2010 Polo GTI: the UK’s Autocar and Auto Express deliver their first verdicts
These first drive reports have literally just pinged into our inbox. Fresh from Volkswagen’s Nurbürging 24-hour race Polo GTI driving event, the two UK motoring weeklies have today delivered their verdicts on the Polo we’ve all been waiting for. They’re – not surprisingly - conflicting verdicts, too. Auto Express states in its drive that, ‘The steering is well weighted and offers good feedback. Body roll is also virtually non-existent, thanks to firmer springs and dampers.’ Autocar’s verdict (which is more relevant for enthusiasts) is delivered in the video below. One verdict is the same, though; that of price. At £18,275, the 2010 Polo GTI is priced above arguably more able – but less refined – competitors.
Edit, 19 May 2010: Autocar‘s written verdict on the 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been posted online today. The Auto Express first drive is in the current issue of the magazine, while the Autocar write-up will be in print next week.
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Does anyone really expect it to be as raw as a Clio RS though? I don’t buy a VW hatch for that, I buy it because it will drive like its tail is on fire when it’s required, and then when I fancy a relaxing crawl through traffic with the climate on full, it will reward me with luxury. The Golf GTI is the same, but has always had a slightly more dynamic chassis. The Polo GTI is delivering exactly what we expect. And yes, I have one on order.
We agree, Luke.
It’s horses for courses in the hot hatch market, and though hot Polos may have fallen short of the dynamic benchmark in the class, they’ve always provided laid-back thrills when they’re needed and luxurious surroundings when they’re not.
For 90% of prospective owners, the 2010 car will provide all they want; good looks, fantastic build and quality, and no doubt the best residuals in the class.
Oh, and we envy you!
Absolutely. We had ordered an Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra, which would have actually cost us more in the long run due to poor residuals, than the more expensive Polo GTI. Horses for courses.
I don’t know if anyone has realised this, but there is no six-speed manual gearbox. For any car, there should be a manual in the range. Were I to contemplate buying a Polo GTI, I would (dare I say this Rich) probably buy a Golf GTI instead, as there is so much more involvement with a manual. Don’t get me wrong, but that would go a long way to making the Polo GTI the car it should always be… on the mettle. I shall try to enquire the next time i find myself in Wolfsburg, and maybe see if I can get a test drive too. Who knows, there might be a manual one?
If VW were to offer it with a manual, the price would be below the Cupra and Fabia vRS. VW wont do this, its marketing suicide. Due to the other brands not offering a manual either, it will not happen.
The Golf GTI would cost you £6k more at a minumum. Thats a lot for a manual gearbox.
I have owned a Mk5 Golf GTI with DSG, it was a revelation. The DSG box is sublime, i would not own another top end VW without DSG. Its fantastic.
Emissions and EU5 co2 levels mean that this is an easy way for manufacturers to reduce their co2 levels of the cars. I suspect all cars will come with similar boxes at some stage.
Eagerly anticipating the delivery of mine in October which I ordered at the beginning of June. Love the DSG box that we have had in a Golf, extremely versatile and well suited to easy driving or putting pedal to the metal as necessary. As for alternatives, looked at the rest but VW quality prevailed in my mind.
I ordered mine earlier this year and I was promised to have it by July, it’s a whole month past the delivery date and still nobody can tell me when the car is going into production, including the very dealer I ordered the car from. Is anybody else in the same position as me but maybe with a bit more info regarding delivery date?
Only spuds order cars sight unseen with little detail and no test drive.
Ordered mine on the 5th July and had a call last week telling me that the build date was 6th September, delivery expected 3 weeks later approx. Dealership has been good keeping me informed.
Was notified of a confirmed build date of “week 38″ for mine at the end of July and expect handover in October. My dealer confirmed that this still stands as of last week.
I cancelled our order in the end. Wasn’t prepared to wait indefinitely for VW to decide when our car would eventually go into build. Promised July initially, then August, then September. So on the 4th July we cancelled the order and ordered a Clio RS Gordini and took delivery 11 days later.
All was going well till a Harley crashed into us yesterday, but Renault Assistance have been superb so far, and handled everything including a Mini Cooper S hire car.
Any UK dealerships promising delivery for July/August were talking through their exhausts. First production runs were Germany bound followed by the UK and others. We were never destined to get our hands on the car until late summer/autumn.