving, knocking and producing annoying noises.

The instrumentation, extremely legible, features two large dials for the rev counter and speedometer, each integrating a small additional gauge for fuel level and coolant temperature. Between both dials there is an on-board computer with numerous functions and data, highlighting for example the oil temperature or a handy stopwatch for our more “inspired” moments.

The finishes are very good in an interior full of details

The steering wheel, identical to that of the Golf GTI, features a small central airbag, a plastic trim painted in satin aluminium, controls on both spokes and a thick rim, flattened at the bottom, upholstered in leather. The visually attractive red stitching also stands out, which we also find on the gear lever gaiter, the handbrake and the seats themselves.

The Polo GTI’s seats have a more pronounced structure than those of a standard Polo, as well as being upholstered in the typical tartan fabric of the original GTIs. They hold the body well and have height adjustment, but would benefit from more pronounced shapes, lumbar support adjustment and a better reclining system, as the one fitted is not good. Moreover, if you opt for the leather and Alcantara upholstery, the seats are less sporty, with smaller side bolsters and therefore less lateral support.

The “GTI atmosphere” is completed by a gear lever with an exclusive design, with glossy black trims and black upholstery for both the pillars and the roof, which in this unit was also a panoramic glass roof.

The interior space is generous, especially in the front seats, where there is no problem with any dimensions, although in the rear the space is somewhat smaller, something magnified by the lack of rear doors. Two occupants, however, will travel with relative comfort as long as they are not very tall.

The boot has a noticeably smaller capacity than the rest of the Polo range. This is due to the presence of the battery in the boot floor, which reduces height, thus lowering the capacity from the 280 litres of any Polo range model to 204 litres in the Polo GTI.

Driving dynamics, an almost perfect package

This generation of the Polo has enjoyed a GTI variant practically since its launch back in 2009. In its first phase, the Polo GTI featured a very innovative 1.4 TSI engine, with direct injection and double supercharging via turbo and compressor. It produced 180 CV and was mandatorily paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.

However, it seems that Volkswagen has decided to forget about such small engines in sporty versions, so, taking advantage of the update the Polo underwent in 2015, it renewed the GTI’s powerplant, replacing the 1.4 TSI with a 1.8 TSI used by numerous models in the Volkswagen Group.

The 1.8 TSI is a clear step forward in power and feel

The Polo GTI’s power rises to 192 CV, with a maximum torque of 320 Nm when fitted with a manual gearbox, which is limited to 250 Nm if you opt for the well-known 7-speed DSG. And yes, the Polo GTI can now be fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox, responding to all those who asked for a more authentic transmission that involves the driver more.

The performance result is brilliant: the Polo GTI – in either version, manual or automatic – accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 236 km/h, making this model one of the fastest in its segment.

The average consumption of the manual Polo GTI is 6.0 litres/100 km, with homologated figures of 7.6 litres in the urban cycle and 5.1 litres/100 km in the extra-urban cycle. In real life, and after more than 1,200 km of testing, the on-board computer showed an average consumption of 7.9 litres/100 km, in use that combined mountain roads with city driving, as well as long motorway trips, where it is easy to stay within 6.5-7 litres at legal speeds.

This latest-generation engine features numerous advances, such as a very agile Start&Stop system when starting the engine, as well as a dual injection system – direct and indirect – that improves performance under high demand while keeping consumption in check during calm driving.

The chassis is completed by four-wheel brakes with floating single-piston calipers and a variable damping system with two operating modes – Normal and Sport – capable of perfectly controlling body movements without feeling harsh, something appreciated when driving on uneven roads.

The Polo GTI proves to be an extremely agile little sports car, making life easier for the driver should they wish to drive quickly. In any case, it is not the most extreme city car, as other models such as the Opel Corsa OPC or the Peugeot 208 GTI are stiffer.

The Polo GTI’s stability is bulletproof

The manual gearbox has a very smooth and pleasant feel, allowing quick shifts with almost no effort. The engine sound becomes especially noticeable when pressing the Sport button on the centre console, which activates, in addition to the stiffer suspension mode, a small speaker located under the windscreen, while also reducing steering assistance.

On the downside, the ESP cannot be fully switched off, only allowing deactivation of the ASR traction control and activation of a Sport mode which, while increasing the operating margins, can be annoying if we intend to control the car completely.

Range and versions, how much does this unit cost?

The Polo GTI range consists of four options, starting at €23,040 for the three-door version with manual gearbox. If we opt for this mechanical combination with a five-door body, the price rises to €23,650. The DSG gearbox adds €1,600, making the three-door body priced at €24,640, rising to €25,250 if the chosen body is five-door.

The unit shown in the images is the cheapest of all, as, besides being three-door, it has a manual gearbox. The Polo GTI’s standard equipment is very extensive, including, among other items, automatic air conditioning, LED headlights, 17″ wheels, darkened rear windows and navigation.

Furthermore, our unit had a Rear View reversing camera (€275), electrically folding exterior mirrors (€150), panoramic glass roof (€890), Oryx White paint (€955) and App-Connect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto function (€205). The total therefore amounts to €25,515 including taxes, with no discounts applied.

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Polo7 versions · from 22,325 €