VW has tried to shrink the character of the Golf GTI into a supermini, said Top Gear Magazine. The Polo GTI is a joyless drive compared to the Golf, but it looks the part with new fins on the front bumper, an LED light-bar and 18-inch alloy wheels. Only available as an automatic, it can do 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 149mph. The 2.0-litre EA888 engine has 204bhp, and it is frugal, averaging 35mpg on a whole tank.
The new Polo GTI is about the same size as the Golf (equal in width and only slightly shorter), said The Sunday Times. It’s a cracker of a car, but the interior is “as exciting as the inside of a shoebox”, with cheap, hard plastic throughout. The slider controls on the steering wheel and climate control panel are fiddly, but it is well kitted-out with a decent 8-inch touchscreen infotainment setup and a Beats sound system. UK price from about £28,000.
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