The three biggest issues with the new Volkswagen Polo GTI

 

By Chad Lückhoff

Chad Lückhoff finds a few flaws in Volkswagen's latest version of the ever-popular Polo GTI.

I come from a background of modified cars and turbo conversions. I cut my teeth in the aftermarket world of nitrous, wild cams and dropped suspensions, wistfully slapped into hatchbacks with questionable brakes and zero star NCAP ratings. There were no airbags, no ABS and only a seatbelt to keep you in place when things went wrong. You acknowledged the risks and still floored it at each and every traffic light that went green. There was a sense of accomplishment in transforming a vanilla hatchback into a sports-car-threatening machine.

Those days are behind me (for the most part), and I now regard comfort, convenience and fuel consumption as key selling points in a vehicle. It's not to say that I can't appreciate a fast, performance car and I still look forward to reviewing engaging, driver-orientated sports cars.

Then I got the new Volkswagen Polo GTI to test.

After spending the week with it, I had mixed emotions about this latest performance offering from VW. It's an important car for the firm and a milestone in the South African VW story, as this is the first Polo GTI to be manufactured in their Uitenhage plant, outside of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

As far as I am concerned, there are three major issues with the new Volkswagen Polo GTI...

Styling

While the styling is a contentious issue, it's one that plagues the entire sixth generation Polo, so it's not one of those that made my list. Yes, the latest Polo resembles its predecessor far too much and telling it apart from its earlier incarnation is not as easy as it is made out to be.

It's easier with the GTI though as the tell-tale red detailing is rather extensive. The red GTI-line runs across the grille and into the headlights, of which you can spec full LED items. These sit above a GTI-only bumper that has an integrated lip spoiler. The bumper has gloss-black surrounds for the spotlights and the traditional honeycomb mesh for the air dams.

GTI insignia can not only be found in the front grille but along the sides, and naturally, at the back too. Red brake callipers and 17-inch Milton Keynes wheels complete the rolling stock while the rear has a gloss-black GTI-diffuser and a two-piece roof spoiler – a throw-back to the original Golf GTI of 1976.

Drive

I have to concede that the new Polo GTI is a great drive. Forget that it's a VW, or a Polo for that matter, and you will be treated to a smooth drive with only the slightest indication that the suspension is tweaked and lowered by 15mm over stock. The coil springs and shock absorbers are tuned for a sporty drive and the low profile tyres assist in providing a predictable demeanour that will flatter even the most inexperienced driver.

Three primary driving modes, in addition to a customizable Individual profile, give you Eco, Normal or Sport characteristics. The Sport mode will firm up the suspension (if Sport Select suspension is specified), stiffen the steering feel and provide a more responsive throttle.

The GTI uses a brake-based torque vectoring system to provide the best possible turn-in and poise mid-corner, allowing for earlier application of the throttle when exiting a corner and quelling understeer on entry. It's an effective system and makes the GTI rather agile through the turns, especially when rapid direction changes are necessary.

Performance

No Volkswagen bestowed with the hallowed GTI badge is shy on performance – there's no AMG-line or M-Sport confusion here – if it wears the badge, it goes.

It's the first Polo GTI to be fitted with an EA888 engine, a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged power plant. As a result, you get a rather staunch 147kW and 320Nm from this direct injection engine and that brings me to my first issue with the Polo – it's too much power.

Now, before you click away and run to social media, hear me out.

147kW is the same amount of power that the Golf 5 GTI made, only the Golf had less torque coming in at 280Nm. Ask any mechanically-minded individual and they will tell you that torque is more important than Kilowatts, and therefore the new Polo GTI is markedly stronger than the dated Golf, by 40Nm.

I understand that it's a natural progression and that there has to be an improvement over the previous Polo GTI and that the 6C Polo GTI made a claimed 141kW. But the way that the new one gathers speed and accelerates is something that should be reserved for sports cars alone, and not hatchbacks that one would be tempted to buy for a younger, less-experienced driver.

Well-heeled parents will be inclined to spoil their offspring to the new Polo GTI, handing over the keys to a car that should only be reserved for experienced hands. I fear this may end in tears and bouquets strapped to lamp posts. You can have all the safety systems in the world, but if the driver's reaction times and driving skills are not up to scratch, you have a recipe for disaster.

Space and Comfort

My second issue is the sheer size of the new Polo. It's no longer a compact hatchback, it's the size of a Golf 3. And it shows.

The cabin is generous and spacious with ample legroom for occupants both front and rear. There's headroom and more than enough shoulder room too, and this makes the Polo GTI feel considerably more grown-up than before. It's lost the compact Polo feel, one of the Polo's key selling points. It used to be a sensible, easy-to-manoeuvre hatch that was a doddle in traffic. Now you have to be considerably more cautious in the parking lot.

It's quiet and serene inside the cabin. Volkswagen has done wonders in making this Polo feel more upmarket and mature. There's less noise intrusion into the cabin and the perceived quality of all the materials is better than one would expect from a Polo – it no longer feels compromised. While that's a good thing, it's very un Polo-like. It steals away from the excitement that one would feel when driving a Polo GTI.

The GTI is trimmed with a number of luxuries that one wouldn't expect in a Polo, the Active Info Display is a 10.25-inch digital display that replaces the traditional analogue gauges for the driver. This system allows for customisable views and displays a multitude of readouts and information. Paired with the standard Composition Media (or the optional Discover Media) with its 8-inch touchscreen display and tablet-like functionality, the new Polo GTI has a rather tech-heavy interior. So much for simple motoring.

Safety

Safety is the one area that I will never lambaste for developing. Here the manufacturer can go to town and I will wholeheartedly agree with them.

The new Polo GTI is considerably safer than anything that has worn the badge in the past. In addition to the 6 airbags, the new Polo GTI has ABS with EBD and Brake Assist and Hill-Hold. The optional Advanced Safety Package will also include Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Traffic Alert, Driver Alert System, Park Assist and Park Distance Control with a rearview camera.

Fuel Consumption

A Polo is a cost-effective runabout, is it not? Well, you would think so and Volkswagen will claim that this new Polo GTI with its 6.7-second 0-100km/h time and a top speed of 237km/h is rather fuel efficient, with a combined cycle fuel consumption reading of only 5.9l/100km.

Realistically, I couldn't get it under the 7l/100km mark and that was with a fair amount of highway driving in Eco mode. It will take the discipline of a Buddhist Monk to get the figures they're claiming. That said, you don't buy the GTI because it's the most fuel efficient, you buy it for the power.

Price

And you will be paying for that power and performance. This brings me to my third and final gripe with the new Volkswagen Polo GTI – the price.

Before you check all the nice options, like the Safety Package, panoramic roof, 18-inch wheels and Discover Media infotainment system, the new Polo GTI is going to cost R381 500. That's a lot of folding matter for a Polo... even if it is the size of a Golf.

It will come with a 3 year / 120 000km warranty and a 3 year / 45 000km service plan, but that's still a lot of scratch.

Verdict

The new VW Polo GTI is a great car, don't get me wrong. It makes advances in the segment that is currently unrivalled. It's even better that it's manufactured here on our very shores, but it doesn't stop it from being un-Polo-like.

It's too big, too powerful and too expensive to wear the Polo badge. It leaves a gaping hole in the market for a small, compact, exciting hatchback that the younger motorist can comfortably wrap their heads and hands around. It's moved into the realm of the true performance offering.

This makes me long for a VW Up! GTI even more now...

Expert rating: 4/5