Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI 2012

General information
If there has to be one car that you can point to as the best of the Volkswagen range, it has to be the Polo GTI. Boasting of a beyond brilliant 1.4 litre turbocharged and supercharged engine and a standard 7 speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) auto transmission, this has to be the year’s big winner in this very hard to please market segment. What makes this an even greater marvel is its unbelievable price tag for all the goodies it offers.


Interior
As good as this car looks from the outside, it takes your breath away even on the inside. With a typical GTI trim sporting the ‘tartan-look’ (leather being an option), it takes of comfort right away. The dashboard also reflects the usual conservative look with a polished layout that exudes class.



Specifications
A 1.4 litre TSI – turbocharged and supercharged – four cylinder engine boosts you from 0-100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds. The maximum power sits at 132kW at 6200 RPM and the torque peaks at 250Nm when in the 2000-4000 RPM range.
The fuel consumption has improved drastically to great surprise. This four cylinder powerplant now offers 6.1l/100kms as compared to 8.0l/100kms with the previous model. What really blows our minds though is the complex art that controls and co-ordinates the TSI system, with the turbocharger taking over from the supercharger at 3500 RPM.

Driving experience

To describe the drive in this car as a pleasure would do it serious injustice. On both, high-speed terrain roads and city roads, the car impresses. Razor sharp turn-ins, unrelenting grip, and brilliant mid-corner balance make it a great car to take long trips in. The Polo GTI, much like the Golf GTI features the XDL or extended electronic differential lock. This active brake system ensures that the inner wheel does not spin in corners and offers improved acceleration.
Zipping around the city is also a good experience in the VW Polo GTI. The known issue with the VW Polo persists with the minor clunkiness during stop-start traffic. This however is something you get used to and seems to be a decent tradeoff for the high speed performance. Parking also is a breeze with the small turning circle of 10.6 meters.

Ups and Downs
The downer with this amazing car remains with the fact that there is no manual transmission model available.
The ups on the other hand encompass most of the car’s features – from its brilliant turbocharged and supercharged engine to its smooth driving, and from its sleek looks to the amazing value it offers!