Volkswagen Australia has sprung two big surprises on Australian hot-hatch buyers with the launch of the all-new VW Polo GTI. Firstly, there’s the price. Most had anticipated the fast German machine to come in somewhere in the low thirty thousands, perhaps even being squeezed down to $29,990.
So the announcement at the Polo launch, held at the Collingrove Hillclimb facility near Adelaide, surprised all the motoring journalists when we were told it would be just $27,990. That’s for the three-door manual variant, the five-door adds only $1000 to the recommend cost. On-road prices have to be added, but even then you’re still only into the very low thirties when the shiny new VW Polo GTI is sitting proudly on your driveway.

These low prices are only the second surprise with this German hot-hatch. The big one is its performance. The just superseded Polo was reasonably quick, but the new model is a little road rocket at just 6.9 seconds to 100 km/h, it’s not so long ago you needed a Brock Commodore to run numbers like that.
In place of the 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine used in the previous Volkswagen Polo GTI, the new model has a 1.4-litre twincharger powerplant. That means it runs both a turbo and a supercharger. The supercharger pumps extra fuel into the engine at low revs, the turbo at higher engine speeds. There’s some overlap between the two air pumps to give strong torque over a wide band, with the supercharger being de-clutched at 3500 revs, when the turbocharger takes over completely. The result is a strong 250 Newton metres all the way from 2000 to 4500 revs. Maximum power is 132 kilowatts, a handy 20 per cent up on its predecessor.

OK, you don’t buy a high-performance car to save fuel, but in the VW you do so in any case. Even during the hard driving of our road test program to and from Collingrove these hot hatches were running in the eight to ten litre range most of the time. The official Australian standard number for the Polo on the combined fuel consumption cycle is 6.1 litres per hundred and this should be achievable in normal driving on motorways and level country roads.
Note that the complete road test fleet for our initial review of the Polo GTI was running seven-speed DSG double-clutch transmissions. Volkswagen Australia has decided not to import a manual version. This is an interesting move; while we are aware the DSG equipped Polo is quicker than the six-speed manual, we feel there are enough ‘real’ drivers out there to justify bringing in some manuals as well.
Body styling of the all-new VW Polo GTI is very much in the manner of the Golf GTI that was launched earlier in 2010. Thus the Polo has blacked out honeycomb front grilles as well as black backing to the headlamp surrounds. There are red highlights above and below the main grille.  A revised front bumper ties in neatly with the door sills and makes the lowered, by 15 mm, suspension really standout. At the rear are left-mounted chromed exhaust outlets and a diffuser look to the bumper. Topping the back window is a neatly shaped wing.

Though the body kit works neatly we feel it’s perhaps a little subdued. While we aren’t looking for a Japanese over-the-top arrangement, we feel the Germans have perhaps been over subtle. Time, and the market, will prove us right or wrong…  Inside are the traditional Volkswagen GTI features of tartan seats, red-leather trimmed wheel and gear lever knob and sports instruments.  There are other optional materials, contact your Volkswagen dealer for details.

This new Volkswagen Polo is a real delight to drive. Its engine has plenty of punch and the use of twin charging means there’s minimal delay before you get the acceleration you demand. Handling is nicely balanced and the use of an electronic sports differential means the Polo can easily be controlled on the throttle. Ride comfort is pretty good for a sports model riding on 17-inch wheels and this little Volkswagen could easily be used as a daily driver.  Add those dynamics features to the astonishingly low price and this VW Polo GTI seems a surefire winner with the high-performance guys and gals.