The Volkswagen GTI can be credited with helping coin the term ‘hot hatch’. Fast-forward three decades since its introduction and its stake in South Africa has been diluted by the likes of the Ford Focus ST, Mini Cooper S, Alfa Romeo Guilietta and Renault Clio RS, to name just a few. It’s not before time then, to see Volkswagen inject some fresh blood into the market of small, fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive cars. Besides, the Golf VI GTI looks a little bloated to be a chuckable hot hatch in this company.

The Polo GTI is propelled by a 1.4-litre engine with cast iron block and aluminium cylinder head that uses ‘twin-charging’ – a combination of turbocharging and supercharging. The supercharger aids the engine’s low-end power, while an intercooled turbocharger kicks in at 3 000 r/min for higher rpm boost. A solenoid integrated into the water pump actuates the supercharger, while a control valve diverts spent exhaust gases to the turbocharger.

Net output of 132 kW arrives at 6 200 r/min, which is impressive, especially when coupled with the diminutive kerb weight of 1 269 kg. On our test route, which took in the Western Cape’s Franschhoek Pass, we achieved an excellent 5.3 L/100km, not far off VW’s claim of 5.1 L/100km on the extra urban cycle. Power is routed through a seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox and the front-wheel drive Polo GTI uses what Volkswagen calls an Electronic Transverse Differential lock, or XDS, which constantly evaluates the steering wheel angle, yaw rate and wheel speed to reduce or eliminate slip at the unloaded wheel. It’s all very clever and only engineers in white lab coats tend to understand it. The Polo GTI can hit 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and tops out at a claimed 229 km/h. Handling is aided by 17-inch alloys and, though the front suspension is an independent setup with struts and coil springs, the rear is a torsion-beam arrangement.

Despite its junior standing in the Volkswagen performance car lineup, our Polo GTI test car came equipped with upmarket touches like a multi-function computer and ‘hill hold control’ for those who battle to hold the car themselves on a mild gradient. Tsk tsk. This is a thoughtfully laid-out interior that conveys a sense of solid construction and design integrity, while the relatively tall screen offers good forward visibility for the front passengers. The rearward view is somewhat obstructed, but by no means as difficult to see out of as some of its competitors.

Slide behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel and pull the shifter into ‘D’ and you’ll need to be gentle on the throttle to impress passengers with your smooth take off. The combination of a low curb weight, a mildly peaky engine and the DSG clutch demands a bit of right-footed finesse. The 1.4-litre engine’s performance doesn’t overwhelm during the first couple thousand revs off the line and, although peak torque starts at a mere 2 000 r/min, urgent acceleration generally demands more aggressive measures to achieve more momentum. Torque steer is nicely controlled and you are rewarded with a very eager run all the way up to redline, which is a smidgen off the 7 000 r/min mark.

In congested city streets, the Polo GTI is nimble and easily hustled around slower traffic; when using the steering-mounted paddle shifters, the engine and transmission do an excellent job of matching the revs for each downshift. It sounds pretty good, too. It’s got a deep note in the mid range and turbo whoosh when you lift off. Acceleration seems most effective above pedestrian speeds and is gutsier at highway speeds, offering more insistent thrust thanks to its revvy motor.

The harder this hatchback is driven, the more rewarding it becomes. It may not impress if you pussyfoot around in town, but you will be rewarded at the fuel pump if you do. The sporty driver in you will find that satisfaction is directly proportionate to (appropriate) speed and (controlled) driver aggression; pick your line around bends, roll onto the accelerator as you clip the apex and this car show a side of its personality you wouldn’t have otherwise known existed. In short, if you enjoy driving, this car will entertain you. Build quality is excellent, as you would expect from VW, and if you have more utilitarian uses for your car, the Polo GTI is still capable of hauling five full-size adults around for shortish journeys in reasonable comfort.

Volkswagen’s new Polo GTI is a very, competent and desirable car. Curiously though, the car excels in places where you’d expect it to do less well as a junior hot hatch. It’s refined and very few can match the Polo GTI on interior quality. From the hip-hugging and supportive seats, to the Golf GTI like wheel and top-notch plastics, it really does feel like the newest incarnation of its 30 year old GTi brother should be. Its fuel economy, combined with more performance than you’d expect from a, tiny, 1.4-litre engine and it makes it a strong contender for your new car money.

What we like…

• Smile inducing motor.
• Quality of plastics and overall build quality.
• Unbreakable feel of the engineering.

What we would like…

• The option of a manual gearbox.
• Some will like the understated elegance but I’d like to see more ‘wow’ in styling and panache.