Volkswagen’s range-topping Polo GTI gets a new 1.8-litre turbocharged 192hp engine.
Excellent
Despite pocket-rocket performance, the GTI is still below 130g/km for user-choosers who want a hot hatch – if they spec a DSG automatic gearbox.
Those emissions are pushed to 139g/km on the manual, but it’s still impressive. At 48.0p it’s also cheaper to run per mile than a Renault Clio RenaultSport (53.0p), Ford Fiesta ST (50.0p) or Seat Ibiza Cupra (51.4p).
Good
Those comparatively low running costs are bolstered by a decent residual value that almost breaks the 40% mark. It’s four percentage points above the nearest competitor.
The Clio has slightly more power, but the Polo matches its 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. This car is a lot of fun to drive, and a sport mode ramps up the throttle response and firms up the steering.
Average
The traditional tartan seats are present here, but the interior on the whole is pretty low-key for a hot-hatch version.
It’s what you might expect from VW, with a well-built interior, but it’s perhaps a bit standard for hot-blooded petrol heads.
Poor
The smallest boot versus rials, so loses on practicality, but that’s not really the point of a car like this.