Now the VW Polo GTI has also received a facelift. Visually, it is closer to the Golf, there are no changes to the engine. All information and seat sample!
Only a few months after the premiere of the facelifted VW Polo, Volkswagen presented the Polo GTI. The most important thing in advance: the engine and the performance data remain the same. The output of the predecessor was quickly increased shortly before the model change.
In return, the small car is optically closer to the Golf GTI and has a revised interior and the latest infotainment. The market launch for the facelift of the VW Polo GTI could be in autumn 2021. Prices are likely to rise, but will still start below 30,000 euros.
LED tape connects the headlights
With the facelift, the regular version of the VW Polo has already moved closer to its big brother, the Golf, and the same is now also happening with the GTI. Here, too, the fog lights are integrated into the honeycomb grille of the side air intake. However, not in the checkered flag design, the Polo only has two illuminated elements on each side. A clasp in body color visually separates it from the central air inlet. In addition to the honeycomb grille, the car naturally has other GTI insignia: On the front, these include the logo on the grill and the red decorative stripe that is also located there and extends into the headlights. The new light signature follows directly below. The sporty small car comes with the top equipment with an LED strip in the grill and with matrix LED technology as standard.
Thanks to the sports suspension, the Polo GTI comes with lowering as standard
The new, two-part tail lights are always available with animated brake lights and dynamic indicators. In addition to the red GTI lettering under the VW logo, the car can also be recognized by the two chrome tailpipes and the independent apron. The indicated diffuser can only be identified if you look very closely; in the foreground is a horizontal element in the vehicle color that delimits the Polo GTI at the bottom. Red brake calipers, large 17-inch wheels are standard, 18-inch (as with the photo vehicle) costs an extra charge – and the standard lowering by 15 millimeters thanks to the sports suspension rounds off the whole thing.
Interior with plaid on the seats
AUTO BILD has already tried the seat in the Polo GTI facelift. In the interior, the first thing you notice is the red dashboard decor, which is now standard. It’s a bit too playful for me, but you can also get this decorative part in a more muted color. Apart from that, not many changes in an appearance here. There is a new sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, which is now equipped with touch surfaces, but of course, the sports polo retains its typical GTI attributes: red decorative stitching, black headlining, sports seats with a checkered pattern. When you try it out, the chairs offer a good compromise between lateral support and comfort. Unlike the Golf GTI, the Polo does not have a stub gear, it retains its tried-and-tested gear selector lever.
New infotainment with a larger series screen
The 10.25-inch digital cockpit with the special GTI displays is standard, the infotainment is new. From the outside you can see this mainly around the screen: there are no longer any rotary switches, and the touch surfaces for quick selection all move to the driver’s side. Even with the top-of-the-line Polo model, VW is paying for the larger touchscreen; if you want the large 9.2-inch display of the photo vehicle, you have to tick the option on the surcharge list. But the entry screen also grows. The predecessor came from the factory with 6.5 inches, the new model drives with eight inches. The software in the background has also changed, the GTI gets the MIB3 infotainment and is therefore always online. Smartphones can be linked via Android Auto and Apple Carplay, always wirelessly.
VW Polo GTI Facelift can drive semi-autonomously
The sports polo is available in five colors, three of which can also be combined with a black roof. The optional extras include a panoramic pop-up roof, seat covers made of suede synthetic leather, and a “Beats” sound system with 300 watts and six loudspeakers. With the facelift, the sound system no longer reduces the size of the trunk, the amplifier is now housed in the spare wheel well.
In addition, there is again the “Sport Select” chassis with switchable dampers. In terms of assistants, the Polo GTI adopts the new features of the normal Polo, so that semi-autonomous driving up to 210 km / h is now possible for an additional charge.
It stays with the 207 hp petrol engine
There are no surprises with the engine: everything stays the same here, and the technical data does not change either. The two-liter TSI sends 207 hp to the front wheels, the maximum torque is 320 Nm (between 1500 and 4500 revolutions per minute). The seven-speed DSG is always used for shifting, there is no manual shift. The Polo GTI needs 6.5 seconds to sprint from zero to 100 km / h, the end is at 240 km / h. To ensure that the Polo GTI does not understeer when cornering quickly, it is again equipped with the XDS electronic differential lock as standard.
