The Volkswagen Polo isn’t exactly a spring chicken, gracing various markets of the world since 1975. In the 47 years the Polo has lived, it’s seen a number of different versions, including the Polo Fun, Polo Soho, Polo Vivo, Polo Dune, and even the funky, jacked up Cross Polo. Come 1995, and the Polo (in Mk3 form) was finally all grown up and was christened with its very first GTI badge, a model that was produced in just 3,000 examples. Since then, the Polo GTI has gotten better and better as it shifted into the Mk4 and Mk5 generations, but come 2017 and Volkswagen was proud to announce the newest, Mk6 Polo GTI – a model that sports GTI-specific bumpers, exclusive 17-inch wheels, large brakes, twin exhaust, sport steering, lowered suspension, and the 2.0-liter from the Golf GTI that has been slightly detuned to 200PS, the most power ever offered by a Polo GTI and the equivalent of 197 horsepower for those of you not on the metric system. 18-inch wheels are also available as an option, and the largest wheel offering in the history of the little hatchback.

On top of all of these GTI extras, the Polo GTI is based on the sixth-generation, 2018 Polo, which means it gets all of the fresh stylings inside and out to go with some standard safety features like front collision detection, blind spot assist, and even automatic emergency stopping. The base model is even available in 14 different exterior colors while the dash inside is customizable with any one of 17 different color options. When you add the extra power, the new styling, the standard safety systems, and the ability to choose from a wide array of different colors inside and out, this is by far the best Polo GTI to date. Let’s give it a quick once over and talk about all the goodness that comes with the sixth-gen GTI before we get to the full review.

GTI…Need I Say More?

What does it take to make a GTI? Is it the extra horsepower over the standard model? Is it the GTI specific features inside and out? Is it just that GTI badge that promises supremacy in the lineup? Well, to be honest, it takes a combination of these things.

When you look at the exterior, you’ll find that the front end is nearly identical to its lesser brethren, but it does get the GTI stripe across the headlights and radiator grille, and the GTI badge, of course. It also gets its very own mesh, in this case, honeycomb mesh – a feature that does make the front end stand out quite well among the rest of the lineup. The side profile gets its own goodies too, like 17-inch wheels as standard equipment (18-inch wheels are optional for the first time on the Mk6 Polo GTI) to go with red brake calipers.

Around back, the extra goodies include a sexy overhang above the hatch and a more dominating insert at the bottom of the fascia. This insert features a honeycomb mesh and also serves as a home for the dual exhaust outlet on the left corner. And, don’t forget that dominating GTI badge on the rear hatch either, because folks need to know that you’re rocking the GTI, baby!

When you open the driver’s door for the first time, you’ll realize that while the exterior is quite reminiscent of the standard model, the interior stands in a class all its own. Compared to the standard model, you’ll get a new steering wheel that features that bright red stitching, a flat bottom, and small central hub. The red stitching also carries over to other parts of the interior, including the shifter boot and seats. Speaking of the seats, they also get a special plaid insert in the center to further set the GTI apart from the rest. As an option, those seats can be switched out for all-leather units, but come on – you know you don’t want to get rid of the Clark plaid pattern.

In addition to the red stitching and precarious plaid inserts, you’ll also find a healthy dose of chrome throughout the interior. This includes the face of the dash, the outer ring of the center console, the ring around the shifter, ring around the instrument cluster (inner and outer) the insert around the door handle and the handle itself, as well as a few other bits on the steering wheel and the pedals. As far as the dash goes, it can be optioned in Deep Iron Glossy or Velvet Red, but the instrument cluster and infotainment display are only offered in gloss black.

The pictures you see here, naturally, depict some optional equipment. So, unless you’re willing to pay, don’t expect to see the Active Info Display in place of a semi-digital instrument cluster. This is the first time an all-digital unit has been offered in the Polo, so it’s certainly something worth considering as it is quite a sporty proposition. If you opt for that display, you’ll get a 10.25-inch screen, while the infotainment system comes standard at 6.5 inches or can be optioned with an 8.0-inch screen. Outside of standard features like electric windows and height adjustable seats, you can also option your new GTI with a panoramic sunroof and a 300-Watt sound system from none other than Beats. Not bad huh?

Vroom Vroom Goes the GTI

Finally, we’re to what it really boils down to: the power plant at the core of the little beast. For the first time ever, the Polo GTI is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which is good for 200 PS, or 197 horsepower. That makes it the most powerful Polo GTI ever, beating out the Mk5 by eight PS or more than 7.5 horsepower. Despite the fact that the new GTI gets a larger engine with a bit more horsepower, it still delivers 236 pound-feet of torque, which happens to be available at max between 1,500 rpm and 4,400 rpm, giving the little hatch a strange but spunky torque curve.

Expect to pay up when it comes to fuel, though, as premium fuel is required. When you consider its performance specs, however, that’s not too big a deal. See, the new GTI can hit the 62-mph sprint in 6.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 237 kph or 147 mph. Those numbers might be a minor improvement over its predecessor, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s just enough to be enticing.

When the new Polo GTI launches for the 2018 model year, you’ll initially be stuck with a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission, so if you want three pedals, you’ll have to wait until at least 2019 when the six-speed manual is made available as an option. On the plus side, the dual-clutch unit is regarded as quite reliable and offers impeccable shift timing and smoothness, so I wouldn’t expect any different in the Polo GTI. Fuel economy is pegged at 5.9-liters per 100 km or roughly 40 mpg, so you’re not only quick but fairly efficient as well.

The Sport Suspension comes standard and offers a decreased right height of 15 mm, or just over a half-inch in comparison to the base model. There’s also the Sport Select Suspension, which includes active dampers and will also provide a different running gear. Electromechanical power steering comes standard as does stability control and VW’s XDS differential lock for better traction in the corners.

If you’re someone who likes driver assistance features (I’m definitely not one of them) you’ll be quite happy as the new Polo GTI comes with a full suite of the latest offerings that include blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, driver alert system, post-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, front assist monitor, emergency braking, and park assist. There’s also a driving profile selector that gives you different driving programs and drivetrain settings, while a proactive occupant protection system that tightens the seat belts, adjusts the windows and sunroof to a just cracked position, and activates the ESC as needed in an attempt to prevent a collision or provide the best protection possible. Not too bad, but makes you wonder if the system will trigger inadvertently during extremely spirited driving.

Final Thoughts

Well, I know I said we were just going to talk about a few things before we got to making a full review, but as it turns out, the Polo GTI is quite the conversation piece. We’ve been over most of the big details and will be updating our full review soon, so be sure to check that out in the near future for all the fine details that we didn’t cover here.

Until then, however, what are your thoughts on the new Polo GTI? Do you need to have one or would you rather pass and go for the larger, Golf GTI? Let us know in the comments section below.

References

Volkswagen Polo

Read our full review on the Volkswagen Polo.