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 revealed the improved version of its popular sixth-generation Polo supermini without spilling the beans on the range-topping GTI version like the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI.
2022 Volkswagen Polo Pricing and Specs. The Volkswagen Polo 2022 prices range from $19,290 for the basic trim level Hatchback Polo 70TSI Trendline to $38,750 for the top of the range Hatchback Polo GTI. The Volkswagen Polo 2022 is available in Premium Unleaded Petrol.
The Volkswagen Polo GTI has been overshadowed by touches taken from its larger, more powerful sibling, so some might not know it’s a few decades back. Volkswagen has tried to give it an outright sporty look, which means the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI will get plenty of custom trim, including a red stripe on its nose, a slim sporty body bag, and eye-catching tartan seats.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 can follow the example of the Golf GTI both in terms of ease of use in a smaller, more affordable package, then the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 would be a very good start indeed.
This is what we will discover in this review through the following lines.
Given the raw facts and figures, it seems 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 Adaptive Sport suspension as standard, so it’s pretty tidy when it comes to cornering.
But how much do all the numbers and specification lists translate into the kind of entertaining driving experience that sporty looks seem to promise, and can the Volkswagen Polo GTI really stand up to the likes of the Fiesta ST?
Over the next few pages, we’ll answer that very question, and put the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 in front of some of the best competitors.
Let us tell you about their performance, internal quality, operating costs, and more, to help you decide.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 exterior design
The Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 just got an overhaul of its look.
The new Matrix LED headlights now extend slightly down into the bumper and have an illuminated red stripe, which is highlighted by another LED lighting strip that extends the width of the grille.
The bumper itself has a more aggressive design than before as well, bringing it more in line with the design of the latest Golf GTI.
Not much has changed on the side look 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 lot tougher.
Just like the rest of the Polo lineup, larger boom-style tail lamps have been introduced along with a modified bumper and a new body-color rear diffuser.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 Engine
The 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI is still powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, but it gets 207 horsepower, as well as 320 Nm of torque.
That power is still delivered to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Unlike these manual-only competitors, you can only get a 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
It tends to dampen the initial acceleration when you bury your foot in the pedal. The car’s electronics decide what gear they can best use.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 Engine Performance
With the ignition switched on, the turbocharged 2.0-liter Volkswagen Polo GTI explodes before settling to idle, which appears somewhat subdued compared to its fruitful competitors.
However, 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 zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Despite this slight gearbox delay, the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI can officially catapult itself from 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds according to company data.
This is identical to 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 Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
We’re not sure you won’t miss 0.3 seconds, because the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI feels just as fast, delivering its power in a powerful and progressive stroke.
It also suffers less from turbo lag – a brief pause between you and the throttle flattening 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 fitted it with Sport Select suspension as standard, allowing you to install the car’s adaptive dampers at the touch of a button.
In Sport mode, the car offers a fairly comfortable ride, but it takes corners and turns more wide, and it hugs the road better, especially on slopes and peaks.
Maneuverability and stability in the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
It’s fun to drive the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI on a road that meets the road, it offers good levels of grip, and the reassuring brakes don’t make the i20 N move like during hard braking.
The GTI’s relatively comfortable setup means it’s not quite as fun as the more aggressive Fiesta ST, leaning more through turns while feeling less fun at its limits.
Steering in a Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
Furthermore, while the Polo GTI’s steering weight feels more natural than the Fiesta ST, it’s not as sharp or precise.
This means you’ll still be able to position the GTI where you want it with relative accuracy but never look nimble on its toes.
Rather than being built for excitement alone, the Polo GTI comes with more than one compromise, it leans toward everyday use.
In Normal or Eco mode, this approach becomes even more pronounced, with adaptive dampers and throttle response and gearbox all resting in their softest positions, making the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI significantly more comfortable than its competitors.
The ride quality of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
In fact, the ride is hardly harsher than in the standard Volkswagen Polo – whether in the city or on the highway – and there is very little road or wind noise at high speeds.
When it comes to the regular Polo.
In short, this car has just about everything we love, but the GTI is a hot car, so we’d prefer it to be more adventurous, and lean toward excitement rather than comfort.
Interior Design For Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is just like the regular Volkswagen Polo, but it gives you a great driving position.
In fact, the cabin of the Polo GT is hugged by sporty tartan seats that make driving more comfortable than the non-GTI version.
There is a lot of manual adjustment of the seat and steering wheel, so you will not find it difficult to get comfortable, but, as in the standard Polo, it is deprived of adjustable lumbar support.
Driving position and driving comfort in the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
You sit lower than the Ford Fiesta ST but your visibility is still excellent, especially compared to the rest of the hot hatch category.
Rear visibility is enhanced by front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera is available as an option for a fee.
Powerful matrix LED headlights come 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’s worth noting that it’s also standard on the Fiesta ST but not available with the Hyundai i20 N.
The dashboard of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
The GTI’s dashboard is mostly made of attractive plastics, with junk plastics well hidden away.
You get a glossy red plastic slate across the middle of the dashboard, which seems to differ on whether it makes the cabin a more or less pleasant place to sit than the regular Polo.
The logical dashboard layout makes it easy to find all the controls you’ll use most often – it’s a shame that 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 air conditioner, etc. less distracting while driving.
Quality of materials in the interior of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
The overall interior quality of the Polo GTI 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.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 infotainment system
As with that car, you get an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, with DAB radio, Bluetooth, built-in satellite navigation, and both smartphone mirroring.
The system offers high-quality graphics and responds quickly enough to your requests, so we won’t have to bother to upgrade to an 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 works primarily using the touch screen.
This makes it more distracting to use while driving, but that’s an issue you’ll also encounter on the Fiesta ST and i20 N. We prefer the physical rotary console you’ll find on a Mini Cooper.
The spaciousness and spaciousness of the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
Even in VW’s special lineup, there are hot cars that are larger (like the Golf GTI) and smaller ones (like the AB GTI).
Compared to similarly priced competitors – such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N – the Polo GTI impresses on front passenger space, whoever their height won’t struggle for head or leg room.
It’s a similar story for those sitting in the back, with the Polo GTI offering similar knee room to the Fiesta, with more headroom.
It also has a wider rear seat, which comes in handy if you plan to carry up to three teenagers or adults in the back.
Luggage compartment of Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
It’s easy to assume that the Polo GTI’s 282 liters of boot space isn’t that great, especially when you consider that the Fiesta ST offers 292 liters and the Hyundai i20 N has 352 liters.
In conclusion, the GTI can accommodate four handbags.
The Polo GTI misses the adjustable boot floor that you’ll find on the standard VW Polo but gets 60/40 split-folding rear seats as standard.
And when the seats are folded down, loading space is increased.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 value for money
As a cash purchase, the Volkswagen Polo GTI costs a little more than the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N but is depreciating more slowly than these two competitors.
This means that they should be more valuable after three years of ownership.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 Technologies
You get a lot of standard equipment with the Polo GTI, including:
17 inch alloy wheels
Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror
Folding and electronically heated side mirrors
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Dual Zone Climate Control
Adaptive cruise control
10.25 in . digital driver display
parking sensors
8.0-inch infotainment system.
Safety and driver assistance equipment for the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI
Every Polo GTI gets plenty of safety gear, including:
Help keep track
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 kit that you don’t get as standard on the Fiesta ST.
Volkswagen GTI 2022 Safety Rating
In the Euro NCAP safety tests, the Polo GTI was awarded five stars.
This matches the Fiesta rating, but since the Polo was tested in 2022 and the Fiesta 2017, it’s impossible to compare the two (the tests get harder every year).
However, Polo should, in theory, be much safer.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 Reliability
When it comes to reliability, the standard Volkswagen Polo doesn’t score well in reliability surveys, and falls well below the small car category.
Volkswagen did a little better as a brand, ranking 20th out of 30 distinct manufacturers, well below Hyundai in third but still higher than Ford in 27th.
Maintenance and warranty costs for the Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
With that in mind, VW’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty should give you some peace of mind and have the option to extend it if you don’t mind paying more.
Compared to the rest of the competitors, this warranty is fairly standard and cannot match the five-year warranty you would get with the Hyundai i20 N.
Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 features
My car is very comfortable by hot car standards
Great driving position “Drive Mode”
Better infotainment system than its competitors
Disadvantages of Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022
Doesn’t look very sexy
Too expensive as a small car
The alternatives are more fun to drive in
Reciprocating DSG automatic gearbox
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