Driving a Polo GTI for a review makes me so happy! I love small sport cars. The perfect formula for a sports car in my opinion is: fun when you need it but ready to be used easily every day.
Even at first glance it doesn’t look like a Polo like all the others. On the front, the traditional red stripe that distinguishes the sports models of the Wolfsburg house makes a fine appearance. A re-enactment of a series of cars that for 40 years has been synonymous of fun. Looking at it deeper, you will notice the rear spoiler, the oversized bumpers and the optional Brescia 18-inch wheels that frame a generously-sized braking system with red-painted calipers.
If the observer be distracted and have not yet noticed the multiple logos arranged evenly on the four sides of the body, the interior should remove all doubts. We are facing a real GTI. Sporty recalls are everywhere. The seats are upholstered in the well-known checked fabric that VW calls “Clark”. The steering wheel and gear lever are in leather, with aluminum details, and characterized by red stitching.
The aluminum pedals and the door sill with the GTI logo embellish the sporty cockpit of the Polo GTI.
The Polo GTI mounts the already reviewed engine mounted on the sister Golf, with a power of 200 HP. This engine is coupled to the 6-speed DSG gearbox that guarantees excellent driving comfort but is always effective when looking for performances.
As standard, the setting of the Polo GTI is lowered by 15mm compared to its conventional counterpart. With the Sport Performance Kit, you will notice further enhances in the dynamic qualities. This option includes adjustable dampers, a driving profile selector and a larger stabilizer bar. This translates into a very balanced set-up, always suited to the context of use.
By moving the drive selector to Sport, the fun begins. The car stiffens, the engine starts to be aggressive, the electronics leave more room for the driver and the sound becomes more noisy. The Polo GTI gives excellent road holding, thanks to the XDS electronic differential, even when reaching the limit the grip is truly remarkable. The braking system proves to be up to expectations, very powerful and always adaptable.
The Polo GTI is not only synonymous of sportiness but also of technology! The ADAS, which include emergency braking, adaptive cruise and blind-spot assistant are always well calibrated and are a real added value to the vehicle.
The standard infotainment system offered is the Composition Media without satellite navigation, if you want navigation, as on the car under test, as an option you can find the Discover Media. Always fluid, responsive and easy to use, it is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You will also find as a standard equipment the ten-inch Active Info Display, very customizable and always clearly visible in all lighting conditions.
The lighting department is an excellence too, the rear LED lights are standard, while the LED headlights are also available as an option. We had the opportunity to test them with this car and they result effective, as well as being aesthetically very appealing. Another positive side of the Polo GTI is the fuel consumption, it is not difficult to settle on averages around 14/15 kilometers with a liter of petrol.
In conclusion, I can absolutely suggest this Volkswagen Polo GTI, a car that has conquered me from all points of view. Capable of amazing performances but also of giving an excellent driving comfort, making it a perfect car for every day.
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