PoloDriver

This one probably falls more under the ‘car’ rather than the ‘classic’ of the listing website’s title, but whatever, it looks very appealing to this author’s eyes. Behold the clean-lined – and red – majesty of this 2012 Polo GTI, freshly imported from Japan.

The fifth-generation Polo GTI (not the actual fifth-generation of Polo GTI) was unveiled in May 2010, 14 months after the debut of the ‘regular’ model. Following the 148bhp model of the same name based on the fourth generation ‘9N3’ Polo, the newcomer – ‘6R’ in Polo geek speak – packed a 178bhp punch courtesy of a turbo and supercharged engine.

The 1.4-litre ‘twincharger’ unit was around 400cc down on the engine of its predecessor, which appeared in all manner of Volkswagens, Audis, SEATs and Skodas. Despite being smaller in size than the one before, the new four-cylinder unit was advanced in terms of technology, and the new car scampered to 62mph from rest in 6.9 seconds, 1.3 seconds faster than its forebear. The 6R GTI was lighter, too; the three-door GTI’s 1269kg a smidge less than the 9N3 GTI’s 1283kg.

Exclusively DSG
One important difference between old and new was the fact that the 6R GTI was exclusively available with Volkswagen’s much-praised DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Both a blessing and a curse, its high-tech appeal won over some drivers, while others bemoaned the lack of a manual option. With small paddles behind the steering wheel, and a ‘Sport’ mode in the gearbox itself, Volkswagen did compensate for keener drivers, but for some, it wasn’t enough. However, it did make the car an arguably easier daily driver for those scooting about the city.

For PoloDriver.com, the 6R Polo GTI’s crowning glory was always its looks. Taking cues from the popular and acclaimed Mk 5 Golf GTI, the contemporary hot Polo featured 17-inch ‘Monza’ (or ‘Detroit’, depending on the market) alloy wheels, new front and rear bumpers, a red-trimmed and honeycomb mesh-filled front grille, side skirt trims, a rear spoiler, and twin exhaust pipes. Inside, there was ‘Jacara’ (or ‘Jacky’) tartan-trimmed sports seats, black headlining, and a squared-off and leather-trimmed steering wheel with red stitching and a ‘GTI’ badge. In terms of looking the business, it was job done. Mature and subtle it predictably was, but it was none the worse for it.

A facelift – the car renamed the ‘6C’ – in December 2014 dispensed with the twincharger engine, replacing it with a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine with 189bhp, and also brought sharper looks inside and out. But the 6R Polo GTI appeals because of its subtler appearance, the Golf GTI-aping alloy wheels and the certain charm of the earlier interior.

Still plentiful (ish) in the UK – comparatively, the GTI has never been a strong-selling Polo – a small but increasing number of right-hand drive cars are starting to appear on UK soil from Japan. One such car is the car pictured here, currently up for auction on the Car & Classic website. Resplendent in its Flash Red paintwork, the 2012 car has covered just 45,300 miles from new, and looks superb. There is a little wear and collapse on one of the driver’s seat bolsters, but that’s the only discernible mark that can be seen after 11 years of use. Due to the lack of salt on the roads in Japan, the underside looks nice and clean and the car certainly seems to have been looked after well.

Notable features
Another ex-Japanese car, this time a Candy White example with 54,000 miles, is for sale here, and like the Car & Classic GTI, has a couple of notable features over UK models. While the DSG automatic box is shared with Uk and European markets, Japanese cars appear to get climate control as standard (a £375 option in the UK), as well as a touchscreen infotainment system – a Grundig unit in the Car & Classic GTI’s case – the cheapest of which in the UK was the £300 RCD 510 system (another £420 bought the RNS 315 system with navigation). Other bonuses of these cars are the standard-fit bi-xenon headlamps and LED daytime-running lights, a £765 UK option.

While we can’t detect anything different with either car’s engine, it’s worth noting that 6R Polo GTIs in China came with a 1.4 TSI engine with 130bhp, not the full-fat 178bhp. A quick online check reveals that Japanese cars appear to share the higher output of their European cousins. One question we do have though, is why the sudden rash of imports; a handful of right-hand drive Cross Polos have also recently landed on UK shores.

A car which was transformatively much better than the car which preceded it – and the 6C is sharper still – the 6R Polo GTI is an evergreen PoloDriver.com favourite. We’d have very little hesitation in investigating the Car & Classic car, but do check is all well mechanically, as the twincharged engines can have oil use issues. Once that is done, though, just drive and enjoy, revelling in the high quality fifth-generation Polo build. If the Car & Classic GTI goes for under £8,000, then someone will get a bargain. The Car & Classic 2012 Polo GTI auction ends at 20:15 on Monday 27 February.

The 2000-2002 Volkswagen Polo GTI established the model’s name in the UK, building on the fun factor of the early Nineties Polo G40. A fun car with a bright personality, PoloDriver.com editor Rich Gooding owned one for almost a decade. Now you can, as a low mileage example comes up for auction on the Car & Classic website.

Oh my. Look at this. I have very happy memories of this one. Although the Polo GTI first gained VW’s legendary go-faster badge almost 25 years ago, the first cars released in 1998 were limited in number. Only 3,000 of the 120bhp Polo GTI were available to Polo fans in Europe. Once they were gone, customers had to wait until the refreshed third-generation Polo was launched in the autumn of 1999 to get their hands on, what was billed at the time, the spiritual successor to the original 1976 Golf GTI.

Zippy personality
But it was worth the wait. The revamped cars gained 3bhp, and a more ‘GTI’ look, even though they shared much with the original run of cars. The 15-inch BBS alloy wheels were the same, slightly bonkers – and bright, unless the optional posher leather trim was specified – interior was the same, and the re-invigorated hot Polo’s get-up-and-go was the same, too. The 0-62mph dash was dispatched in 8.7 seconds, although the Polo GTI’s 1.6-litre engine’s revvy and zippy personality made it feel faster.

I ran a 2001 Polo GTI for almost 10 years and loved it. Well-built with a colourful interior and many ‘big-car’ appointments such as xenon headlamps – the Polo GTI was the first small car to have them as standard – ABS, and traction control, it was never the sharpest driving tool in the box, but it was still a lot of fun. Which is why this 2001 Polo GTI which goes under the Car & Classic online auction hammer later today, piqued my interest.

Low mileage example
Only sold in the UK from 2000-2002, the ‘6N2’ Polo GTI is a moderately rare car, with only 3,300 imported during that period. Many have been modified or written-off (as happened to my beloved car, but only because it was involved in a rear-end smash in the summer of 2021), so there tend to be few chances to find a low mileage example. And what a gem this car looks to be.

The headline stats are one owner, and 86,000 miles. Yes, that’s right, this car has had just one owner, and has covered under 90,000 miles in 21 years. Externally, aside from its headlamps, which could do with a polish, it looks perfect, the Reflex Silver paintwork – the millennial Polo GTI was only available in black, red or silver like the original Golf GTI – contrasting nicely with the red tail lights.

Refurbished wheels
The brake calipers peeping out from behind the 15-inch BBS rims are red, just as they left the factory, and the split-rim wheels themselves have been refurbished. The listing stated that there is a very small imperfection on the paint on a wheel arch, but you’d be hard-pressed to see it. Inside, the Lupo-derived dash is fantastic, the red door cards look clean, as do the strangely-upholstered (I’ve never understood the number 1) sports seats. There’s a little wear on the outside bolsters which seems odd, as my car seemed to not suffer this, even after 148,000 miles, however, it’s all more than presentable.

The Sony six-CD autochanger is present and correct in the boot, and under the bonnet, the engine looks great, with its red HT leads still in place. A full service has just been undertaken, including a cambelt change, and the car has new Toyo tyres as well as new brake pads and discs. It also has a full service history and even the original bill of sale.

Potential modern classic
All in all, this Polo GTI is a great starting place for a potential modern classic. Although not quite at ‘classic’ level yet – the car has always lived in the Golf GTI’s shadow – as they get rarer, who knows what the future might hold for the 6N2 Polo GTI. But you’ve only got to look at the pictures to see the potential: tidy, understated styling that looks just right, wheels in a classic design that really suit the car, and an interior which screams ‘fun’ in a rare break from the Volkswagen norm. Add in a fantastically solid build, a zesty engine and that GTI practicality, and it looks a winner. I know, I owned one.

If you fancy owning one, too, head over to the Car & Classic listing to see full details and lots of photos of the car. The Polo GTI Car & Classic Auction starts at 14:30 today, 16 May.

New figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the Polo was the most popular Volkswagen in the UK during 2021. More than 30,634 Polos were registered in the UK last year – that’s 394 more than even the perennial Golf.

The small Volkswagen was the fifth most popular car overall, and the third most popular supermini, following the Vauxhall Corsa in first place (40,914 units) and the Mini (31,792 units). The Corsa knocked the Ford Fiesta from its long-held top spot, thanks in part to the sem-conductor chip shortage which has plagued the car industry during 2021 and looks set to continue into 2022.

Volkswagen is UK’s most popular car brand
While the Polo missed out on a place in December’s UK top ten of most popular models, it was the most popular car in the UK twice during 2021, the first time in July, the second in October. The popularity of the Polo helped Volkswagen become the UK’s most popular car brand in 2021, with a total of 147,826 vehicles registered. 

The new all-electric ID 3 and ID 4 cars also aided Volkswagen’s rise to the top, with the ID 3 being the UK’s third most popular electric car in 2021, with 11,032 finding homes. It was also the recipient of 11 of Volkswagen’s 30 UK awards, while its ID 4 sibling was named World Car of the Year. Volkswagen’s share of the UK car market now stands at 8.97 per cent, and it leads the market for the first time.

The UK’s top ten most popular new cars during 2021 were as follows:

1 Vauxhall Corsa: 40,914
2 Tesla Model 3: 34,783
3 Mini: 31,792
4 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 30,710
5 Volkswagen Polo: 30,234
6 Volkswagen Golf: 30,240
7 Nissan Qashqai: 29,922
8 Ford Puma: 28,697
9 Kia Sportage: 27,611
10 Toyota Yaris: 27,415

The updated version of the sixth-generation Polo went on sale in September 2021, after being unveiled in April. As well as a more digitised interior, the new Polo has sharper looks, and a new range of trim levels. A new more powerful 204bhp Polo GTI opened for UK order in November.

Almost two months after the ‘mainstream’ versions of the new Polo opened for order in the UK, Volkswagen Retailers have, today, opened the order books for the new, more powerful Polo GTI. Priced from £26,430 RRP on-the-road, the sporty newcomer tops the new Polo range, and makes the family complete.

It also continues the illustrious Volkswagen GTI line, which now extends from the diminutive Up GTI, through to the eighth-generation Golf GTI. The Polo GTI is the latest in a lineup of hot Polos that started with the 60bhp Polo GT in 1979. The famed 112bhp supercharged Polo G40 first hit the market in 1986, the first 118bhp Polo GTI appearing in a limited series of 3,000 units in 1998.

New look, more power and kit
The new Polo GTI packs 204bhp (an increase of 7bhp over the outgoing model) and has a new look, more equipment, and is safer than ever. It’s also more digital, too, with a fully digitised cabin, similar to that seen on the eighth-generation Golf. As before, power is out down through a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox (with paddles on the leather multifunction sports steering wheel), and performance is every bit a GTI: 0-62mph comes up in just 6.5 seconds thanks to 236lb ft (320Nm) of torque, and the Polo GTI will top out – where conditions allow – at 149mph.

To keep all that performance in check, the new hot Polo has a larger anti-roll bar and more rigid coupling rods at the front, and stiffer axle-locating rear mounts. The suspension is also 15mm lower than other Polos, and Volkswagen’s XDS electronic differential lock is also standard. This controls brake pressure on the front wheel on the inside of a bend, preventing it from spinning.

Driving profile selection
Adaptive Chassis Control DCC is also fitted, which includes a driving profile selection. Two different damping characteristics for the adjustable shock absorbers can be chosen, along with four driving modes: Eco, Individual, Normal and Sport. Allowing drivers to make individual settings that have a direct effect on vehicle dynamics, steering, engine characteristic and DSG shift patterns are adapted, and in Sport mode, the exhaust system is automatically modified to make it sound sportier.

Outside, the new Polo GTI is easily recognised by its new face, fitted with Volkswagen’s IQ Light LED matrix headlights, with an illuminated radiator grille crossbar, as already seen on the ID family of electric cars and the eighth-generation Golf. New red ‘GTI’ badges adorn the front and rear, and of course, there is a red radiator grille strip, which extends into the headlights. At the back, new tail lamps feature dynamic indicators, and red brake calipers peep through 17-inch ‘Parker’ alloy wheels (18-inch ‘Faro’ rims are optional, seen here) and continue a GTI tradition.

Inside, more traditions remain. Black headlining creates a sporty feel, as does the red stitching and the ‘Jacara’-patterned tartan seats. A Kings Red Glossy-painted dash pad is standard, but buyers who are more of the shrinking violet type can choose the subtler Deep Iron Glossy option. The striking Kings Red Metallic is just one of the Polo GTI’s exterior paint finishes: others include Deep Black Pearl, Pure White, Reef Blue Metallic and Smokey Grey Metallic. A black-roof option is also available on blue, red and white cars.

Sharing its 10.25-inch colour Digital Cockpit Pro instruments with other new Polos, the new GTI also comes as standard with 8.0-inch Discover Media Navigation system. A 300W Beats sound system with six speakers, subwoofer, and 8-channel amplifier is optional. Standard kit includes ambient interior lighting, auto lights and wipers, a digital button-controlled 2zone climate control system, and a centre airbag.

‘Sporting family’
Lisa Hartley, Polo Volkswagen UK product manager, said: ‘The marriage of “Volkswagen” and “GTI” kicked off in 1975 with the launch of the now legendary Golf Mk I GTI. Since then, those hallowed three letters have adorned many other models such as the Scirocco, Lupo, and Up. However, it is the Polo – whose GTI model debuted in 1998 – that is, after the Golf, the longest running member of this sporting family.

‘Continuing this illustrious history is this newest version of our pocket-rocket, and it really is the best so far. With driver-focused dynamics, a powerful 204bhp turbocharged engine, big-car tech, a generous list of standard equipment, and assertive yet understated looks, the new Polo GTI is a class act among hot hatches.’

Sadly, Volkswagen is phasing out traditional sales brochures and price lists, so if you want to investigate the new Polo GTI, head to Volkswagen’s online configurator to explore. We’ll take ours in Kings Red Metallic, with 18-inch Faro wheels, please…

2022 VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI PRICES

Polo GTI
2.0 204bhp seven-speed DSG; 155g/km*; 41.3mpg**; £26,430 (RRP OTR)

*WLTP CO2, **WLTP combined.

Volkswagen performance specialist RacingLine has released a series of upgraded parts for the 2017 onwards sixth-generation Polo GTI ‘AW’. Along with a set of sport springs, there is also a new turbo muffler delete for MAF-engined EA888 2.0 TSI ‘Gen.3B’ models.

The sport springs package for the ‘AW’-chassis coded Polo GTI lowers the car by 30mm at the front and 35mm at the rear, and is, RacingLine says, ‘just how it should have come from the factory’. Manufactured in Europe from the same factory that produces many of the OEM springs, RacingLine uses progressive rate springs to preserve the ride quality in normal use, but then stiffen the rates at the ends of the travel. 

It states that a comprehensive development programme gives a ride quality just as good as that of the standard car. There are no official prices available yet – just a part number: VWR31P2GT. Head over to the RacingLine website to find out more.

Turbo muffler delete
Alongside the springs, RacingLine has made changes to its EA888 ‘Gen.3B’ turbo muffler delete (part number VWR160001) so that it now fits MAF-coded 2.0 TSI engines. The turbo muffler delete also forms part of RacingLine’s whole ‘MAF’ intake package which includes an R600 intake with cotton or trifoam R600 filter choice, a turbo inlet elbow, a turbo inlet hose, as well as a coolant underhose.

The turbo muffler delete is CNC constructed from single-piece billet T6-6061 aluminium, with a maximum diameter smoothed internal bore for max airflow. Hand-polished and anodised in gloss midnight black, it can be installed in just 30 minutes. By smoothing the airflow path out of the turbocharger and eliminating the restriction and turbulence caused by the OEM part, RacingLine confirms that ‘a small but useful’ power gain is made.

For more information on RacingLine products for the 2010-2017 Polo GTI ‘6R/6C’ and the 2017 onwards sixth-generation Polo GTI ‘AW’, visit the RacingLine website, or locate a nearby dealer from the company’s global network of retail partners.