South Africans are obsessed with performance Volkswagens, more so than many other global markets and it's rather easy to see why as most modern VW products that wear the GTI badge often represent great value while providing something rapid that can be used on a daily basis.

Recently, I spent a week with the new Polo GTI, which is now produced locally and features more bang for your buck than previous generations. 

GTI styling

In typical GTI fashion, the Polo GTI doesn't shout about its performance credentials, but rather offers a more grown-up aesthetic to the often boy racer-like products that grace the small performance hatchback segment.

Up front, there's the signature honeycomb grille with the GTI insignia finished in red, while a red pinstripe runs the length of the grille and continues through the headlamps. The lower bumper gets a sportier treatment too with fog lights as standard.

In side profile, there are new 17-inch ‘Milton Keynes' alloy wheels, however, the press unit was fitted with the optional 18-inch ‘Brescia' items which fill the arches quite nicely, while the now obligatory red brake calipers and GTI badge below the A-pillar again feature in the sixth generation model. The rear facia is dominated by a sportier rear bumper, gloss black roof spoiler and gloss black rear diffuser.

GTI inside

Much as with the exterior, the interior is restrained, yet comes across as premium with a hint of sportiness. The press unit was finished in white, meaning that its interior colour scheme featured red accents on various trim panels across the dashboard, which strangely, is the case for all colours except if you opt for a red exterior, in which case the trim is finished in grey.

Other highlights include a black headliner, red stitching throughout the cabin, sports seats which strike a good balance between support and comfort as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The press unit features the brand's eight-inch Discover Pro infotainment system with satellite navigation, which works well with the optional Active Info Display, turning what could be perceived as a slightly dull instrument panel into a fully digitised, modern infotainment and driving information system, all or a nominal fee, of course.

In addition to the more performance-oriented interior, the Polo can, for the first time, be specified with a host of driver assistance systems as part of the Advanced Safety Package, which includes Parallel Park Assist, Park Distance Control, rear-view camera and Blind Spot Detection, which is fantastic for a car in this segment, but again at a price.

Driving GTI

It's in the powertrain and platform department where the GTI has really grown-up, literally. It now shares the MQB platform with its larger Golf sibling and also inherits a detuned version of the famed EA888 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor which is mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox. In this guise, the motor produces 147kW/320Nm which allows it to get from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds with the launch control function activated.

It's in the performance department where the GTI left me slightly underwhelmed. I understand that the car would have to be deliberately held back from a performance perspective so as to not encroach on its Golf sibling's performance stats, but that doesn't change the fact that this is quite evident from the moment you drive the car in anger.

Instead of a mechanical limited-slip differential, the Polo gets the XDS differential lock, which utilises the vehicle's electronics to help put its power through the front wheels, however, the car still struggles to get off of the line while also battling for traction through low-speed corners.

What the GTI lacks in outright razor sharp dynamics, it most certainly makes up for with its ability to settle down and behave like a regular Polo in daily driving scenarios, and that's where the appeal has been with performance Volkswagen products over the past decade or so.

That is not to say that the GTI isn't a hot hatch in terms of its driving dynamics though; its handling, particularly when specified with the Sport Select suspension is impressive in terms of ride comfort, compliance, and feedback when pressing on. The car is quite neutral in its handling balance, but will naturally understeer when approaching the limits of adhesion. 

Verdict

Combine the sweet four-cylinder motor and impressive DSG gearbox with the premium look and feel and fun-to-drive dynamics of this latest generation model, and you're left with, in typical GTI fashion, a great overall package.

The deal is sweetened by the fact that the new car is similarly priced to the car that it replaces at R375 900 excluding options. This is because the GTI is now produced locally, meaning Volkswagen can bring to the car to market with a very attractive sticker price.

Compounding the value proposition is the fact that the Renault Clio RS is only being made available in very limited numbers locally, the Peugeot 208 GTI has been discontinued and the new Ford Fiesta ST is not destined for our shores, making the GTI the obvious choice in this segment.