Quick Review: Polo GTi. Why even bother with a Golf?

I drive the Polo Gti for a few days and realise that VW probably doesn’t make any bad cars, in fact, this one is so good, It makes me wonder what the point of a Golf GTi is.
Over the years the Polo has grown and grown in size, think back to the first Polo Playa, the tiny cabin, the plentiful plastics in the interior and the basic layout was what we wanted back then. It was a brilliant alternative to the Citi Golf, which incidentally was later replaced by the Polo Vivo.
Fast forward a few years and the Polo is still South Africas best selling car, and the 147kW Polo Gti is almost the same size as a Mk5 Golf, and boasts the same power too!
On the Road
Polo Gti is relatively comfortable in Normal Mode. Our test car came equipped with the standard 17” wheels which aren’t as arch filling as I’d have liked but does give Polo a more sleeper-esque look, blending in the scenery more than standing out.  Hit the Sport button and the exhaust note has a cheeky raspy sound to it. More than one would expect from a production car.  The suspension also firms up, noticeably so and the car darts over bumps reminiscent of a lowered hatchback from the noughties. The only difference is that instead of flopping around Polo GTi clings to the road. Polo Gti grips and grips. Turn in is ultra crisp thanks to the XDS differential. The XDS system here,  feels less intrusive than on the heavier Golf 7.5 with not much noticeable braking takes place. The car is composed and easy to drive fast and when the road gets a bit greasy it remains predictable although the grip drop off is noticeable due to the very firm suspension. 0-100 comes up in 6.7 seconds and the traction control does seem to intervene even when completely turned off. The engine torque is great for around town but I do wish there was more power at the top of the rev range.

Interior
Inside the polo is well specced and spacious enough to not remind me of the original Playa. A few plastic bits here and there but nothing to be upset about. It has a conventional handbrake which I’m sure its target market can appreciate but the older I get the more I’m becoming ok with an automatic handbrake.  Our test unit came equipped with VW’s Active Info Display, a  must have with its 10.25 inch display. We didn’t, however, have the optional sunroof fitted which I personally would have opted for if this was to by my car. The interior trim has many options with the grey dash being my favourite as seen in the pic above.

Verdict
At R375 900 the new Polo is as good as any of the new breed of hot hatches out there. It’s a fantastic car for a young up and coming petrolhead, as the Polo GTi always has been and for 180k less than the Gti a worthy alternative if you don’t need the extra space.