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By Jonathan Crouch

The Volkswagen Polo GTI has long lived in the shadow of its bigger brother, the Golf GTI. Does it step into the light with this improved model? Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 73

If you're looking for a quick and discreet supermini that brings with it the trappings of big car quality, this Volkswagen Polo GTI is well worth a look. This sixth generation version was arguably the first model in the line to deliver a truly enthusiast-orientated driving experience and Volkswagen gave the whole package a more polished look and feel with the late 2021 update that created the car we're going to test here.

Backgroundword count: 182

Throughout automotive history, there have been cars that would have been remembered far more fondly had they not been overshadowed by far more illustrious stablemates - and here's one of them, Volkswagen's Polo GTI. Part of the reason for that is that in the past, the Wolfsburg brand has never really given this model what enthusiasts would see as a 'proper' GTI engine. But all that changed in 2017 when this sixth generation version was first launched, complete with the rorty 2.0-litre EA888-series turbo engine from the Golf GTI. The Polo GTI's time should have come. It didn't quite work out like that: partly because of high pricing, partly because the manual gearbox option we were promised was only imported in tiny numbers and partly because of the excellence of the competition, mainly this Polo model's long time nemesis the Fiesta ST, a model latterly joined by the equally impressive Hyundai i20N. Undaunted, Volkswagen took the opportunity to rejuvenate this 'AW/BZ'-series Polo GTI in late 2021, as a more polished, quality alternative to those two cars. Does it stack up that way?

Driving Experienceword count: 204

Apart from a slight increase in power (to 207PS), hardly any engineering changes were delivered as part of this update, but none were really needed. As with the pre-facelift model, power is delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed dual clutch DSG transmission (for our market, sadly there's now no manual option) and rest to 62mph takes just 6.5s on the way to 149mph. The mechanical spec delivers switchable 'sport select' DCC adaptive suspension lowered by 15mm. Other changes over the standard Polo include different front suspension knuckles, a stiffer torsion beam at the rear, revised suspension bushings and different axle geometries and roll centres. It certainly all delivers a very focused hot hatch, though those who prefer a more playful chassis and more communicative steering might still prefer the livewire Ford. The difference with this Volkswagen though, is that like generations of Golf GTIs, it has a dual personality, able to play the school run supermini without an unwanted motorsport demeanour. But then on the return leg home, with the drive mode and the suspension both set to 'Sport', able to entertain almost as immersively as its more extrovert rivals. Even the engine switches from jekyll to hyde. It's all rather surprising.

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