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The little one is all grown up now…. 😀 We’ve got the Polo GTI with us for the week and we’re definitely looking forward to all that makes it what it is, the power, design, quality and practicality. Let’s see what this pocket rocket has to offer.🚀 #pologti #vwpolo #gti #polo #volkswagenpolo #volkswagenpologti #pocketrocket #hothatch #friday #funday #weekend 📸 @benjaminthecreative

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on Sep 28, 2018 at 3:13am PDT

By Benjamin Chunga

I have been waiting to get my hands on the new Volkswagen Polo GTI since I test drove the new Polo at its South African launch in Port Elizabeth earlier this year. The little pocket rocket has grown up and has many people wondering the same thing – do you really need the bigger Golf sibling?

For the first time ever, the Polo GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine which produces 147kW of power and 320Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 237km/h. VW claims fuel consumption of 5.9l/100km, however my results are tricky since I drove the Polo GTI like it’s meant to be driven. This was as if I had an endless supply of fuel and tires in my backyard. Let’s just say Eco mode was the preferred method of travel for the remainder of the week. The GTI boasts a detuned version of the same engine found in the Golf GTI as well as a DSG gearbox so there’s a lot of fun to be had in this front puller.

Pic Benjamin Chunga

But the Polo GTI is not only pretty on the inside, it’s a very beautiful car on the outside as well. It has a presence on the road that previous Polo GTIs didn’t have in my opinion. The famous red GTI stripe on the grille runs through the headlights, which you can keep as standard or upgrade to LED. The red brake callipers come as a standard feature and are definitely visible behind your 17 inch alloy wheels. An interior finished in two tones will welcome you once you’re in the driver’s seat, which is finished with Art Velour upholstery, leather and stitching to match your colourway. The dashboard is a thing of beauty with VW’s Active Info Display, however be warned, oily foods will probably not be a great idea if you are going to be touching this car, but if you absolutely must, carry a cloth with you as a simple wipe down gets rid of any marks.

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It’s been an interesting few days with the new @volkswagensouthafrica Polo GTI. Much can be said about the car but one of our favourite traits about it, is it’s maturity in terms of delivery of a fun hot hatch and a car you can drive everywhere, everyday without feeling uncomfortable. Put on your suit and race to your nearest meeting, you’ll have fun from the 2.0 litre 147 kW/320 Nm of torque the GTI offers. The plenty torque doesn’t take long to be felt so you might be on the wrong side of the law if you aren’t careful. The looks are great with it’s rounder, lower and wider design, making it appear sporty and ready for action. Inside, quality has not been spared and yes, you could always find something bigger and more luxurious at the price but two things – none at this price will be this well built and offer you this much fun and performance, also you have ample space for a you and your ‘bae’ for everyday living and the weekends away. Some say it could be more engaging to drive but could it do everyday living as good if it was? Full review coming. #vwpolo #pologti #gti #volkswagenpolo #hothatch #performance #speed #driver #dasauto #pocketrocket #carphotography #photography 📸 @benjaminthecreative

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on Oct 1, 2018 at 11:44pm PDT

The Polo GTI fits into one’s life in a much more practical way now since it has increased in size. It is no longer a car so small that it only appeals to the young, who more likely than not just need a cool car to drive around with bae, but it has grown into a car that even a 4 person family could comfortably live with. It has sufficient space for your tallest friends, it’s comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and it has all the power you’d ever need playing in this power range. The 10 inch Active Info Display can be played with to suit your viewing preference with the press of a button on the steering wheel, or via the 8 inch infotainment system.

You won’t have too much to worry about in terms of safety as the new Polo GTI comes with 6 airbags (minimum), emergency braking, ABS, ESC, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic post collision breaking and more. The version we had did not have the rear parking camera, parallel parking assist, blind spot detection or electric folding mirrors, but these are optional and can be fitted at your request.

The Polo GTI comes in at R375,000 with a 3 year / 120,000km warranty and a 3 year / 45,000km service plan with intervals set every 15,000km.