Over churned, rutted country lanes the Polo goes to pieces, jolting and juddering all over the road. And in Sport mode it gets even worse; in fact, the ride is so firm that you sometimes find the steering wheel skipping in your hands if you try to power out of a bumpy bend, as the front wheels are bounced off their line by the overly firm dampers.
The Telegraph verdict
So while it’s tempting to paint the Polo in the role of the “hot hatch grand tourer” – softer and more usable than rivals, at the expense of some involvement – that hat doesn’t really fit.
Granted, it’s smart inside and bristling with equipment, so it does feel like a premium alternative to its few rivals. It’s spacious, too, and not outrageously pricey; on paper, then, it makes quite a lot of sense.
But pocket rockets like this are about slapping a big, silly grin all over your face. While the Polo can be enjoyable, it’s very much a qualified sort of fun. And when its rivals are full to bursting with character and make you laugh out loud with sheer joy, qualified fun doesn’t quite cut it.
Small hot hatchbacks might be a rare breed, then – but of the few that remain, this probably isn’t the one to have.
The facts
On test: Volkswagen Polo GTI
Body style: five-door hatchback
On sale: now
How much? £27,805 on the road (range from £21,890)
How fast? 149mph, 0-62mph in 6.5sec
How economical? 41.5mpg (WLTP Combined)
Engine & gearbox: 1,984cc four-cylinder petrol engine, seven-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox, front-wheel drive
Electric powertrain: N/A
Maximum power/torque: 204bhp/235lb ft
CO2 emissions: 154g/km (WLTP Combined)
VED: £585 first year, then £165
Warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles (mileage not limited during first two years)
Spare wheel as standard: no (not available)
The rivals
Ford Fiesta ST-3
197bhp, 42.2mpg, £27,245 on the road