2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI video review

28/11/2022 20:01

2022 VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI

Not all manufacturers can lay claim to bringing about a whole new type of car. Yet, Volkswagen was arguably one of the first to develop the hot hatch. While the story might have started at the Golf GTI, the spirit is carried with even more affordable alternatives like the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI.

How much does the Volkswagen Polo GTI cost in Australia?

The Volkswagen Polo GTI has been a mainstay in Volkswagen’s local line-up for several years, and the brand has just breathed new life into the model as part of the Polo range refresh earlier in 2022.

That’s impressive given some rivals like the Ford Fiesta ST have exited the market altogether. However, the affordability factor has taken a blow – this car is nearly $6000 more expensive than its predecessor.

At $38,750 before on-road costs, the Polo GTI now nips at the heels of bigger, more powerful alternatives such as the Hyundai i30 N.

The facelift brought about changes including a restyled front bumper with integrated full-width light strip, wider tail-lights, and a new wheel design – the GTI gets 18-inch alloys as standard with Continental ContiSportContact tyres.

Inside the cabin, the Polo GTI now scores a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which joins items such as tartan cloth sports seats, sports steering wheel, alloy pedals, wireless smartphone mirroring, and a drive-mode selector.

Carried over is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as its predecessor, and it outputs an identical 147kW/320Nm to the front wheels. This car’s predecessor didn’t offer the choice of a manual gearbox, and this car is no different. It’s a six-speed dual-clutch transmission only.

You can option the GTI with a $1500 Sound and Tech Package that brings a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, plus a six-speaker Beats sound system. This one has that pack.

How much space does the Volkswagen Polo GTI have inside?

Jumping into the cabin, it’s still very obviously a light hatchback. Granted, I’m 195cm tall, but there’s not a lot of room to move about, and you do feel as though you’re seated shoulder to shoulder with your front seat passenger.

Just as well the seats are very comfortable and supportive, with good bolstering and a lofty driving position. The seats aren’t as tight as something like the Fiesta ST’s Recaro units, but they tend to do enough to hold you in through a string of swift cornering.

Storage space isn’t a highlight, but you do get a wireless phone charger, a pair of cupholders and a tiny centre console bin.

Materials use throughout the cabin is decent, especially on all the touchpoints. Where the experience starts to sour is on areas such as the door cards that are plastic. The centre console portion, again, is a hard moulded plastic.

In the second row, there’s not too much to get excited about in terms of amenity, but it’s a functional space and is comfortable enough (provided you’re not too tall). It has grown closer in size to its Golf bigger sibling, between generations, but bigger passengers will want to be calling shotgun on the front seat.

It does have two USB-C ports in the centre, but there are no air vents. It also has two map pockets, and door pockets big enough for a water bottle. You press the big, new VW logo to gain access to the 305L boot. There’s a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor, ready in case you cop a flat tyre.

Does the Volkswagen Polo GTI have Apple CarPlay?

The infotainment system is super easy to use and not at all daunting. There could be more shortcut buttons to shift across to different functions, but it’s easy enough to navigate your way around nonetheless. I ran wireless Apple CarPlay all week in this car, which performed well without dropping out.

Inside the instrument cluster, you can configure the screen to show things like a full-screen map display, or you can alter the way the car shows information such as engine speed or fuel consumption data.

Straddling the right side of the gear selector are a series of buttons for automatic parking, disabling the parking sensors, disabling start/stop, and a drive-mode selector.

Is the Volkswagen Polo GTI a safe car?

Volkswagen first achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating with the current-generation Polo in 2018, and it repeated the feat with the facelifted car earlier in 2022.

Dual frontal, side chest, and curtain airbags are standard, as is a centre airbag that helps front seat occupants in side impact crashes. This allowed the Polo to score 94 per cent in adult occupant protection, 80 per cent in child protection, and a 70 per cent score in pedestrian protection.

What safety technology does the Volkswagen Polo GTI have?

The Polo GTI benefits from Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive safety suite, which includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (with Travel Assist), driver fatigue detection, lane-departure warning, parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a reverse camera – along with exterior mirrors that tilt to prevent wheel-kerb kisses.

Using this technology over a week’s test, the Polo’s safety systems worked with me, as a driver, rather than annoyed me.

How much does the Volkswagen Polo GTI cost to maintain?

As with all VWs, the Polo GTI will leave the dealership with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It also comes with a free year of roadside assist.

In terms of servicing, the Polo GTI costs $2750 over five years (which includes a free first service). Over three years, the car will cost $1400. These quoted prices are part of Volkswagen’s Care Plan, which saves Polo buyers $765 and $158, respectively, over the pay as you go Assured Service Pricing.

The VW Polo GTI will cost $1014.62 to insure per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Volkswagen Polo GTI fuel-efficient?

Volkswagen says the Polo GTI will return 6.5L/100km on a combined fuel cycle and 8.3L/100km on an urban-focused loop. Our testing found the car returned a combined consumption of 8.0L/100km, which is not too far off VW’s claim, but is more money you’ll have to spend on 95-octane fuel.

The fuel tank contains 40L.

What is the Volkswagen Polo GTI like to drive?

With relatively meek-sounding 147kW/320Nm outputs on paper, this Polo GTI definitely feels more than the sum of its parts, from the seat of the pants.

Bolstered by a gruff and meaty-sounding exhaust, the Polo GTI’s engine gathers torque quickly at low revs and pulls strongly right up to redline. The shift experience at the top is extremely quick, as we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen’s DSG.

However, it’s not the smoothest gearbox in traffic or around town. There’s a noticeable shunt when coming on and off throttle in the lower gears, which can annoy passengers inside the vehicle.

On the plus side, it doesn’t exhibit those tell-tale DSG signs of hesitation and rollback, which is great.

There are a series of drive modes to choose from, but VW hasn’t gone crazy – there are only four including one Individual mode. Sport sharpens up the steering, throttle response, and suspension, while the auto gearbox also holds onto ratios longer.

The ride quality errs on firm, even without being in Sport mode, where you do feel all road impacts translated through to the cabin. But, it’s not to the extent that it’s uncomfortable, and it doesn’t have that same hard-edged feel you get in other hot hatches.

The steering is also firm and weighty in Sport mode, which makes rounding bends accurate and feelsome. For such a ‘pogo-ey’ tall and narrow body that the Polo has, it stays remarkably flat when changing direction suddenly. 

It feels genuinely fun to wrangle around a set of corners. Its light weight and feelsome steering make it very entertaining on a quiet back road, and I’d be surprised if it didn’t put a grin on your face. Even just the unassuming exhaust note gives me a laugh!          

Brake feel is grabby, which is annoying in day-to-day driving. You really have to be gentle with your pedal inputs to ensure a smooth driving experience. I wish the brake pedal were a bit more progressive in how hard it clamps down on calipers. They do pull up the car with impressive ability, though.

The change-up between sporty driving and everyday liveability is impressive for such an entry-level car.

Should I buy a Volkswagen Polo GTI?

Though it’s taken a blow in the affordability stakes, the Polo GTI soldiers on as one of the premier hot hatches you can buy in Australia. One of my neighbours has just picked up an identical-spec red car and I am low-key jealous of the pick-up.

It’s not as serious or as fast as its Golf GTI bigger brother, but that’s inherently part of the charm. It’s really well equipped, feels nice inside (for the most part), and it’s a bundle of fun to drive.

Although its range of rivals feels as though it’s shrinking at a fast rate, this Polo GTI is the all-rounder hot hatch you’d be choosing anyway.

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