Volkswagen Polo GTI 2019 review 

was just thinking the same thing!

Thanks Ryan. Much appreciated!

Thanks, Paul!

Thanks David!

Thanks very much, I do my best to present a balanced view.

Agreed! Very interesting comparison. Just a few GTI Originals remain unsold now. Almost all are spoken for. Sad!

They were a little quieter than the Turanzas, but they still kick up marked road noise. I recommend test driving to hear for yourself.

Yep... though I think we’ll be waiting minimum 2 years here in Australia for a manual.

Bummer I know...

not fan of the spy pics of 20 golf man, buy the polo, way cheaper and looks better

Have you seen the prices of a service?? $1300 for the 60,000ks service! Not really low maintenance fees!

Thanks, Mark. Yes, it's a little moody in the intro…lighting wasn't ideal. But I'm glad you liked the commentary! I'm in full agreement that the option packs aren't ideal here. The Sound and Vision Pack makes sense (though nav should be standard…), but the Luxury Package seats aren't for me…I don't want to lose the tartan, but ultimately, the bigger wheels and better tyres and LED headlights would force me to get it.

Wheels.. go aftermarket. I've got a set of OZ Racing that would look really at home on this

Not a bad idea msjp81. I'll scope some out...cheers.

Couldn't you just negotiate to keep the seats?

Glad to hear it.

Scirocco is discontinued so import a used one now or leave it at that. also you can get the polo easily from mexico... unless your wall is up by now

No, they don't.

For ripping skids!

or do handbrake parking ^^

It’s a good point. I’d be tempted to save my pennies a little longer for the Golf GTI or look for a gently driven pre-owned car, but for those that want a brand new performance VW within a certain budget, this is definitely worth a look

True you can get an "almost brand new " golf 7.5 GTI for a just little bit more money

In NZ the LED lights are standard. It is a REALLY nice car, and in my opinion once you get your confidence up, just as fast, if not faster than the previous Fiesta ST that I had. The Golf GTI is another $20k in NZ. The fuel economy is amazing, and very comfortable.

Not saying it isn't a desirable car as it very much is but for the money it makes sense to go with the golf 7.5 GTI. Can't compare it to a fiesta ST, this car is in another league in terms of refinement and performance.

I ended up paying that bit more for the Golf GTI 7.5 for similar reasons…. its just hard touch plastic everywhere and cheap looking dash inserts…. so glad I opted for the Golf GTI!

Not too good, not too bad. The Polo is still in the light car class, after all. A Golf is quieter.

I think about that aha 😂

No, the tyre itself is different - Michelin Primacy 3 on the base car versus Bridgestone Turanza T001 on the Luxury Package. Better compound, more grip...

We get turanzas on the 17" and Pilot sport 4 on the 18" whats wrong with you australians :D

@Dapdoi Ardon arm Rest is standart in gtis ... at least here

Oof, that's overpriced bigtime.

It’s a lower-cost derivative of MQB.

@@chasingcars this would be something to say if a math teacher was asked how he likes his new Polo. As a journalist you should not simply simplify "facts" by saying it is on MQB platform, just because they share 3 letters. This platform can't be equipped with haldex, e-brake, the EDC are completely different than the ones you can get on Golf and dozen other differences. It is completely different platform.

Mechanics always say stuff like that, increasingly because they’re locked out of the sophisticated tools it requires to effectively service modern vehicles! But look, cars have has computers in them for decades now. It’s not accurate to see them as an analogue versus digital watch situation ... it’s just a matter of degree. Certainly, I think that in future there will be earlier write offs of cars as the cost of replacing adaptive safety sensors can be huge. And as interiors have more screens sure, they’ll date and be prone to failure. But given everybody (including Toyota - see my Corolla review) is going in this direction, I think it’s best to buy what you like now, and flip it in 3 years or so. Buying a modern car that has to last 10 years is a bit of a lottery.

Thanks for your advice! I will keep this in mind.

I own what is now a 10 year old Polo GTI. 1.8 Turbo, manual transmission. Bought it new in 2008 but handed the keys to my non mechanically inclined brother in 2010. Got it back in 2017. Service/preventative maintenance wise, it hadn't been looked after. Other than servicing, brakes, it has cost next to nothing extra. One of the tail lights has started to take in water.. $90 for a second hand replacement and its back to being good.

They now offer the interior accents in gloss grey at no cost, starting this week.

@@chasingcars Wow! Thanks for that info. Perhaps the planets are aligning?

A strange coincidence, but potentially good news for you!

I’m not. 1) XDS/XDL is not a mechanical differential lock. It uses ESP hydraulics and then individual brakes to starve power from spinning wheels. 2) You need to work on your weight transfer skills if you think you’re correct on this point. On tight circuits and corners, ultra stiff suspension with no roll actually causes time loss, not gain. 3) Subjective, but given my extensive experience with the entire range of VW DSG gearboxes, this is my professional opinion.

Chasing Cars are totally correct, particularly on front set up - it does not get the clever front slip differential set up on the Golf GTI is what he meant. It is you not understanding the how the lower spec non Golf GTI slip differential electronic's work - basically using Traction control/XDS/etc to control understeer by backing off power & brakes being applied gently to balance the from axle.

@Dapdoi Ardon UK product listing's only list the slip differential (XDS+) available for Golf GTI Performance model. Only list the normal XDS system (that nips & brakes each corner as grip/conditions dictate only no slip differential) on new Polo GTI. Other markets might be different but sorry no XDS+ system listed in UK models unless Golf GTI Performance (the only Golf GTI available anyway now coz of new emissions issues) or Golf R which is running on slightly different 4motion system anyway.

Yes, it’s very slabby that new Jetta!

there is a very unknown polo classic which is basically a polo based jetta... this generation actually looks good

Special order of the base model with no options is one way - but you’ll have to wait a few months

@@chasingcars nah screw that, you'd want the nav and digital screen.

Agreed... which then pushes it right into the danger zone of warm and hot hatches from the class above.

Golf gti is 42k

They’re cornering lights. They switch on at low speed in the direction the steering wheel is turned to in order to better illuminate the road surface when parking/manoeuvring

Ah in that case not bad!

also activate at low speed when you hit the indicators

I also prefer the Polo V outside - but I prefer the VI inside

Delusional!

Keep telling yourself that mate. The 6c looks cheap and crap compared to this.

They now offer the silver/grey dash insert as a no cost option.

I prefer the size of the Golf, but now that the Polo has gotten bigger, that is less of a differentiator. Worth taking both for a drive.