Remember that infamous line from the Rolling Stones that goes like; “You can’t always get what you want,” I swore to live by it at some point in my life, but then I’d remember how they also said I can’t get no satisfaction, and so perhaps only half of the wisdom of an aging rock band is fully applicable to the 2022 Polo GTI. The German automaker is known for its unwillingness to compromise on playfulness, and so when word broke that it was renewing its much-loved model for the year 2022, we rightly got excited.
That’s where the wisdom of the ‘Stones comes in, because while the 2022 Polo GTI may not quite be the successor we wanted (we’ll get into that shortly) that doesn’t mean it can’t satisfy when given the right input and the right road. Outside, it looks much like the outgoing Polo with minor changes, but under the hood is a surprisingly potent engine.
The Polo GTI has 147 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque. Volkswagen’s, six speed automatic transmission is standard. Yes, that means there’s no manual option; for that, you’ll need either a regular Polo, Polo Life or Polo R-Line.
From behind the wheel, I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. The stick-shift Polo is fine, and dare I say excellent, and I’m of a mind that if you’re going to row your own gears then you might as well do that with the finest transmission out there.
The six-speed automatic may be down a couple of ratios from what most rivals provide, but it doesn’t seem to hamper things. Peak torque doesn’t land until 2 000 rpm, but you get the vast majority of it before then, and it means the Polo GTI can pull when you stomp on the pedal without doing the multiple downshifts that some others require. If you want to overrule things there are paddles on the steering wheel.
What stands out more is just how enjoyable this little VW hatch is to drive. Pick-up is quick, with torque lag minimal, and if there’s a dead-spot for overtaking power I never found it. You can drive it like a regular Polo and pick up groceries without screeching tires or summoning a legion of hot hatch driving would-be road racers gagging for a stop sign showdown but snicking the Sport mode switch wakes up more than enough power to be legitimately entertaining.
Handling is steady and progressive, the FWD delivering the grip while the steering keeps you appraised of traction without shouting about it. It’s a bit on the light side of life though. Better still, you don’t need to be doing license-losing speeds to unlock the fun. While the 2.0 TSI Turbo can go fast, certainly, it’s also just as happy whipping around backroads in a way that somehow manages to feel pedestrian in more potent exotics.
At least you can admire the handsome looks while you pump. Rather than the look-at-me aesthetic of the Golf TCR, the Polo GTI opts for a more restrained upgrade to the base car’s elegant lines. The hatchback shows the most changes, such as the red strip in the radiator grille, the honeycomb structure of the air intake grille, red brake callipers and GTI lettering on the radiator grille.
Volkswagen’s cabin quality deserves a special mention, looking particularly lush in the Kings Red colour scheme. It feels as good as it looks, too, with lots of plastics and some genuinely nice detailing. VW’s newest infotainment software is also a welcome relief from its older, uglier iterations. An 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.
Pricing for the 2022 Polo GTI starts at R489 400.
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