The 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI hits the market with an updated design and more power under the hood compared to the old Polo GTI. The German automaker recently unveiled the facelifted version of its popular sixth-generation Polo supermini without spilling the beans on a range-topping GTI version like the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The Volkswagen Polo 2022 comes in Hatchback. The Volkswagen Polo 2022 is available in Premium Unleaded Petrol.
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Hatchback.
| 2022 Volkswagen Polo | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
| GTI | Specs: 2.0L, Premium Unleaded Petrol, 6 SPEED AUTO D/SH T/TRON SPT | Price: $29,260 – $35,200 |
The Volkswagen Polo GTI was dominated by touches taken from its larger and more powerful brother, so some may not know that it dates back a few decades. And Volkswagen tried to give it a frankly sporty look, which means that the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 will get a lot of custom decorations, including a red stripe on its nose, a thin sports body bag, and eye-catching tartan seats.
If the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI can follow the example of the Golf GTI in terms of usability in a smaller, more affordable package, the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI will be off to a very good start indeed. This is what we will discover in this review through the following lines.
Looking at the raw facts and figures, it looks as if the Volkswagen Polo GTI is on the right track. For example, its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine delivers more power than the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N. What’s more, you also get an adaptive sports suspension as standard, so it’ll be very tidier when it comes to cornering.
But how well do all the numbers and spec lists translate into the kind of fun driving experience that sporty looks seem to promise, and can the Volkswagen Polo GTI really hold up against the likes of the Fiesta ST? Over the next few pages, we’ll answer that very question, pitting the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI against the formidable top competitors. Let us tell you about its performance, internal quality, operating costs and more, to help you decide.
The exterior design of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
The 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been given an overhaul of its looks. New Matrix LED headlamps now extend slightly lower into the bumper and have a red illuminated strip, highlighted by another LED light bar that extends the width of the grille.
The bumper itself has a more aggressive design than before, too, bringing it more in line with the styling of the latest Golf GTI. Not much has changed on the side profile of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI, although you do have a choice of new 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels.
In the back things look a little rougher. Just like the rest of the Polo range, larger boomerang-like tail lamps are introduced along with a revised bumper as well as a new body-coloured rear diffuser.
Engine of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
The 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI is still powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it gets up to 207 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque. That power is still delivered to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Unlike these manual-only competitors, you can only get the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI with the 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. It tends to dampen initial acceleration as you bury your foot in the pedal and the car’s electronics decide what is the best gear to use.
Engine performance of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
When you turn the ignition key, the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine explodes before settling into an idle mode that looks somewhat muted compared to its more productive-engined competitors. Still, the engine sends a total of 204 horsepower to the front wheels, which is slightly more powerful than the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N. The engine takes the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Despite this slight delay from the gearbox, the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI can officially catapult itself from 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds, according to company data. This matches the Fiesta ST but is slightly slower than the Hyundai i20 N, which does the same job in 6.2 seconds using launch control.
Driving impressions of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
We’re not sure you wouldn’t miss 0.3 seconds, because the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI feels just as quick, delivering its power in a powerful, progressive stroke. It also suffers less from turbo lag — a brief pause between you and the flattening of the throttle and power delivery — than the i20 N.
Of course, a key feature of the best hot cars is that they are fun to drive on twisty roads. To help the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI fulfill this role, Volkswagen has equipped it with the Sport Select suspension as standard, allowing you to install the vehicle’s adaptive dampers at the touch of a button. In Sport mode, the car offers a fairly comfortable ride, but it takes corners more spaciously and hugs the road better, especially on inclines and peaks.
Handling and stability in the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
It is a pleasure to drive the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 on the road, as it offers good levels of stability, and the reassuring brakes do not make the car move like the i20 N during hard braking.
The GTI’s relatively relaxed setup means it’s not quite as fun as the more aggressive Fiesta ST, leaning more through turns while feeling less playful at its limits.
Steering in the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
Furthermore, while the Polo GTI’s steering heaviness feels more natural than the Fiesta ST’s, it’s not as sharp or precise. This means you’ll still be able to position the GTI where you want it with relative precision but it never feels agile on its toes.
Rather than being designed for excitement alone, the Polo GTI comes with more of a compromise, leaning towards everyday use. In Normal or Eco mode, this approach becomes even more pronounced, as the adaptive dampers, throttle response and gearbox all settle into their softer positions, making the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI noticeably more comfortable than its competitors.
The ride quality of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
In fact, the ride is hardly harsher than in a standard Volkswagen Polo – whether in town or on the highway – and there’s very little road or wind noise at higher speeds. When it comes to the regular Polo.
In short, this car has all the things we absolutely love, but the GTI is a hot car, so we would have preferred it to be more adventurous, leaning towards excitement rather than comfort.
Interior cabin design of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is just like the regular Volkswagen Polo, but it gives you a great driving position. In fact, the Polo GT’s cabin is hugged by tartan sports seats that make driving more comfortable than the non-GTI version. There are plenty of manual adjustments to the seat and steering wheel, so you’ll have no trouble getting comfortable, but, as in the standard Polo, it’s deprived of adjustable lumbar support.
Driving position and driving comfort in the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
You sit lower than the Ford Fiesta ST but your visibility is still excellent, especially compared to the rest of the hot hatch class. Rear visibility is enhanced by front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera is available as a paid option.
Powerful matrix LED headlights come as standard, so you can keep the full beam on at all times without blinding other road users. This gives you great visibility when driving at night. It should be noted that it is also standard on the Fiesta ST but not available with the Hyundai i20 N.
The dashboard of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
The GTI’s dashboard is built mostly of attractive plastics, with the unwanted plastics hidden nicely. You get a bright red slab of plastic across the middle of the dash, which seems to disagree on whether it makes the cabin more or less a pleasant place to sit than the average Polo.
The dashboard’s logical layout makes it easy to find all the controls you’ll use often—it’s a shame most of them are touch-sensitive buttons and sliders rather than physical controls. And the Vista has more buttons and knobs, which makes adjusting the A/C and so on less of a distraction while driving.
The quality of materials in the interior of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
The Polo GTI’s general interior quality is a step above what you’ll find in both the Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20N. It’s also much nicer than the (cheaper) Suzuki Swift Sport’s interior.
Infotainment system in the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
As with that car, you get an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, with DAB radio, Bluetooth, built-in satellite navigation, and mirroring for both smartphones. The system delivers high-quality graphics and responds quickly enough to your requests, so we wouldn’t have to bother paying to upgrade to the expensive 9.2-inch Discover Pro.
The only slight drawback is that there are a few touch-sensitive shortcut buttons around the screen, but the system primarily operates using the touch screen. This makes using them more distracting while driving, but this is an issue you’ll also run into on the Fiesta ST and i20 N. We prefer the physical rotary controller you’ll find in the Mini Cooper.
The spaciousness and spaciousness of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
Even in Volkswagen’s own lineup, there are hot cars that are bigger (like the Golf GTI) and smaller ones (like the AP GTI). Compared to similarly priced competitors – such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N – the Polo GTI impresses on front passenger space, as any height won’t struggle for head or leg room.
It’s a similar story for those in the back, as the Polo GTI offers similar knee room to the Fiesta, with more head room. It also has a wider back seat, which will come in handy if you plan on carrying up to three teens or adults in the back.
The trunk of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
It’s easy to assume that the Polo GTI’s 282-litre trunk space isn’t all that impressive, especially when you consider that the Fiesta ST offers 292-litres and the Hyundai i20 N has 352-litres. The bottom line is that the GTI can accommodate four hand luggage.
The Polo GTI lacks the adjustable boot floor you’ll find in the standard VW Polo but gets 60/40 split-folding rear seats as standard. And when the seats are folded down, the load space is increased.
Value for money for the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
As a cash purchase, the Volkswagen Polo GTI costs a little more than the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N but depreciates more slowly than these two competitors. This means that it should be more valuable after three years of ownership.
Technologies of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
You get a lot of standard equipment with the Polo GTI, including:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Electronically heated and folding side mirrors
- Rain sensing windshield wipers
- Dual-zone climate control
- Adaptive cruise control
- The digital driver display measures 10.25 in
- Parking sensors
- The infotainment system is 8.0 inches.
Safety and driver assistance equipment for the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
Every Polo GTI gets plenty of safety equipment, including:
- Lane keeping assistance
- Recognize road signs
- Driver Alert System that can detect signs that you are tired
- You also get Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – an essential piece of the safety suite that you don’t get as standard on the Fiesta ST.
Safety rating for the 2022 Volkswagen GTI
In Euro NCAP safety tests, the Polo GTI was awarded five stars. This matches the Fiesta’s rating, but since the Polo was tested in 2022 and the Fiesta 2017, it’s impossible to compare the two (the tests get more difficult every year). However, the Polo should, in theory, be safer.
The reliability of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
When it comes to reliability, the standard Volkswagen Polo doesn’t score well in reliability surveys, standing just below the compact car category. Volkswagen as a brand fared slightly better, ranking 20th out of 30 featured manufacturers, well below Hyundai in third but still above Ford in 27th.
Maintenance and warranty costs for the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
With that in mind, VW’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty should give you some peace of mind and you have the option to extend it if you don’t mind paying more. Compared to the rest of the competitors, this warranty is pretty standard and can’t match the five-year warranty you’ll get with the Hyundai i20 N.
Features of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
- My car is very comfortable by hot car standards
- Great driving position “Drive Mode”
- Better infotainment system than its competitors
Disadvantages of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
- Doesn’t look very exciting
- Quite expensive as a small car
- The alternatives are more fun to drive
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