Review of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI Car News

What if we told you there was a new hot hatch, with compact exterior dimensions, but powered by a 204bhp 2.0-litre engine? The Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20N make do with 1.5 and 1.6 liter engines, so a big chunk in a supermini is a bit of a hot rod.

As you might have guessed from the title, that car is the Volkswagen Polo GTI, and it’s been around for a few years. And yet the Fords and Hyundais, and to a lesser extent the Mini Cooper S, get all the limelight.

The main reason is that the others are simply more exciting to drive. The VW Polo has just had a facelift, but despite a few mechanical changes, it’s no surprise that the GTI still can’t match its rivals for thrills.

And that’s okay. There’s absolutely a place for something small, with a bit of oomph, but without the harsh ride, jittery engine, garish exterior or manual gearbox normally associated with a hot supermini.

Key changes include more power for this 2.0-litre EA888, from 197hp to the current 204. The dual-clutch gearbox gained an extra gear ratio to become a seven-speed box. A six-speed manual was announced at some point for this generation, but never made it to the UK. And it sold poorly in other regions, anyway, so the Polo GTI will remain automatic only.

Interior updates are less welcome. Entry-level Polos have good old physical controls for the climate control and on the steering wheel, but in the GTI these are replaced by touch controls. Using the climate control panel isn’t too expensive, but the steering wheel controls will drive you crazy when the car speeds down the highway because you accidentally brushed the cruise control setting.

The facelifted Polo gets a new, slightly cheaper gear selector, while all GTIs now get the full digital gauge cluster as standard, along with an 8-inch touchscreen. Finally, the headlights and taillights have been subtly modified. The clusters themselves are a bit more sophisticated than before: at the front there’s an illuminated crossbar and the headlights are matrix LED as standard. At the rear, the indicators are now dynamic.