Reviews
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Adaptive suspension can often throw up more questions than answers: is the premium over standard dampers too much? Which fifty shades of sport settings do I choose for a particular road? Is there a cure for nail biting?
Even Volkswagen Australia seems unsure, having launched the facelifted Polo GTI without the Sport Select suspension available overseas. Three months later it, umm, err, uhh, okay, yes, included it as standard for no extra cost. That makes the first question easy to answer.
The second is a cinch, too, because the MY16 Polo GTI has just one button on its dashboard labelled Sport. Press it and the 141kW/320Nm 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder makes a deeper growl, while steering weight becomes heavier and the suspension gets its hard on.
With 40Nm more torque than a 1364kg Mk6 Golf GTI, this 1234kg hot-hatch feels every bit as quick as its 6.7-second 0-100km/h claim. And we’re pleased to report the fast-but-boring hatch bit is an illusion, too.
In corners the smallest VW GTI feels transformed, with its excellent 17-inch Bridgestone Potenza rubber now backed by a Sport stability control mode and extended electronic diff lock function. Playing Polo is no longer the frenetic game of managing wheel-spin on corner exit it was with the pre-facelift twincharger.
It isn’t during hard punting that the Volkswagen loses out, but rather around town. The cabin feels semi-premium (now with rear-view cam and brilliant Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mirroring tech), however the silly-high driving position and loose steering are a world away from the snug, pointy Ford that rewards during every sprint to the shops.
It’d be ace to have the firmer steering (which at least stabilises the on-centre) and deeper soundtrack with the softer suspension… but that would require another mode.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
LIKE: Grunty engine, adaptive dampers a big plus DISLIKE: Steering lacks on-centre feel, high driving position
SPECS Engine: 1798cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo Power: 141kW @ 4300-6200rpm Torque: 320Nm @ 1450-4200rpm Weight: 1234kg 0-100km/h: 6.7sec Price: $27,490
