Volkswagen Polo GT TSI Long Term Review
The Volkswagen Polo rivals the Maruti Baleno, Honda Jazz and Hyundai Elite i20

Volkswagen Polo GT Pros & Cons

The Volkswagen Polo was launched in India way back in 2010. It’s 2018 now and the design and styling have remained more or less similar even after considering the facelift it got in 2014 and the umpteen Sport, Pace, Anniversary, Crest and what not editions. However, it’s no exaggeration that Volkswagen is one of the few automakers that have quenched the thirst of hatchback enthusiasts in India through the launch of the GT TSI and the GT TDI variants. Here are some pros and cons of the hatchback.

Pros:

2016 Volkswagen Polo GT TDI Long Term Review
The Polo comes with varied engine options – a 1.0-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel (in two different state of tunes) and a 1.2-litre TSI petrol

Performance: With 105 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque, the Polo GT TDI gives best-in-class performance. The car has a good low-end punch and strong mid-range. All of its 250 Nm of torque is delivered from as low as 1500 RPM which makes it absolutely easy to overtake no matter which gear you are slotted in.

Timeless Styling: The hatchback has a very sophisticated and classy look with the chrome front grille and GT badging on it, smoked headlamps and black & chrome finish on the front bumper. Despite being so old, the Polo doesn’t really look boring and it has aged gracefully.

Volkswagen Polo GT TDI Interior
Fit and finish inside the cabin is just impeccable

Build Quality: The premium hatchback comes with solid build quality. Whether it is the exterior of the vehicle or be it the interior, the fit and finish all around is brilliant and Volkswagen has used good quality materials everywhere, giving the car a feel-good factor too.

Driving Dynamics: No one can deny the fact that the Polo is a super fun-to-drive car. The steering is very precise, there is no body roll and the Polo maintains its line as if it’s running on rails. Cornering is fun with this car and the sharp dynamics coupled with the powerful engines make the Polo an engaging car.

Cons:

Volkswagen Polo 1.5 TDI Rear Seat
The rear seat lacks legroom and the transmission tunnel hump makes the Polo strictly a 4-seater

Rear Legroom: While the car comes with good ride quality, it misses out on the comfort for the passengers sitting in the rear seats. Besides space (leg room), the large floor hump in the center is too big and creates problems for the third passenger in the rear seat.

No Diesel AT: Volkswagen offers a 7-speed DSG transmission with the Ameo and Vento diesel variants and they use the same engine that is also offered on the Polo, and yet the Polo misses out on the diesel AT option which is really sad.

2018 Volkswagen Polo Front
The next gen Polo is going to be next level as an overall package

Next Gen Launch Uncertain: The next generation Volkswagen Polo which is based on the MQB platform is available in other markets but its India launch is uncertain. We really hope VW brings in the new car very soon to India.

Missing Features: Volkswagen has given the Polo countless updates wherein the hatchback kept more and more features but it still misses out on some equipment like driver armrest, 60:40 rear split seats, illumination in the trunk and front glovebox, projector headlamps and LED DRLs, most of which are offered in its rivals.

Volkswagen Polo GT Pros & Cons
The GT TSI and TDI variants are the perfect examples of ‘great things come in small packages’