Volkswagen’s latest high-performance model is the Polo. Based on the car that has just taken out the Wheels Car of the Year award, the GTI version of the Polo gives you stronger performance both from the engine and chassis. Yet the Polo is remarkably well priced.

With a recommended retail price of just $27,790 you can have one sitting in your garage with all on-road costs taken care of for only a smidgen over $30,000. The price list not only reflects the rising value of the Australian dollar against the Euro, but also the fact that the local importers are being very aggressive in their plans for a much larger market share in this country.

Even more impressive is that price is for a car with automatic transmission. 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. Perhaps if enough people make a fuss we may get to see a ‘proper’ gearbox on offer.

Styling of the new VW Polo GTI sees it fitted with 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 bolder front bumper ties in with the extended door sills and complements the 15 mm lower suspension.

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.

Inside are the traditional Volkswagen GTI features of tartan seats, red-leather trimmed wheel and gear lever knob and sports instruments.

As is the way with many new European cars, Volkswagen has fitted a smaller engine than in the superseded Polo GTI. That model had a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, the new model has a 1.4-litre ‘twincharger’ powerplant. It has 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.

This little Volkswagen road rocket takes only 6.9 seconds to get to 100 km/h from a standing start.

There’s a lot more than simply drag racing to make driving enjoyable. This clever engine produces a strong 250 Newton metres all the way from 2000 to 4500 revs. In everyday driving you will have the engine sitting somewhere in this torque peak (torque plateau?) virtually all the time.

It feels like it from behind the steering wheel. We love the near instantaneous reaction from the engine and the way it just keeps on producing stacks of grunt. Overtaking is ridiculously easy, simply click down a gear or two, give the right pedal a bootfull and the Polo GTI leaps past slower traffic is a short and safe distance.

Another advantage of using a smaller engine is that the reciprocating components are lighter, so the engine is only to happy to rev harder the moment you ask it to do so.

Maximum power from the Polo’s twincharger engine is 132 kilowatts, an impressive 20 per cent up on its 1.8-litre turbocharged predecessor.

Handling is nicely balanced and the use of an electronic sports differential means the Polo can easily be controlled on the throttle. It turns in neatly, holds its line well and is small enough to be able to use a lot of its own side of the road while still taking the ideal line through bends.

Ride comfort in the VW Polo is good for a sports model riding on 17-inch wheels, but some sensitive passengers may find it a little firm on rough roads.

As always this Volkswagen displays the rock solid build feel that has attracted Australian buyers to this marque for many decades.

You don’t buy a high-performance car to save fuel, but VW’s latest technology minimises consumption at the same time as it reduces emissions. Open road driving will see the Polo using fuel at the rate of seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres, this is unlikely to get to ten litres per hundred in normal driving. Naturally enough if you really get stuck into it, perhaps even at a day at a race track, the consumption will climb dramatically. Even then it’s still going to be pretty modest in its fuel use considering the performance it provides.

High-performance cars cars aren’t supposed to come with low price tags. Yet Volkswagen Polo GTI gives you the driving excitement for a very modest outlay. Is it any wonder dealers are already building up waiting lists of customers?

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE
Polo GTI 1.4-litre Twincharger petrol three-door hatch: $27,790 (DSG)
Polo GTI 1.4-litre Twincharger petrol five-door hatch: $28,990 (DSG)

FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: DSG standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in both models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in both models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in both models
Rear Parking Sensors: Option in both models
Reversing Camera: Not offered
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in both models
Satellite Navigation: Option in both models
Bluetooth: Option in both models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in both models

SPECIFICATIONS (Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4-litre Twincharger petrol three-door hatch)

ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.390 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.1:1
Bore/Stroke: 76.5 mm x 75.6 mm
Maximum Power: 132 kW @ 6200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 250 Nm @ 2000-4500 rpm
 
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: NA
Automatic Transmission: Seven-speed DSG
Final Drive Ratio: NA

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4064 mm
Wheelbase: 2456 mm
Width: 1682 mm
Height: 1500 mm
Turning Circle: 10.6 metres
Kerb Mass: 1189 kg
Boot Capacity: 204 litres (882 litres with rear seat folded)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 45 litres
Towing Ability: NA

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs
Rear Suspension: Torsion beam axle, trailing arms, coil springs
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc

PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 6.9 seconds

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.1 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km