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South Africans are deeply invested in the rich history surrounding the GTI name. It's been slapped on one of the most popular hot hatches for decades now, and when you hear these three letters, it will typically conjure an image of a Golf. Yet, Volkswagen offers another, more compact hatch with the same credentials, and we've come to love it over the years. It comes in the shape of a Polo, and I would argue that it provides a better experience than the infamous Golf 8 GTI, especially for the price.
The Polo GTI comes with leather sports seats that hug you in the corners and are comfortable for the open road. It also sports a 9.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, which really puts ease of use at the forefront. The driver is also given a digital display with the trademark red colours to remind them that they are in a GTI. My favourite feature? It has to be the Beats 6-speaker sound system.
Now, let's talk about what the GTI is really all about: driving. Having had a somewhat mediocre experience with the Golf 8 GTI, I had similar expectations going into my first drive of the Polo. I'm pleased to report, though, that the Polo has more of that GTI character despite sporting the same, yet downtuned, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine from the Golf to pump out a healthy 147kW and 320Nm of torque. This is all bolted to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
It does run out of steam on the higher end of the rpm range and struggles to find the legs to relentlessly accelerate from highway speeds, but playing around in the corners and keeping the engine speed around the 4,000r/min mark provides you with a relatively thrilling driving experience. From a standstill, the Polo does occasionally jerk forward with more vigour than requested, even in eco mode. It's the corners where it shines, as its light weight allows for a pointy nose on sharp corner entries and good mid-turn control. It can understeer if you are too excited with your steering inputs (the curse of front-wheel-drive antics), but on a smooth surface, it's buckets of fun. Ultimately, the focus on the driving experience over unnecessary technology truly sets the Polo GTI apart from its larger sibling with a more authentic hot hatch driving experience that enthusiasts will appreciate.
Unfortunately, performance cars are becoming increasingly less affordable, and the Polo GTI is part of a dying segment with the local demise of rivals such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio R.S. Still, it commands an asking price of R549,000 and offers an excellent option for anyone looking to buy a new and involving performance car for significantly less than its Golf GTI sibling. Furthermore, the Polo GTI also comes with a 3-year/45,000km service plan and a 120,000km warranty, ensuring your hot hatch runs smoothly for years to come.
The Polo GTI has its flaws, but for the price, it's an excellent package to incite thrilling driving on a tighter budget. It offers a playful attitude, exciting driving characteristics, and a good amount of get-up-and-go. The interior, although simple, provides a sleek, good-looking, and functional cabin with a sound system that definitely has some substance to it. For those on a tight budget, the Polo GTI is nearly the only option left on the market if you're looking for an upgrade for your daily commute.
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